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New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station
Office of Continuing Professional Education
What can EPH do for you?
Jump to: Benefits of EPH | Program Details | Overview | Prerequisites | Additional Info & Contact Us
Launch a career that has science at its heart and makes the world and community a better place. Become a registered environmental health specialist (REHS).
As an REHS, you could investigate a waterborne disease outbreak one day, educate a restaurant owner about safe food preparation the next, and enforce regulations at a summer camp facility to ensure children’s safety the day after. Every day is different and the work — protecting people, safeguarding the environment, and saving lives — is meaningful and fulfilling.
Why Choose Our EPH Program?
Throughout the program, students attend rigorous classes taught by experts in their fields and participate in interactive group activities and field trips that help bridge the gap between classroom concepts and real-world applications. From mock commercial kitchen/food inspections to soil pit surveys to simulated court trials, there are a variety of hands-on activities to keep you engaged!
Highly Qualified Instructors
You will be taught by expert professors, established REHSs, engineers, health officers, NJDEP and NJDOH representatives, environmental consultants, and more.
In-Depth & Hands-On
Content-rich lessons are brought to life with field trips, mock inspections, soil identification exercises, and other interactive experiences.
Internship Arranged by Rutgers
After the classroom session, we will place you in a NJ health department internship to complete a comprehensive 200-hour field training.
“Offering the Rutgers EPH program online has actually been a blessing for me because it allowed me to finally get a foot in the door for the career I always wanted”
Breanna Livingstone, 2020 EPH Graduate
REHS, Burlington County Health Department
EPH Summer Program Details
Students will attend three days per week at the Rutgers New Brunswick campus and two days per week online.
Course Dates: May 26 – July 20, 2026
Time: 8:45 am – 3:30 pm, Monday to Friday
(some days end at 4 pm)
Format: Hybrid
200-Hour Unpaid Internship: Arranged by Rutgers and completed after class; start dates may vary depending on health department’s and student’s availability.
Registration Fee: $5,395
Non-Refundable One-time Application Fee: $50
(You must apply to be accepted to EPH)
Payment plans are available.
Program Overview
A licensed REHS plays an essential role in ensuring the health and safety of the community providing a variety of services, including investigating disease outbreaks, ensuring safe food handling, reviewing septic system installations, inspecting public bathing facilities, and educating and communicating environmental risks to the public.
To work as an REHS in New Jersey, you need an REHS license. The Rutgers Environment & Public Health (EPH) Program is one of the few and easiest ways to become eligible to sit for the NJ REHS exam!
To work as an REHS in other states, you will need to research and follow that state’s requirements. You can learn more here. Although not required, completing EPH and earning a NJ REHS license may still help you land a job in another state for one important reason: employers recognize that, thanks to the program prerequisites and rigorous training, EPH graduates are well-suited to handle a variety of environmental health responsibilities.
The EPH program not only equips students with the knowledge to address complex environmental and public health issues, it also offers you the opportunity to complete a 200-hour hands-on internship at a local health department.
“EPH ensured that I was well-versed in both the theoretical and practical aspects of environmental health, which enabled me to approach my field training with confidence and competence.”
Anthony Costa, 2024 EPH Graduate
Public Health Investigator, Jersey City Department of Health
Think You’re Ready? Apply to EPH Today!
Once we receive all pieces of your application, we will review it to determine eligibility. If you are qualified to enroll, instructions on the next steps will be provided.
If you’re ready to start your REHS career journey, here’s how:
Review the EPH Program prerequisites.
Questions about the prerequisites? Contact us — see our information below.
Complete the online application form.
Email all college transcripts to eph@njaes.rutgers.edu (PDF or DOC format). Include transcripts from two-year colleges and the school where you have earned or will earn your bachelor’s degree.
