Eastern Massachusetts Public Health (EMPH) Training Hub is one of nine training hubs throughout the state. We cover 9 Shared Services Arrangements, with 35 municipalities.
The Training Hub program is part of the cornerstone of the Workforce Development initiatives to strengthen the competencies and capacity of the local public health workforce to not only meet the current Workforce Standards, aligned in the Blueprint for Public Health, but to develop leaders in transforming the local public health system. The Training Hub program is part of a 3-tiered model that includes basic self-paced on-line training modules, in-depth knowledge-based competency development in the classroom, and hands on, competency and skills development in applied practice.
These different levels of training act as learning building blocks and help create a comprehensive training infrastructure with the goal of increasing the pool of trained local public health professionals, increasing the capacity for local and regional public health (LPH) meeting the standards.
Map Description: A gray map with the different Eastern Massachusetts Public Health Training Hubs defined by different colors. The following is a link to a detailed description of the content on the map: https://www.mapc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Eastern-Massachusetts-Public-Health-Training-Hub-Map-Detail-Description.pdf
Local Public Health Training Program Tiers
This multi-tiered approach underpins our commitment to delivering comprehensive training, expanding the cadre of proficient public health professionals, and strengthening local and regional public health capabilities.
Hub Trainers are currently being trained by DPH Central Trainers in a standard curriculum to prepare them to facilitate Tier 3 to ensure local public health professionals have the competencies for housing, food safety and other environmental health topics. Once this is finalized, local public health inspectors can receive training from Eastern MA Training Hub. We are working closely with Central Trainers and OLRH staff, please be patient as we continue to improve this program.
Tier 1:
Essential Knowledge
- Composed of asynchronous eLearning modules with curriculum relevant to different LPH topics.
- Facilitated through online learning platforms, such as TRAIN MA, ORA LearnED (FDA), and FEMA Emergency Management Institute. Other platforms may be utilized as the program grows.
- Provides LPH professionals the opportunity to develop baseline knowledge on LPH topics on their own time and free of charge.
Tier 2:
Instructor Guided Learning
- Instructor-led component. Experienced instructors lead virtual and in-person classroom trainings about relevant LPH topics.
- Building upon the knowledge gained in Tier 1, Tier 2 gives LPH professionals the opportunity to learn about different public health topics. The knowledge gained in this tier will be applied to real public health scenarios in Tier 3.
- Example of courses: LPHIT Food and Housing, Certified Pool Operator, Soil Evaluator, and System Inspector.
Tier 3:
Applied Practice
- Provides LPH Professionals with hands on learning opportunities using real public health scenarios.
- Facilitated by Local Public Health Training Hubs where trainers will guide learners through applied practice of LPH topics through joint inspections.
Upcoming Trainings
Local Public Health Training Program
If you have taken and completed Tier 2- LPHIT Food, please reach out to Elsa ([email protected]) and we can start scheduling for Tier 3! We are still in the process of working on Tier 3 for Housing.
It should be noted that the Tier 1 online courses for Food have changed and there are now less prerequisites you will have to take under the FDA portion. ComplianceWire is moving their courses to ORA Learn ED. These are noted on this TRAIN Massachusetts webpage and the Summary of Changes to FDA Course Requirements for Massachusetts document.
Prerequisites Handbook
Prerequisites Tracker
Please continue to work on your Tier 1- online modules as listed in the handbook/tracker so we can help you to complete your training hub program!
Lead Determinator Training by Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP)
For Spring 2025 Waitlist, fill out the form here.
MA Soil Evaluator (SE) by NEIWPCC
TBD 2025 Email here for to be notified.
MA Title 5 System Inspector (SI) by NEIWPCC
TBD Winter 2025 Email here to be notified
2024 Totally Title 5 Conference by WMPHA
October 29, 2024: 8:00 a.m. -3:30 p.m., Holyoke, MA
Click here for the agenda and click here to register.
Requirements and Recommendations
| POSITION | REQUIRED AT HIRE | REQUIRED AFTER HIRE | RECOMMENDED |
| MANAGEMENT – e.g., Director, Assistant Director, Deputy Director
Management position does not do inspections but supervises those who do. |
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| MANAGEMENT/AGENT |
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| INSPECTOR/SANITARIAN |
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| PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE |
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| CLERICAL STAFF |
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| BOH MEMBER
(NOTE: IF DOING INSPECTIONS MUST MEET REQUIREMENTS ABOVE) |
| INSPECTION TYPE | REQUIRED | RECOMMENDED |
| FOOD PROTECTION |
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| HOUSING |
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| TITLE 5 |
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| POOLS |
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| RECREATIONAL CAMPS |
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| TANNING/BODY ART |
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| NUISANCES |
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| INSPECTION TYPE | REQUIRED | RECOMMENDED |
| FOOD PROTECTION
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| HOUSING
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| TITLE 5
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| POOLS
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| RECREATIONAL CAMPS
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| TANNING/BODY ART
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| NUISANCES
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- All personnel should have at least ICS 100/NIMS 700 within one year of hire. Those who might have a leadership role should have ICS 200 and above.
- Boards of health may have stricter requirements, but must meet these requirements.
- Boards of health with current staff who have worked for local or state public health for at least 7 years, but who do not meet these requirements, may request a waiver except for inspectional trainings.
- Membership in professional organizations is deemed as critical for professional growth and development, for leadership and mentoring opportunities, and for opportunities for sharing best practices. This is recommended, but not required.
*Management positions should meet the requirements as set forth in this document for the position. However, a request may be submitted by the board of health to waive the Registered Sanitarian (RS) requirement if:
1) The health department has a management position and a separate fulltime environmental health director and
2) the environmental health director has an RS, oversees the inspectors, and reports directly to the management position.
Workforce Development Standards Waiver Request Form
Resources:
Overview:
- Blueprint for Excellence
- Sample inspectional tools list
- https://www.mass.gov/info-details/about-the-office-of-local-and-regional-health-olrh OLRH
- https://www.mass.gov/orgs/food-protection-program Food Protection Program
- https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-department-of-environmental-protection Mass DEP
Groups & organizations:
Training Materials:
Food
- https://www.fda.gov/food/retail-food-protection/voluntary-national-retail-food-regulatory-program-standards
- https://www.mass.gov/doc/massachusetts-food-protection-manager-certification-exam-and-trainer-directory/download food manager certification
Housing
Community Sanitation
- MA Title 5 Certification • NEIWPCC Title 5 Certification
Staff:
Elsa Zhao
Lead Public Health Trainer
[email protected]
Felix Garcia
Regional Public Health Trainer
[email protected]