Section 27F. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

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”Certified health officer”, a health officer who has been duly certified by the department and who maintains such active certification.

”Department”, the department of public health.

”Health officer”, a person with a broad basic education and experience in the physical and biological and social sciences supplemented by specialization in the field of health administration and who is qualified to carry out public health administrative duties and enforce the laws in the field of public health.

(b) The department shall establish the requirements for the certification of health officers. The department shall prescribe the duties and qualifications of a certified health officer and shall develop a process and application for certification as a health officer. The department shall establish minimum standards for educational qualifications of applicants. A person who desires to be certified as a health officer and who meets the educational qualifications shall complete an application, on a form to be prescribed and furnished by the department and shall include with such application proof of satisfactory education, training and experience to meet the requirements for certification and proof of having passed the licensing examination as approved or administered by the department. The application shall be accompanied by a registration fee to be determined by the secretary of administration and finance under section 3B of chapter 7. If the department deems the educational qualifications of an applicant are satisfactory and if such applicant passes a written examination satisfactory to the department, the department shall issue to the applicant a certificate, with the right to use the title certified health officer and the letters ”CHO”.

(c) Health officer certification shall expire at the end of the calendar year and may be renewed on or before January 15 of the following year; provided, however, that a person seeking such renewal shall provide evidence of such continuing education as the department shall require by regulation. The fee for certification or renewal shall be determined by the secretary of administration and finance under section 3B of chapter 7 and shall be acknowledged by sending the person certified a notice of renewal.

(d) The department shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to administer this chapter. Such rules and regulations may provide for the issuance of certification without examination to any person holding a certification as health officer under the laws of another state.

(e) No person shall use the title or list the credentials of certified health officer to indicate that the person is a certified health officer unless the person is certified by the department.