Industrial hygienists protect workers and the public from hazards in the workplace. Certification is not always required, but a bachelor’s degree and four years of experience are necessary to become a certified industrial hygienist. Ongoing professional development is required to maintain certification. High school students can prepare by taking advanced math and science courses and improving their communication skills.
Industrial hygienists are responsible for protecting the health of workers and the public. They seek out, identify and recommend solutions to problems related to asbestos, lead, communicable diseases and other hazards in the workplace. People certified as industrial hygienists have obtained credentials attesting to their competence in the field through a certifying organization such as the American Council on Industrial Hygiene (ABIH) in the United States. To become a certified industrial hygienist, a minimal amount of education and experience is required.
Certification is not always required to become an industrial hygienist, but experience in the field proves, which can lead to better opportunities. To become a certified industrial hygienist, you’ll need a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, usually in a science or engineering field, with at least a certain number of semester hours focused on math, engineering, science, and science-based technology. Additional education through college or continuing education courses in fundamentals of industrial hygiene, toxicology, and related fields is also required. You will also need to gain real-world experience working as a full-time industrial hygienist for at least four years.
Once you have the necessary education and experience, you can apply to take your certification exam. This in-depth examination typically covers a variety of topics in the field, including ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, air sampling and instrumentation, health risk analysis and hazard communication, noise and vibration, and much more. When you pass the test to become a certified industrial hygienist, you can use the initials “CIH” after your name. To maintain certification, you will need to stay current in the field through ongoing professional development, such as attending seminars and taking courses, teaching in the field, publishing in industry journals and other media.
A Certified Associate Industrial Hygienist credentialing exam has also been offered for several years by ABIH. This credential recognized individuals who contributed to the field but lacked the necessary science or engineering background or did not work as a full-time position. Certification has been discontinued, except for maintaining the credential for people who have already earned it.
If you’re in high school, you can prepare to become a certified industrial hygienist by taking all of the advanced math and science courses your school offers. This will help you get accepted into a college program and better prepare you for college-level courses. Getting good grades in English is also important if you want to become a certified industrial hygienist. People working in this role must be able to communicate clearly and professionally, both orally and in writing, in situations that can sometimes be difficult.
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