251.06 Local health officer; qualifications; duties.

646 words·~3 min read·/wi/chapter-251/251-06

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

1. Except as provided in subd. 2. or 3. , a local health officer of a Level I local health department shall have at least a bachelor’s degree from a nursing program accredited by the national professional nursing education accrediting organization or from a nursing program accredited by the board of nursing.

2. A local health officer of a village or town health department established under s. 251.02

(3m)or of a multiple municipal local health department established under s. 251.02

(3r)shall be either a physician or a registered nurse. The local health officer shall be a voting member of the local board of health and shall take an oath of office. With respect to the levels of services of a Level I local health department, as specified in s. 251.05

(a), the local health officer shall be authorized to act by and be directed by the county health officer of the county specified under s. 251.02

(3m).

3. If there is more than one full-time employee of a Level I local health department, including a full-time public health nurse who meets the qualifications specified under s. 250.06 , the local health officer may meet the qualifications of a Level II or Level III local health officer.

(b)A local health officer of a Level II local health department shall have at least 3 years of experience in a full-time position with a public health agency, including responsibility for a communicable disease prevention and control program, preferably in a supervisory or other administrative position, and at least one of the following:

1. A bachelor’s degree from a nursing program accredited by the national professional nursing education accrediting organization or from a nursing program accredited by the board of nursing, either of which shall include preparation in public health nursing.

2. A bachelor’s degree in public health, environmental health, the physical or biological sciences or a similar field.

(c)A local health officer of a Level III local health department shall have at least one of the following:

1. A master’s degree, or a degree or educational credential higher than a master’s degree, in public health, public administration, health administration or, as defined in rules promulgated by the department, a similar field and 3 years of experience in a full-time administrative position in either a public health agency or public health work.

2. A bachelor’s degree and 16 graduate semester credits towards a master’s degree in public health, public administration, health administration or, as defined in rules promulgated by the department, a similar field and 5 years of experience in a full-time administrative position in either a public health agency or public health work.

3. A license to practice medicine and surgery under ch. 448 and at least one of the following:

a. Three years of experience in a full-time administrative position in either a public health agency or public health work.

b. Eligibility for certification by the American board of preventive medicine in public health or general preventive medicine.

c. A master’s degree, or a degree or educational credential higher than a master’s degree, in public health, public administration, health administration or, as defined in rules promulgated by the department, a similar field.

(d)Notwithstanding pars.

(a)to

(c), relevant education, training, instruction, or other experience that an applicant obtained in connection with military service, as defined in s. 111.32

(12g), counts toward satisfying the requirements for education, training, instruction, or other experience to qualify as a public health officer if the applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the department that the education, training, instruction, or other experience that the applicant obtained in connection with his or her military service is substantially equivalent to the education, training, instruction, or other experience that is required to qualify as a public health officer.