In the first place, you are going to need a degree in public health. In most cases, this means that you will need a four year college degree, and you are going to discover that there are college majors that are meant to supply you with just this type of training. These classes are going to be highly focused on science and what it takes to keep things safe. For instance, you might run into classes on waste water treatment, on water in general, on microbiology, or on food safety. Remember that the more science classes you take, the more prepared you are going to be. Even wildlife classes are going to be useful with you. In many cases, you will discover that the job requires a certain amount of science classes besides your four year degree.
Before you apply for available jobs, consider talking to your local health department and to the department that oversees these positions in your city. What kind of experiences are they talking about and what do you think it would take for you to fit in there? If you are interested in job shadowing, you might find that this is the perfect time to do this. You will also find that doing this will prepare you for the interviews that are to come. You can get ready for the job and you are going to be able to figure out what how you yourself are going to cope with the challenges that the job will send your way. Remember that there are a number of differences between the states when it comes to qualifying, so make sure you know the regulations for the state that you are living in.
To become an inspector, you typically start by training for a year under a supervisor. You are not going to be licensed yet, but you will be trained in how to inspect things in certain field. You will need to take classes on public health and you will also find that there may be classes that prepare you for the licensing exam itself. Remember that this test is enormous and that it covers a great deal of material. It is a test that combines written and oral material, and in some states, you only get to take it twice at most!
A career as a public health inspector might be precisely what you are looking for, so take some time to learn more about this exciting field.