How to Become an Industrial Hygienist
An industrial hygienist helps reduce workplace hazards by evaluating work spaces and ensuring that a company is meeting certain safety requirements. Training for a position in this field is a combination of formal education at the bachelor's or master's degree level at a college or university, as well as work experience in the field. Here's what you need to do in order to become an industrial hygienist.
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Instructions
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Complete your bachelor's degree in science or engineering. All prospective industrial hygienists will need to complete a bachelor's degree in the science, engineering or related fields in order to meet the basic requirements for becoming an industrial hygienist.
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Complete a work-study program. Prospective industrial hygienists need to have at least three years of work experience beyond any training received during the bachelor's degree course programs to be considered for the American Board of Industrial Hygiene certification process.
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Register for the core and chemical examination from the American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH). Students who have completed at least a bachelors degree in the science or engineering fields or completed two years of study at the master's degree level can take both of these comprehensive examinations.
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Attain the status of Diplomate of the American Academy of Industrial Hygiene. Passing the examination and providing proof of education in the field allows candidates to obtain this title.
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Gain additional work experience and training to become a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH). In order to become a CIH, a candidate must have passed the initial Industrial Hygienist Certification exam, finished all educational requirements at either the bachelor's or master's degree levels and completed four years of training in the field.
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Tips & Warnings
Maintaining the status of CIH requires re-certification every five years.
Taking high school courses in chemistry, mathematics, biology and physics can provide a solid foundation for college coursework in this field.
A master's Degree may be used towards a portion of the work experience requirement to become a certified industrial hygienist.
A certified industrial hygienist typically earns a much higher salary than a hygienist who is not certified.
