Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH)

A Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) is a person who has completed a college degree in environmental health, or science, has at least five years of relevant experience, and has successfully passed an examination with the American Board of Industrial Hygiene. Below is a listing of the subject areas covered in the exam. Maintaining the certification requires obtaining ongoing continuing education credits and recertifying every five years.

Air Sampling & Instrumentation
Analytical Chemistry
Basic Science
Biohazards
Biostatistics & Epidemiology
Community Exposure
Engineering Controls/Ventilation
Ergonomics
Health Risk Analysis & Hazard Communication
IH Program Management
Noise
Non-Engineering Controls
Radiation – Ionizing and Non-ionizing
Thermal Stressors
Toxicology
Work Environments & Industrial Processes


Areas of practice that a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) specializes in can change over time, and the ABIH does not place restrictions on specific career paths of a CIH as long as they meet the on-going requirements and adhere to the ABIH Code of Ethics.