Kentucky: Cabinet for Health and Family Services

Division of Public Health Protection & Safety
275 E. Main St., HS1EB
Frankfort, KY 40621

What is a Registered Sanitarian?

A registered sanitarian (R.S.) is a person trained in the field of environmental health or, "public health protection and safety." Kentucky public health professionals must qualify for registration by having an adequate educational background and successfully completing an exam based on public/environmental health. Once registered, the public/environmental health professional is duly qualified to perform regulatory services to safeguard the public's health. The R.S. registration shall be renewed annually along with proof of acquired continuing educational credits as specified in the R.S. law. Many of Kentucky's registered sanitarians are state and local health department public/environmental health officials who carry out public/environmental health activities for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Kentucky registered sanitarians help protect the public's health and well being by inspecting and making sure the following facilities operate in a safe and sanitary manner, and further are responsible for the following program areas: restaurants, grocery stores, food processing plants, food/beverage vending machines, dairy plants, schools, hospitals, daycare centers, youth camps, hotels/motels, bed and breakfast, swimming pools, onsite sewage disposal systems, private water supplies, boarding homes, tattoo studios, radiation producing machines, lead contamination in homes, mobile home and recreational vehicle parks, animal bites and quarantine, review of construction sites and plans, public health nuisances, etc. Registered sanitarians also provide training and educational materials to industry operators and the general public.

Why Become a Registered Sanitarian?

Only those registered as an environmental health specialist or sanitarian, shall be employed by the cabinet or local health agencies to perform environmental health specialist activities. The cabinet shall by administrative regulation provide for probationary employment not to exceed 12 months for persons to qualify through examination when all other qualifications have been met. To conduct environmental health activities for the cabinet, persons must be registered within 12 months of employment.

Mission Statement:

To protect and promote the public's health by ensuring a sanitary, safe and healthy environment to live and prosper.

Vision:

The environmental health professional is viewed as highly competent and is recognized as a vital, integral component of the public health team, responsible for the environmental health aspects of promoting and protecting the public's health.

Registered sanitarians are viewed as credible and responsible leaders in their mission to ensure a healthy environment. The collective efforts are recognized as increasing both the quality and length of life of the public through the governments most efficient and cost-effective programs.

RS Application (Application for Registration)

The Kentucky Registered Sanitarian application for registration is used for prospective persons to seek application for registration.

Criteria to become registered include:

Completion of an approved four-year high school or the equivalent; and completion of a four-year degree from a college or university, with a minor or 24 semester hours in environmental health, biological science or physical science. An applicant shall be required to pass a written examination in those subjects that the cabinet prescribes. Written examinations may be supplemented by an oral examination. Upon successfully passing the examinations, the applicant shall be issued a registration as an environmental health specialist or sanitarian.

RS Regional Map (Geographical map showing regional directors)

Registered Sanitarian Handbook (Information on the Registered Sanitarian Field Handbook)

Registered Sanitarian Handbook (word doc)
Registered Sanitarian Handbook (pdf doc)

Registered Sanitarian Study Guide - 2/08 (pdf doc)

Registered Sanitarian Examination Dates:

The registered sanitarian examination will be held once a month or 12 times a year with at least once per year in each regional area at locations to be determined by the committee.

Exam: 300 multiple choice/true false environmental-public health related questions

Fee: $30 dollars per exam

Exam times: 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. For section I; 1 to 3 p.m. for section II unless otherwise specified. Applicants must register at least 10 working days prior to the test date. Applicants must furnish picture identification and arrive at least 15 minutes prior to test time. See dates and locations below.

RS 2008 Exam Dates

For specific time and locations contact Joy Watkins at (502) 564-7398 or email at beverley.watkins@ky.gov.

Questions should be directed to Guy F. Delius or Joy Watkins at (502) 564-7398.

Registered Sanitarian Examining Committee:

KRS 223.020 - The secretary shall appoint a registered Environmental Health Specialist or a Sanitarian Examining Committee consisting of five members. The Secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services shall be an ex officio member. The other four members shall be environmental health specialist or sanitarians who are registered under this chapter. The appointed members shall serve for terms of two years and until their successors are appointed and qualify, except that when initial appointments are made under the provisions of this chapter, two members shall be for one year. Thereafter all appointments shall be for a period of two years.

The examining committee shall conduct, or cause to be conducted, examinations of applicants pursuant to minimum standards and qualifications established by the secretary. The examining committee shall act in an advisory capacity to the secretary in establishing such minimum standards and qualifications.

Miscellaneous Notes:

The Kentucky Registered Sanitarian logo used in the background was developed by Gerald Bradshaw and chosen during a selection process by the Registered Sanitarian Board in 1998. This logo will now be found on most registered sanitarian paraphernalia.

Kentucky Registered Sanitarians