The OEMR requires 2 full years of training beginning each year on July 1. The first year consists of full-time didactic coursework at HSPH leading up to the awarding of the Masters of Public Health degree with a concentration in Occupational/Environmental Health by June of the following year (for details regarding the HSPH MPH degree, see: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/mph/index.html#oeh ).

During the first year, OEM Residents also attend Seminars in Occupational/ Environmental Health, Research Seminars, Grand Rounds in Occupational/Environmental Medicine, Journal Club, and Board Review sessions; receive a research orientation; develop a research project with the guidance of OEMR faculty members. The general objectives of the first year are to gain a firm grounding in disciplines essential to the practice of OEM, including (but not limited to) epidemiology, biostatistics, health and social behavior, the work environment, occupational and environmental medicine, toxicology, industrial hygiene, safety, ergonomics, occupational health policy and administration, health promotion, and ethics.

The second year of the OEMR (also known as the "practicum year") consists of (1) clinical rotations at our affiliated academic and corporate occupational/environmental medicine clinics; (2) experiences at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health; (3) elective rotations and experiences at the Pediatric Environmental Health Center of Boston Children's Hospital; the Travel Clinic at New England Medical Center; the national office of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (in Washington, DC); the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (in Cincinnati, OH); the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (in Atlanta, GA); and the Ministry of Labor and Workers Compensation Board of Ontario (in Toronto); (4) continued attendance at seminars, research seminars, Grand Rounds, Journal Club and Board Review; (5) continuation of research leading to a final research presentation and paper. The general objectives of the second year are to gain a firm grounding in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of OEM disorders, the evaluation of the fitness of workers for specific jobs; the assessment of impairment and disability; counseling, education, and risk communication to workers and community members with regards to OEM topics; the planning, administration, and supervision of occupational health programs; and methods for the successful conduct of occupational/environmental health investigations. The final research paper is generally of publication-quality.