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Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] inquiry about "CHO-type" career path
Date: Wednesday, December 31, 2014 7:48:45 PM
Author: Melissa Charlton-Smith <charltonsmith**At_Symbol_Here**WVWC.EDU> 		Next by Date:
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From: Harry J. Elston <helston**At_Symbol_Here**MIDWESTCHEMSAFETY.COM>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] inquiry about "CHO-type" career path
Date: Wed, 31 Dec 2014 22:59:08 -0600
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: CAJ2hcfcx6QCqSDZ0zYXvU=6D=w7y5p7aTww8mV_ouiLpe7zBVw**At_Symbol_Here**mail.gmail.com
In-Reply-To <7AB8F8BFE46C5446902F26C10EBF4AEA57FDC077**At_Symbol_Here**Mailbox1.wittenberg.edu>


Russ has already commented on CHO certification and has asked me to chime in on CIH certification.

The requirements to become a certified industrial hygienist are found here: http://www.abih.org/become-certified/eligibility

There is a "self-assessment" PDF that you can download and check. Generally speaking you'll need a BS plus experience in IH, and now, also "IH coursework" but you don't necessarily have to go back to school to do that. The required "coursework" can (and in my opinion should) be completed through IH workshops as opposed to going back to college. Start with fundamental IH and fundamental ventilation workshops first to get a handle on what (1) IH means and (2) getting a handle on how to move air. There's a lot more engineering than what you might think when it comes to ventilation that you may not get in an "IH-degree" program. Generally speaking, you will need multiple years of "professional IH experience" before ABIH will allow you sit for the exam.

Larry Doemeny has already suggested exploring an MPH (Masters of Public Health) degree. That's an option also, but look at it closely - it may contain much more (or much less) that what you are looking for. (For example, a lot of epidemiology or environmental science).

Good luck! Contact me off list if you want to talk about it some more.

Harry

On Wed, Dec 31, 2014 at 2:09 PM, David C. Finster <dfinster**At_Symbol_Here**wittenberg.edu> wrote:

CHAS folks,

One of the joys of being a teacher is hearing from a former student who is making their way in the world. I was recently contacted by a 2010 Wittenberg graduate with the following query:

I am currently working as a Lab Manager at a small company. Working here I have come to realize I like the knowing, researching, and implementing the safety measures in the lab, and that I would like to do more of that. I am thinking that I would like to pursue a career in the safety field as an Industrial Hygienist and/or a Chemical Hygiene Officer. I know that to be an Industrial Hygienist or a Chemical Hygiene Officer one needs to be certified and the steps for that are laid out in multiple places, but I'm having some issues finding information on how I could start down this path. Is it a re-education, or a few classes I can take while working, getting lucky and finding the right job? I have also seen some references to an apprentice program, but I'm not sure if it is real or not or required. So my real question, can you please advise on the appropriate education and steps I would need to explore to become an Industrial Hygienist or Chemical Hygiene Officer?

I'd be happy to collect responses from the group and forward them to her.

Thanks, in advance.

Dave

David C. Finster
Professor, Department of Chemistry
University Chemical Hygiene Officer
Wittenberg University
937-327-6441
http://userpages.wittenberg.edu/dfinster/index.html




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Harry J. Elston, Ph.D., CIH
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