Applying for the Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) Credential

The Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) credential is the global standard for certification in protecting the health and safety of workers and the public by anticipating, recognizing, evaluating, and controlling chemical, physical, ergonomic, or biological hazards, including COVID-19.

The Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) certification program enables you to establish your professional-level knowledge and skills in Occupational Health and Safety/Industrial Hygiene. The CIH credential is a globally respected standard that is only granted to those who meet our education and experience requirements along with successfully completing an examination. CIH professionals also agree to abide by BGC’s Code of Ethics.

A Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) is an individual who has met the minimum requirements for education and experience and, through examination, has demonstrated a minimum level of knowledge and skills in the following subject areas (rubrics):

  • 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

The CIH Examination Blueprint may be viewed here.

As the industrial hygiene profession itself continued to evolve, it was believed that more people were doing industrial hygiene-like work but would otherwise be unable to qualify for the CIH due to some aspect of their education or experiences. These individuals were still making valuable contributions to the prevention of occupational and non-occupational illnesses. It was felt that professional certification would improve recognition of their contributions by management, employees, and the public.

Once the CIH credential is obtained, Diplomates can apply their knowledge in many different situations, some broad scope and comprehensive, some narrow scope as the person specializes. The domains of practice often differ and change many times during the course of a career. Thus, BGC places no restrictions or qualifications on the career paths of a CIH as long as the person meets the ongoing requirements in the certification maintenance program and adheres to the professional, enforceable BGC Code of Ethics.

Obligations of Credential Holders

After you pass the exam and are issued your credential, you are required to meet several obligations, not limited to:

  • paying your fees on or before the due date
  • continually updating your knowledge and skills
  • documenting knowledge and skills through the Certification Maintenance Process
  • upholding the BGC Code of Ethics

Please be aware that if the requirements for certification and recertification change, you will be required to meet them in order to hold your certification.

CIH Application Overview of Steps

To qualify for admission to the BGC examinations as an applicant, you must comply with all Board requisites. Documents and forms sent by you and third parties will be needed to assess your eligibility to sit for the exam(s). BGC will evaluate all applicants using the criteria established for the certification eligibility and will not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, national origin, religion, age, disability, political affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, or marital, parental, military, or any other legally protected status. We may ask you for additional documentation when an initial review of your application (or reapplication) indicates that pertinent information is missing or unclear. In that case, a review of your application or reapplication will not proceed until we receive the requested information.

Submitting your application well in advance of deadlines may give you sufficient time to provide additional information without delaying your approval to sit for the exam. Your application packet is active for two years. If you do not pass the exam within two years, you are required to submit an updated reference that can attest to dates and quality of professional practice and pay a reapplication fee every two years to keep your application active.

Application Steps

There are three steps to the application process for becoming certified as a CIH. Please familiarize yourself thoroughly with the requirements before you begin your application. Please also note that you must meet all current eligibility requirements.

Step 1: Educating yourself about the process and requirements:

  • The pages to your right under the heading “CIH Candidate Handbook” used to be a printed document which is now separated into several pages for ease of navigation. It is your responsibility to read every page and familiarize yourself with the entire application process and requirements.

Step 2:  Submission of General Application Documents:

Below is a list of different services that our applicants have used for transcript evaluations. BGC does not specifically endorse or recommend one service over another.

Where to Send Transcripts:

email: applications@gobgc.org

surface mail:
BGC attn: Applications
6005 W St Joe Hwy Ste 300
Lansing, MI 48917 USA

  • List academic and continuing education coursework to meet the STEM, IH, and Ethics Training requirements.
  • Describe your professional-level IH work experience.
    • You will need to show that you have worked for at least 4 years (48 months) at a professional IH level.
      • One year or 6 months of credit is granted to graduates of an ABET-accredited IH program with a master’s or bachelor’s degree, respectively.
    • Answer the questions about your work experience as prompted by CAPS.
      • Avoid generic statements like “Recognition, evaluation, and control of environmental factors that may relate to worker illness or impaired health.” Provide sufficient details on your professional responsibilities to clearly highlight your IH activity.
    • Ask your references to submit an online Professional Reference Questionnaire (PRQ) Form to BGC on your behalf.
      • BGC requires a minimum of two PRQs who must attest to dates and quality of professional practice (more than two may be required to reflect the duration of your work)
      • To be considered for the current exam window, all PRQs must be received no later than the application deadline. It is the applicant’s responsibility to contact reference writers, send them the online PRQ link, and check with them about the status of the PRQ.
      • The submitted PRQs must add up to the 48 months of professional-level IH work that you are claiming. If you hold a degree from a school whose IH program is ABET-accredited, you may only need to cover either 36 (master’s degree) or 42 (bachelor’s degree) months.
      • One of the PRQs must be from a CIH familiar with your practice. Not all PRQs must be completed by a CIH; only one is required to be from a CIH.
      • If you do not know a CIH, the following alternatives are available.
    • Pay the Application Fee (non-refundable) and submit your application on CAPS.

Step 3:  Examination:

  • If you have a documented disability, you may submit a Test Accommodation Request Form before the application deadline.
  • Pay all examination fees.
  • Schedule the exam.

If you successfully meet the requirements of both steps and pass the exam, you will be awarded the CIH credential. A CIH Eligibility Checklist has been designed for you to determine whether you have met the requirements for steps 1 through 2 before applying for your CIH exam.

Qualifications and Evaluation

To qualify for admission to the BGC examinations as an applicant, you must comply with all Board requisites:

  • Submit only one application per person
  • Meet academic requirements/IH coursework
  • Meet the professional industrial hygiene experience requirement documented by references
  • Be in the current practice of industrial hygiene
  • Agree to adhere to the BGC Code of Ethics and to be governed by the BGC Ethics Case Procedures
  • Pay your application fee and examination fee

Until you are certified, your application packet will remain active for 4 consecutive exam windows (which is equal to two years). You are required to submit an updated PRQ and pay a reapplication fee every two years to keep your application active until you pass the exam.

Deadline

Your application materials, including transcripts, references, and educational coursework (including ethics and supplemental information), must be postmarked no later than February 1 for the Spring examination or August 1 for the Fall examination. Your application packet will be valid for four test windows, which is equal to two years.

Evaluation

BGC will evaluate all applicants using the criteria established for CIH eligibility and will not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, national origin, religion, age, disability, political affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, or marital, parental, military, or any other legally protected status.

We may ask you for additional documentation when the initial review of your application (or reapplication) indicates that pertinent information is missing or unclear. In that case, the review of your application or reapplication will not proceed until we receive the requested information.

Submit Early! Submitting your application well in advance of when you want to take the exam may give you sufficient time to provide additional information without having to sit for the exam.

 

Confidentiality

Original applications and supporting documentation are treated by the BGC Board of Directors and staff as confidential information. As noted in the BGC Privacy Policy, all reasonable precautions are taken to prevent unauthorized access to individual information. BGC does not disclose personal information obtained from you or any other applicant to third parties except when authorized in writing by you or if necessary to complete the process – for example, arranging for you to sit for the exam.

Record Retention

In accordance with the BGC record-retention policy, paper files and electronic documents provided by applicants that have been inactive for three years will be destroyed. Prior to destroying a file, the staff will attempt to notify you using your last known address.

BGC Director Assessment of Your Eligibility: A Director of the Board is not authorized to give you a determination on your eligibility, either before or after your application is filed.

CIH Reapplicants

An application is considered to be active for four consecutive exam windows, which equals two years. After the second year, your application expires. You must update the description of your current practice, provide an updated PRQ, and pay a reapplication fee to reactivate an expired application in order to sit for the exam. The application deadlines of February 1 or August 1 apply to all materials and fees that must be submitted by reapplicants. To reactivate an expired application and sit for the exam, you must complete the following steps:

  • Submit a Reapplication Application via your CAPS portal (choose the Education Pathways for Reapplicants in CAPS that says, “I have already been approved”)
  • Have a Professional Reference Questionnaire (PRQ) submitted by a work colleague or supervisor that can attest to the quality and professional practice that is no more than 12 months old (see Experience Requirements)
  • Update your work experience information in CAPS to document your current practice
  • Meet all current application requirements
  • Pay the $150 reapplication fee (non-refundable)
  Don’t Lose your Application! If your application file is inactive for more than three years without your being approved to sit for the exam, it will be automatically purged, and you will have to follow the procedure as a new applicant if you wish to apply again. Please notify us in writing before three years of inactivity to keep your file open and contact information up to date.  

Requirements to Be Eligible for the CIH

Academic Requirements

You must have a bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, physics, or engineering from a regionally-accredited college or university or from another college that is acceptable to the Board (see Industrial Hygiene Coursework below). An ABET-accredited program in industrial hygiene or safety also is accepted.

ABET-Accredited IH Programs :

ABET is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization that accredits college and university programs in the disciplines of applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. ABET accredits over 3,100 programs at more than 660 colleges and universities in 23 countries. ABET provides specialized, programmatic accreditation that evaluates an individual program of study, rather than evaluating an institution as a whole.

ABET accreditation, which is voluntary and achieved through a peer review process, provides assurance that a college or university program meets the quality standards established by the profession for which the program prepares its students.

ABET is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

ABET-Accredited Masters Level Industrial Hygiene Programs

ABET-Accredited Bachelors Level Industrial Hygiene Programs

The Board will consider, and may accept, any other bachelor’s degree from an acceptable college or university, provided that the degree is based upon appropriate coursework and represents at least 60 semester hours of creditable subjects, with at least 15 of those hours at the upper level (beyond intermediate, such as U.S. 3rd-year (Junior), 4th-year (Senior), or Graduate level). Creditable subjects are undergraduate or graduate-level courses in science, mathematics, engineering, and science-based technology.

Industrial Hygiene Coursework

The Board requires you to document the completion of 180 academic contact hours or 240 continuing education contact hours of specific industrial hygiene courses.

At least half of the required coursework (90 academic or 120 continuing education contact hours) must cover the broad subjects of industrial hygiene: toxicology, fundamentals of industrial hygiene, and measurements and controls. Conference-related professional development courses can be counted, but attendance at a conference cannot be counted as a training course.

  • Acceptable toxicology courses will cover the essential aspects of toxicology (adverse effects of chemicals on living systems) with an emphasis on humans. Topics covered are likely to include dose response relationships; absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of toxic substances in the body; biotransformation; organ systems; and chemical carcinogenesis and mutagenesis.
  • Fundamentals courses are likely to address the recognition of hazards/stressors found in the work environment. Included are chemical, physical (noise, radiation, thermal), biological, and ergonomic stressors.
  • Measurement courses and control (engineering, substitution, administrative, PPE) courses will address the same four broad stressor categories as fundamentals, above.
  • The remaining coursework may be in industrial hygiene subjects that are narrower in scope (e.g., asbestos, lead, mold, and confined space entry). The same course or training, if taken multiple times, will only be counted once toward eligibility. (This includes regulatory refresher courses such as HAZWOPER, asbestos training, or even a repeat of the same academic course.)

Experience Requirements

To be eligible for the examination, you must (a) have 48 months (four years) of employment in the professional practice of industrial hygiene and (b) currently be engaged in active practice at the time of application. If your industrial hygiene career has been interrupted for one year or less (because of unemployment, medical leave, etc.), we will consider you to be “in practice” for up to one year following your last position for the purpose of determining examination eligibility. Time outside of employment, however, cannot be counted toward experience credit.

Professional-Level Experience

To be recognized as “professional-level” work acceptable to the Board, your experience must meet the following four criteria:

  • Independence of actions. This relates to the amount of planning, self-direction, decision-making, and autonomy involved in your work experience.
  • Depth of work. This relates to the extent to which your work experience requires data-gathering, analysis, and interpretation.
  • Level of interaction. This relates to the degree to which you interact with a broad spectrum of contacts, including decision-makers.
  • Responsibility for work outcome. This relates to accuracy and the extent to which you are held accountable for your work and decisions.

Experience credit may be given for research, teaching, or industrial hygiene program administration if you have done them at a professional level.

Broad-Scope Industrial Hygiene

You must also be practicing “broad-scope” industrial hygiene. Two dimensions are evaluated in judging the scope of experience:

  • Work function. This includes the continuum of the process of industrial hygiene practice, which encompasses anticipation, recognition, evaluation, control, and management of occupational health hazards. Although we do not prescribe a proportion of time devoted to each of these aspects, your experience must exhibit broad-scope practice throughout the entire process.
  • Stressor category. This includes four generic categories of occupational health stressors: chemical, physical, biological, and ergonomic. You must document work experience in at least two of these four stressors.

We consider professional-level experience that does not meet the broad-scope criteria to be narrow-scope experience, for example: practice focused on lead, asbestos, mold, or focused on only one stressor (only chemical). A maximum of one year of narrow-scope experience may be credited toward eligibility.

A maximum of one year of experience equivalency may be credited for certain industrial hygiene degrees from institutions acceptable to the Board. Only the completed degree will be credited toward experience equivalency.

  • For bachelor’s level industrial hygiene degrees, six months’ experience credit will be awarded only when the program is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology (ABET).
  • For master’s level industrial hygiene degrees, one year of experience credit will be awarded only when the program is accredited by ABET.
  • One year may be granted for an acceptable doctoral degree, provided that the degree is in industrial hygiene, that all academic requirements have been completed, and that the degree has been conferred.

Internships (not receiving university credit) where you performed professional-level activities and where you can provide a reference that can attest to dates and quality of professional practice may be counted toward the work experience requirement.

  Avoid Investigations about the Validity of Your References and Documents: When references from different people have identical wording, they will be investigated to determine who actually prepared the reference. This can cause delays that may cause you to be prevented from taking the exam or being blocked permanently if you are found to have prepared the content of the reference. Sometimes, your supervisors and colleagues who are providing your references may need a memory jog about the work that you have done for them. Provide it verbally, not in writing or from a written job description, so that they are not tempted to cut and paste. Make sure that what you tell them is unique to the job that you did to avoid giving exactly the same information to other references and employers.  
 

Ineligible Professional Experiences:  The following do not count toward the work experience requirement:

  • Pre-professional level experience
  • Courses or research done for academic credit
  • Teaching course content that is pre-professional level
 

Professional References

Individuals wishing to apply for an CIH designation must provide three references from environmental professional. Applicants for the CIH must minimally have references submitted from three environmental professionals who are familiar with your academic abilities and achievements such as professors from your degree program. Applicants for the CIH who also have actual environmental work experience are encouraged to obtain references from supervisors or others who are familiar with your environmental work.

Each reference must be provided on the Board’s CIH Professional Reference Questionnaire Form (PRQ), have a hand-written signature (not a typed or script font) or a digital signature, and be prepared only by the person giving the reference. This form can be found on the BGC website in the CIH Documents & Forms section.

Avoid Investigations about the Validity of Your References and Documents: When references from different people have identical wording, they will be investigated to determine who actually prepared the reference. This may cause you to be prevented from taking the exam or being blocked permanently if you are found to have prepared the content of the reference. Sometimes, your supervisors and colleagues who are providing your references may need a memory jog about the work that you have done for them. Provide it verbally, not in writing or from a written job description, so that they are not tempted to cut and paste. Make sure that what you tell them what was unique to the acheivements that you areasking them to base their reference on and avoid giving exactly the same information to others that you are requesting references from.

Required Documentation for CIH Applicants

Unacceptable Academic Degrees or Credit

Remedies.If you have an unacceptable bachelor’s degree, you may remedy the situation with additional academic science coursework from an acceptable college or university or by completion of an acceptable cognate graduate degree.

Nonrelevant Courses.Academic credit granted by a college or university that is unrelated to appropriate coursework will not be accepted by BGC. Examples are the completion of:

  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
  • College Level Examination Program (CLEP) examinations
  • DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSSTs)
  • Similar equivalency credits granted by an institution for work/life experience

These are not considered educational courses that satisfy BGC’s academic certification eligibility requirements.

The social sciences are not considered to be qualifying sciences. Evaluation of the science content of your bachelor’s degree will be made from the official transcripts. When evaluators need more information about the content of your degree, such as course descriptions or content, we will ask you to provide the information. A review of your degree will not proceed until the information is received.

U.S. and Canadian Degrees

Official transcripts must be submitted for each degree. An official transcript is one sent directly to BGC by your college or university through mail or as secure e-transcripts. Alternatively, you may submit official transcripts if they are in a sealed envelope with the registrar’s stamp across the seal. When a degree includes credits that were transferred from another college or university, official transcripts for those course credits must be sent upon if requested.

The Board will consider a U.S. college or university to be acceptable when it holds institutional accreditation from one of the six U.S. Regional Accrediting Bodies or the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), which are recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the U.S. Department of Education. Your degree must be awarded during the time that the institutional accreditation is in effect.

A Canadian college or university will be considered acceptable if it is recognized under applicable provincial standards, depending on where the school is located. In addition, it may hold specialized program accreditation as noted by membership in Universities Canada (formerly the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada).

If you have an international degree(s) along with one from the United States or Canada, a transcript evaluation may not be required if the U.S. or Canadian degree(s) meets the STEM (Science, Science-based Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) coursework requirement. In some cases, a report may also be required for a Canadian degree. Please contact applications@GoBGC.org for advice.

 

Where to Send Transcripts:

email: applications@gobgc.org

surface mail:
BGC attn: Applications
6005 W St Joe Hwy Ste 300
Lansing, MI 48917 USA

 

International Degrees

A degree from a college or university that is located outside the United States or Canada will be considered for acceptability based on the institution’s accreditation status in the education system that has jurisdiction. Applicants with international degrees will be required to submit their transcript(s) for a credential evaluation unless the academic program is authorized by BGC or through a BGC-recognized accreditation agency to issue BGC verification statements. (BGC verification statements streamline and shorten the review for applicants. Please contact your program director to find out if your college or University has a relevant BGC verification statements.)

A member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. or a member of the Association of International Credential Evaluators must be used to prepare a credential evaluation report. You must request that the report be forwarded directly to BGC through the applications@gobgc.org portal. Below is a list of different services that our applicants have successfully used for transcript evaluations. BGC does not specifically endorse or recommend one service over another.

If your degree is in biology, chemistry, engineering, or physics, a General/Document-by-Document report must be provided. Any other degree requires a Comprehensive/Course-by-Course report. A Divisional Analysis may be necessary to identify upper-level courses.

Stand-alone, industrial hygiene-related specialty exams for other professional certifications, as well as many other non-certification exams used for licensing and registration, can be used as narrow-scope continuing education contact hours. Stand-alone exams are those offered independently from any other educational activities such as classes or workshops.

  • The exam must be at least 1 hour in duration and must align with one of the IH Subject Areas (Rubrics) or the IH Job Analysis.
  • One continuing education contact hour can be counted for each hour of IH content in the exam.
  • The exam must be offered by the organization responsible for overseeing exam development and administration.
  • You must provide documentation of successfully passing the exam and of exam duration to claim the equivalent continuing education contact hours.
  • You must also provide the exam blueprint for the version of the exam taken.

You can satisfy the IH coursework requirement if your required contact hours were completed as part of your academic degree.

If you took additional coursework to meet this requirement, you may submit academic courses, continuing education courses, or a combination, as follows:

  • One semester hour equals 15 academic contact hours or 20 continuing education contact hours.
  • One quarter hour equals 10 academic contact hours or 13 continuing education contact hours.
  • One CEU equals 10 continuing education contact hours.

For documentation of continuing education contact hours, you must upload copies of certificates to CAPS with your application. If the number of contact hours or CEUs is not stated on the certificate, you must include a course agenda or official supporting information that shows the time spent on IH topics.

Coursework Ethics Requirement

Applicants must document that they have completed at least two contact hours of coursework in ethics. Acceptable ethics courses include academic courses dealing with ethics, company training on business conduct or other ethics-related subjects, or continuing education courses that present ethics topics. Please note that ethics contact hours do not count towards the 240 hours of IH coursework.

 

Documentation of Work Experience in Industrial Hygiene

You must provide a minimum of two professional references for your application.

  • A reference from an applicant’s work colleague or supervisor is required to document current industrial hygiene practice. You must have references that can attest to your work experience in industrial hygiene practice covering the entire period that you are claiming as professional IH practice. If you are (or were) a principal in a business, then we will accept references from major clients.
  • Certified Industrial Hygienist. You must also have a reference from a CIH who is familiar with your industrial hygiene work and can describe, from firsthand experience, the nature of your industrial hygiene responsibilities.

Alternatives to a Reference from a CIH Who Is Familiar With Your IH Work

In the event that no CIH is available who is familiar with your industrial hygiene work, you have three options:

  1. You may substitute a reference from an individual certified at the professional level by an organization whose industrial/occupational hygiene certification scheme has been recognized by the International Occupational Hygiene Association (IOHA). The following list was current as of October 2019. Please refer to IOHA for organizations that have had their Certification Schemes recognized by IOHA for the most up-to-date information.
    • Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists (AIOH)
    • British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS)
    • Canadian Registration Board of Occupational Hygienists (CRBOH)
    • Dutch-Occupational-Hygiene-Society-NVVA
    • French Occupational Hygienists Society (SOFHYT). Document in French and document in English.
    • German Society for Occupational Hygiene (DGAH)
    • Hong Kong Institute of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
    • Institute of the Certification of the Figures of Prevention (Italy) (ICFP)
    • Japan Association for Working Environment Measurement (JAWE)
    • Malaysian Industrial Hygiene Association (MIHA)
    • Norwegian Occupational Hygiene Association (NYF)
    • Swedish Occupational and Environmental Certification Board (SOECB)
    • Southern African Institute for Occupational Hygiene (SAIOH)
    • Swiss Society of Occupational Hygiene (SSOH)
  2. none of your references is a CIH or holds a credential from an IOHA-NAR recognized organization, you can provide three written work samples.
    • Work samples must demonstrate hygiene activities (safety or environmental work samples cannot be accepted).
    • They must reflect anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of at least 2 different stressor categories.
    • Work samples may include reports with analysis of results and recommendations; written programs/procedures; or other documents that help to establish the scope, content, and professional level of the work. A work sample can also be supplemented with peripheral documents such as internal memos dealing with your industrial hygiene activities.
    • The samples must: span the time period being claimed as professional-level experience, include the original creation date, and have been prepared by you as the sole author.
    • Documents are kept confidential; however, you are allowed to redact proprietary information provided that the redactions do not obscure any information required for the evaluation. Documents must be sent in electronic format through CAPS. Hardcopy work samples will not be accepted.
  3.  Request a panel review of your work experience by email at applications@gobgc.org

Submitting References

References are required to document, from firsthand experience, your abilities, achievements, and the nature of your environmental practice using a CIH Professional Reference Questionnaire (PRQ) Form. A PRQ must comply with the requirements of this section. Each PRQ will remain confidential between the author and BGC.

  • You must initiate communication with your references to request that they submit the completed CIH Professional Reference Questionnaire (PRQ) Form that you will send them. BGC does not initiate communication with references for you.
  • Each reference must be provided on the Board’s CIH Professional Reference Questionnaire (PRQ) Form and be prepared only by the person giving the reference.
  • It is unacceptable for you to provide the response on the form and then have it signed by your reference We may use the contact information provided to verify the authenticity of the reference and confirm who prepared the text.
  • Each PRQ must be sent directly to BGC by the person writing the reference.

It is your responsibility to communicate with your reference(s) as frequently as needed to ensure that the PRQ is submitted in time to meet BGC application deadlines.

Unqualified and Suspicious Documentation

Professional Reference Questionnaires (PRQs) that appear to have been prepared by any of the following individuals may result in your application being rejected or delayed:

  • Your spouse or other relatives
  • A person whom you supervise
  • Yourself, preparing your own PRQ (even when it is for someone else to sign)

CIH Application Dates and Fees

Application/Reapplication Deadlines

All documentation required for the review and approval of your application or reapplication must be submitted by February 1 when applying for the spring examination or by August 1 for the fall examination.

Examinations are held each year at Prometric testing centers during two testing windows:

  • Examinees approved for the spring examination can make an appointment with Prometric for either April or May.
  • Examinees approved for the fall examination can schedule for either October or November.

You are only allowed to schedule one examination in a test window.

 

CIH Fees

The application, examination, and credential maintenance processes require you to pay fees on or before the due dates. The fees are listed in the table below. Fees may be subject to change.

Fee Amount Description
Application/Reapplication Fee $160

The fee to have your documents reviewed and to maintain your file.

Your application/reapplication fee is valid for 4 exam windows, which is equivalent to two years. You must pay a reapplication fee and submit updated documents every two years to keep your file active until you pass the exam.

Examination (Scheduling) Fee $370 The payment to schedule an exam and reserve a seat at the testing center.
Annual (Maintenance) Fee $180 ($90)

The yearly fee to maintain your credential after it is awarded.

Normally, your annual fee is paid by the beginning of each year. If you pass the exam in the spring, your first annual fee will be prorated to $85 for the remainder of the current year.

  Application or reapplication fees are neither refundable nor transferrable. Your examination fee is not refundable either, but if you cancel your examination with the testing center at least 48 hours in advance of the exam time, the fee will be carried over to when you schedule your re-examination as long as the additional test date is within the 2 year application window. If your cancellation is made less than 48 hours in advance, your fee is forfeited.  

Important Dates

The table below shows the dates for the spring and fall examination windows.

CIH Test Window Application Deadline Examination Dates
Spring February 1 April 1 – May 31
Fall August 1 October 1 – November 30

Overview of the CIH Exam

BGC conducts a Job Task Analysis (JTA) study, also known as the Role Delineation Study (RDS) or Practice Audit, and prepares supporting documentation and reports consistent with ISO/ANSI17024, NCCA, and CESB accreditation standards.

A panel of professionals is selected and convened who must represent a variety of practice settings, geographic regions, educational levels, gender, ethnicity, and years of experience. A BGC Board member is also included on the panel to assist in documenting the credibility of the process for the BGC Board.

Panel members must identify the domains, tasks, knowledge, and skills essential to performing the work of the practitioner. A large sample of professionals who were not involved in the JTA meetings is asked to review and validate the information and to ensure that the certification exam reflects the essential knowledge necessary for competent practice as a professional. The results are analyzed from the context to become the basis of the final CIH Exam Blueprint which lists the domains and elements for the credential. The subject matter experts also determine eligibility requirements and recertification requirements for the credential. As an additional validation step, participants can compare and contrast their work against documents prepared by other groups (if available), which identify tasks and supporting knowledge and skills in practice.

In order to ensure that credentialed practitioners protect the public through their work, BGC conducts a JTA every five to seven years so that eligibility, domains, tasks, knowledge, skills, examination, recertification, and ethical requirements reflect current, real-world practice.

Examination Purpose and Format

The examination is designed to test your knowledge across the broad general practice of industrial hygiene. You should expect questions in all subject areas (rubrics).

The exam contains 180 (150 questions plus 30 pilot questions) multiple-choice questions that are selected to match the job analysis. The questions are not grouped by subject area in the examinations. The job analysis and subject area (rubric) definitions currently in use by the Board can be found under CIH Exam Blueprint.

The examination is conducted in two sections. You may go back and review questions at any time during a section. The test is 2.5 hours for the first section, with an optional thirty-minute break, and then 2.5 hours for the second section. There is a short tutorial prior to the examination and a short survey following the exam. Instructions for the exam also explain how you can submit comments about the content of specific questions during the exam.  BGC staff will review your comments; however, for exam security reasons, staff will not be able to discuss your comments with you.

If you choose to take a thirty-minute break, you will have 30 minutes and no more. In other words, the second section of the exam will begin after 30 minutes, regardless of when you return from your break.

Examination Scoring

Your passing score is based on the total number of questions that you answer correctly in the entire examination. It will be to your advantage to answer all questions.

  • All questions have the same point value.
  • There is no penalty for incorrect answers (such as “number correct minus a percentage of the number of incorrect answers”).
  • A “passing” score is not required in each of the individual subject areas (rubrics).

A criterion-referenced passing score has been established by a panel of Certified Industrial Hygienists using appropriate standard-setting procedures under the guidance of Scantron. The passing score for each subsequent administration of the certification examination is based on a statistical equating process, which adjusts for fluctuations in difficulty levels across different versions of the examination. Equating is performed to help ensure that candidates are evaluated according to the same competency standard from year to year.

Examinees may request a review of their exam score by filling out the Review of Exam Score Form, which will be forwarded to our testing vendor who will conduct a score verification. The examinee should consider that, given the quality control procedures that are in place, it is highly unlikely that the score will change.

Notification of CIH Examination Results

Beginning with the Spring 2023 exam, examinees will be informed of their preliminary pass/fail status immediately after completing the examination.
  • We will confirm your official results and send them by email (using the primary email in your CAPS account) approximately four weeks after the examination date.
  • If you fail your examination, the notification of your results will include details of your overall score.
  • All examinees will receive a performance report indicating their scores in the individual subject areas.
  • Examinees can access their score report via CAPS.

Confidentiality

As noted in the BGC Privacy Policy, examination reports, scores, and failures are not released outside of BGC without your authorization. Studies and reports concerning candidates will contain no information identifiable with any candidate unless authorized by the candidate. The names of those who pass the examination will be listed under New Practitioners and entered in the Practitioner Rosters.

Re-Examination

If you are not successful in your examination attempt, you must wait until the next available window before you may retake the examination.

CIH Application Exam Pass Rate

CIH COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE EXAM

Year # Examinees # Who Passed Exam % Who Passed Exam
2022 Spring 313 171 54.6
2021 Fall 294 141 48.0
2021 Spring 275 145 52.7
2020 Fall 346 200 57.8
2020 Spring 88 63 71.6
2019 Fall 278 135 48.6
2019 Spring 315 164 52.1
2018 Fall 299 149 49.8
2018 Spring 290 125 43.1
2017 Fall 320 151 47.2
2017 Spring 286 139 48.6
2016 Fall 270 117 43.3
2016 Spring 252 124 49.2
2015 Fall 269 132 49.1
2015 Spring 251 136 54.2
2014 Fall 285 108 37.9
2014 Spring 257 108 42.0
2013 Fall 279 106 38.0
2013 Spring 253 126 49.8
2012 Fall 269 128 47.6
2012 Spring 257 93 36.2
2011 Fall 233 87 37.3
2011 Spring 229 87 38.0
2010 Fall 213 88 41.3
2010 Spring 197 75 38.1
2009 Fall 244 99 40.6
2009 Spring 220 87 39.5
2008 Fall 190 71 37.4
2008 Spring 220 83 37.7
2007 Fall 212 87 41.0
2007 Spring 214 83 38.8
2006 Fall 169 71 42.0
2006 Spring 195 96 49.2
2005 Fall 209 100 47.8
2005 Spring 195 113 57.9
2004 Fall 228 86 37.7
2004 Spring 222 86 38.7
2003 Fall 362 142 39.2
2003 Spring 352 163 46.3

Preparing for the CIH Exam

The BGC Board encourages you to consider your knowledge and experience in light of the CIH Examination Subject Areas (CIH Exam Rubrics) and to assess your recognized strengths and weaknesses. Self-study, specific training, and group discussions are recognized methods of improving perceived weaknesses. However, the Board does not endorse or support specific training courses, study guides, or other activities that are intended or purported to be prepared for its examinations.

Publications and References

This list of references is provided as a guide for exam preparation purposes and represents a selection of recommended resources. It is important to note that this list is not exhaustive and may not cover all potential exam questions. The inclusion of these references does not imply that they are the sole resources necessary for exam preparation, nor does it guarantee that all exam questions will be based solely on these materials. It is advisable for candidates to supplement their study materials with additional resources to ensure comprehensive preparation for the exam.

2024 TLVs® and BEIs®. ACGIH

Accident Prevention Manual for Business and Industry: Administration & Programs. (13th ed.) National Safety Council

Advanced Safety Management: Focusing on Z10, 45001, and Serious Injury Prevention. (3rd ed.). Manuele, F. Wiley

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 110 Methods of Testing Performance of Laboratory Fume Hoods

ANSI/ASSP.Z10.0-2019 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems.

ASHRAE 62.1 Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality.

Bioaerosols: Assessment and Control (2nd ed.). Marcham, C. & Springston, J. (Eds.). ACGIH

Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) (6th ed.). CDC/NIH. https://www.cdc.gov/labs/pdf/SF__19_308133-A_BMBL6_00-BOOK-WEB-final-3.pdf 

Code of Ethics. BGC. https://www.gobgc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/BGC-Code-of-Ethics-2021-09-09.pdf

Ethics Case Procedure. BGC. https://gobgc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Ethics-Case-Procedures-July-2017-BGC-Nov-2020-1.pdf

Ethics for the Safety and Health Professional: Approaches and Case Studies. Wachter, J. AIHA

Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene (5th ed.; 6th ed.; 7th ed.). Plog, B. & Quinlan, P. National Safety Council

A Guide to Human Factors and Ergonomics (2nd ed.). Helander, M. Taylor & Francis.

Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities, 2008 Update: May 2019. Rutala, W.A., Weber, D.J., and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC). CDC

The IAQ Investigator’s Guide. Gunderson, E.C. AIHA.

Industrial Ventilation: A Manual of Recommended Practice for Design. ACGIH

Industrial Hygiene & Safety Auditing: A Manual for Practice. Hollenbeck, C. AIHA

ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems. ISO

NIOSH Pocket Guide. NIOSH. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/default.html

NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (5th ed.). Andrews, R. & O’Conner, P.F. Eds. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nmam/pdf/NMAM_5thEd_EBook-508-final.pdf

The Noise Manual (5th ed.), Berger, E.H. AIHA

The Occupational Environment, Its Evaluation Control and Management (2nd ed.) DiNardi Ed. AIHA

The Occupational Environment: Its Evaluation, Control and Management (3rd ed.). Anna, D. Ed. AIHA

Occupational Exposure Sampling Strategy Manual NIOSH. https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/11158

OSHA Technical Manual. OSHA. https://www.osha.gov/otm  

Patty’s Industrial Hygiene. Cohrssen, B. Ed. Wiley

Recognition, Evaluation, and Control of Indoor Mold (2nd ed.). Hung, L., Caulfield, S.M., & Miller, J.D. AIHA

Recognition, Evaluation, and Control of Legionella in Building Water Systems (2nd ed.) AIHA

Recognition of Health Hazards in Industry, A Review of Materials and Processes, (2nd ed.).  Burgess, W.A.

Responding to Community Outrage: Strategies for Effective Risk Communication. Sandman, P. AIHA.

Safety and Health for Engineers (4th ed.). Brauer, R.L. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Strategy for Assessing and Managing Occupational Exposures (4th ed.). Jahn, S., Bullock, W., & Ignacio, J. AIHA

Toxicology Principles for the Industrial Hygienist (2nd ed.). Luttrell et al. AIHA

Welding Health and Safety: A Field Guide for OEHS Professionals, (2nd ed.). Harris, M.K. & Phibbs, M.R. AIHA

Sample Questions

The following are provided to familiarize you with the nature and form of questions that may be found in the Board’s examinations. Their subject matter and level of difficulty do not necessarily reflect the content of BGC examinations.

A mixture contains:

50 mL benzene (m.w.=78) v.p.= 75 mm, Hg;  sp. gr.= 0.879
25 mL carbon tetrachloride (m.w. = 154), v.p. = 91 mm, Hg;  sp. gr. = 1.595
25 mL trichloroethylene (m.w. = 131.5), v.p. = 58 mm, Hg; gr. = 1.455

 

  1. Assuming Raoult’s Law is obeyed, what will be the concentration of benzene in air at 760 mm Hg saturated with vapor of the above mixture?
    1. 3.5%
    2. 4.5%
    3. 5.1%
    4. 9.9%

     

  2. Which one of the following health effects may be manifested by chronic overexposure to benzene?
    1. Abdominal colic
    2. Bladder tumors
    3. Cholinesterase depression
    4. Leukemogenic cancer

     

  3. What is the ACGIH Threshold Limit Value for hydrogen fluoride primarily intended to guard against?
    1. delayed lung edema
    2. mottling of tooth enamel
    3. respiratory tract irritation
    4. tubular kidney injury

     

  4. Under usual operating conditions, what is the static pressure at the discharge side of a fan with 10′ length of discharge duct?
    1. equal to the velocity pressure
    2. less than the atmospheric pressure
    3. equal to the total pressure
    4. greater than the atmospheric pressure

     

  5. 1,000 cfm is to be drawn into a round, freely suspended duct of 6″ diameter. What is the expected centerline velocity at 4″ outside the duct opening?
    1. 286 fpm
    2. 534 fpm
    3. 765 fpm
    4. 915 fpm

     

  6. Two separate noise sources of 98 dBA and 96 dBA respectively are installed and operated together. What is the combined noise level?
    1. 99 dBA
    2. 100 dBA
    3. 101 dBA
    4. 194 dBA

     

  7. A maintenance worker must enter an empty reactor vessel for cleaning, inspection, and lining repair. In the absence of continuous ventilation and testing of the air in the vessel, what should an industrial hygienist recommend?
    1. an organic vapor respirator for the worker and a helper with a lifeline within earshot
    2. performance of the work at night with prior notice to the city’s Emergency Response Unit
    3. flushing the tank with a suitable organic solvent before the worker enters
    4. a SCBA and fixed lifeline for the worker and a helper directly outside the tank

     

  8. Workers in a brass foundry complain of fever and general malaise on Mondays following a weekend respite from work. What should an industrial hygienist be equipped to obtain upon arriving at the foundry?
    1. blood samples to detect carbon monoxide exposures
    2. air samples to measure exposures to zinc fume
    3. potable water samples to detect PCB concentration
    4. urine samples to measure exposures to lead

     

  9. What do the radioisotopes 238U, 40 K, 226 Ra, and 235U have in common?
    1. Each is an alpha emitter
    2. Each is a neutron emitter
    3. Each occurs in nature
    4. Each has an analogue normally found in the human body

     

  10. Why is stack sampling for particulate aerosols done in an isokinetic manner?
    1. to avoid size discrimination of collected particles
    2. to minimize particle deposition in the sampling tube
    3. to collect the respirable-size particles only
    4. to collect samples suitable for direct analysis

     

  11. Theoretically, what is the minimum number of sound pressure level measurements needed to determine the sound power output from a non-directional noise source in a free field?
    1. one
    2. two
    3. four
    4. eight

     

  12. What are too many levels of management, chronic and recurring internal problems, and numerous meetings attended by many people typically symptoms of?
    1. poor communications
    2. lack of management training
    3. poor employee morale
    4. a flawed organizational structure

Scheduling Your CIH Exam

The Board for Global EHS Credentialing’s certification examinations are delivered at Prometric Test Centers located throughout the United States and internationally. The examinations are administered by appointment only, Monday through Saturday.

Your eligibility to take the examination is valid for two years from the last day of the month when your application was approved and will expire after that time. If you fail to schedule an appointment for this examination within the two-year period, you will forfeit the application and all fees paid to take the examination. A complete application and examination fee are required to reapply for the examination.

Scheduling Your Appointment

Your examination fee must be paid before you will be allowed to schedule your examination. You will not appear in Prometric’s computer file of approved examinees until you have paid your examination fee. When your fee has been processed, you will receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) letter.

To ensure that you obtain your preferred location and date, you should call Prometric immediately or go online to schedule an appointment. You must schedule your exam at least 9 calendar days prior to the end of the testing window to be able to sit for the exam.

You will need to provide the following information when scheduling your appointment:

  • Your name
  • Your identification number (listed in the Authorization to Test letter)
  • A daytime telephone number
  • The name of the examination sponsor (BGC) and the examination you are taking (CIH)

 

Online Scheduling

We recommend that you schedule your appointment online because it is faster and more efficient. You must have an email address to schedule.

If you schedule online, you will receive an email confirmation of your appointment.

Telephone Scheduling

If you are scheduling by phone in North America, call Prometric’s Customer Service Contact Center (CSCC) at (800) 800-1123. Operators are available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Please note that you will not receive written notification concerning your appointment if you schedule via telephone. If you are an international examinee, please check the Prometric website for the country-specific telephone numbers.

Confirmation Number

When you schedule your appointment, either by telephone or online, you will receive a confirmation number. Make sure you keep a record of your confirmation number and appointment information. You will need your confirmation number if you want to confirm, reschedule, or cancel your appointment. BGC will not have your confirmation number in our records.

Test Site Location

You may take your examination at Prometric Testing Centers (PTC) in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Samoa, the Virgin Islands, and internationally.

Determine the best PTC location for taking your examination by selecting Locate a Test Center on Prometric’s website www.prometric.com.

  • When scheduling your appointment, you should confirm the address of your test center and obtain directions.
  • You may obtain directions to the PTC at Prometric’s website or by calling Prometric’s Customer Service Contact Center.

 

Examination Window

You must test during the window for which you were approved.

  • The spring testing window opens on April 1 and closes on May 31.
  • The fall testing window opens October 1 and closes on November 30.

 

Confirming Your Appointment

It is your responsibility to verify that you have been scheduled for the date, time, and place you have requested.

You may confirm your appointment in two ways.

  • Call (800) 800-1123 or the applicable international number and select the option for confirming your appointment.
  • Confirm your appointment online at prometric.com.

You can confirm your appointment online even if you scheduled your appointment by telephone.

Special Arrangements for Candidates with Disabilities

Prometric and the Board for Global EHS Credentialing comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and strive to ensure that no individual with a disability (as defined by the ADA as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment) is deprived of the opportunity to take the examination solely by reason of that disability. Prometric will provide reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities. Candidates requesting special accommodations must call Prometric at 800-967-1139 to schedule their examination.

  1. Wheelchair access is available at all established Test Centers. Candidates must advise Prometric at the time of scheduling that wheelchair access is necessary.
  2. Candidates with visual, sensory, physical, or learning disabilities that would prevent them from taking the examination under standard conditions may request special accommodations and arrangements.
  3. A full list of the services and accommodations Prometric provides can be accessed by reading their Testing Accommodations website information.

Verification of the disability and a statement of the specific type of assistance needed MUST BE MADE IN WRITING TO the Board for Global EHS Credentialing by completing the Test Accommodation Request Form. This form is due by the application deadline. BGC will review the submitted forms, consult with the vendor, and contact you regarding the decision for accommodations.

Missed Appointments/Forfeitures

You will forfeit the examination registration and all fees paid under the following circumstances:

  • You wish to reschedule an examination but fail to contact Prometric at least two business days prior to the scheduled testing session
  • You wish to reschedule a second time
  • You appear more than 15 minutes late for an examination
  • You fail to report for an examination appointment

A completed application form and examination fee are required to reapply for examination.

Inclement Weather/Power Failure/Other Emergency

In the event of inclement weather or unforeseen emergencies on the day of an examination, Prometric will determine whether circumstances warrant the cancellation, and subsequent rescheduling, of an examination. The examination will usually not be rescheduled if the Test Center personnel are able to open the Test Center.

You may visit https://live-prometric.pantheonsite.io/closures prior to the examination to determine if Prometric has been advised that any Test Centers are closed. Every attempt is made to administer the examination as scheduled; however, should an examination be canceled at a Test Center, all scheduled candidates will receive notification following the examination regarding rescheduling or reapplication procedures.

If the power to a Test Center is temporarily interrupted during an administration, your examination will be restarted. The responses provided up to the point of interruption will be intact.

Cancellation and Rescheduling of Exams

If you need to cancel, delay, or change your examination location, you must do so at least 48 hours in advance of your scheduled exam. You may cancel or reschedule by calling (800) 800-1123 or the applicable international number. You will need to provide your confirmation number.

If you miss your examination appointment, you will not be rescheduled, and you will forfeit the testing fees.

If you are late for your examination appointment, you may not be admitted. Late admission is at the discretion of the Prometric testing center.

If you decide to delay your examination to a future examination window, please consult your Authorization to Test (ATT) letter for reapplication details.

Problems with Prometric Scheduling and Testing

You should call the BGC office at (517) 853-5763 (between 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday, U.S. Eastern Time) if you encounter either of the following problems:

  • You cannot schedule an exam because the Prometric operator does not have a file with your name and identification number.
  • You arrive at your scheduled examination appointment but are unable to test due to Prometric technical or personnel issues.

What to Expect on CIH Exam Day

Plan to arrive at the test center at least 30 minutes prior to your scheduled exam time. If you arrive more than 15 minutes after the scheduled testing time, you will not be admitted. Calculators built into cellular/smartphones are not permitted in the test center.

What to Bring

Pearson Vue Test Center Update – Please Read

The test center will no longer provide paper and pencils for calculations. Scratch paper, which you can use to calculate, is embedded and can be found in the upper left corner of each question next to the equation sheets and the calculator icons.

In addition, the BGC Equation Sheets will be accessible by clicking the Equation Sheet button on the exam screen – which will be explained during the pre-test instructions.

You must bring these three items:

  • Your Authorization to Test (ATT) letter from Pearson.
  • Your current, valid, government-issued photo identification document with a signature (e.g., driver’s license or passport) must match the name you used to register for the exam.
  • Your Pearson confirmation number.
  • Personal calculators will no longer be allowed in the testing session. A calculator has been programmed into the entire examination and is available during the testing session. Instructions on the use and location of the calculator icon are included in the pre-test instructions.
  • The URL below can be used to practice with the calculator. www.pearsonvue.com/athena 
  • Security measures will be implemented, including capturing a digital fingerprint and information from your identification (including an image of your photo).
  • A score report will be printed at the end of the exam. Candidates may also retrieve their score report from their account after notification that the score report is ready.
Avoid Identification Headaches:  The name on your government-issued photo identification document must match the name that you used to register for the exam. If you have a name change, such as by marriage, please email BGC at applications@GoBGC.org and notify Prometric (prometric.com/contact-us) immediately. If you do not provide the required identification or fully participate in the identity validation process during check-in and breaks, you will not be permitted to test, and you will forfeit your testing fees.

Examination Restrictions

You are prohibited from bringing items into the examination room except for the items specified above. Banned items include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • The use of reference materials is not allowed.
  • No documents or notes of any kind may be removed from the Test Center.
  • No questions concerning the content of the examination may be asked during the examination.
  • Eating, drinking, or smoking is not permitted in the Test Center.
  • You may take a break whenever you wish, but you will not be allowed additional time to make up for time lost during breaks.

Security

Prometric administration and security standards are designed to ensure all candidates are provided the same opportunity to demonstrate their abilities. The Test Center is continuously monitored by audio and video surveillance equipment for security purposes.

The following security procedures apply during the examination:

  • Examinations are proprietary. No cameras, notes, tape recorders, pagers, or cellular/smartphones are allowed in the testing room. Possession of a cellular/smartphone or other electronic devices is strictly prohibited and will result in dismissal from the examination.
  • No guests, visitors, or family members are allowed in the testing room or reception areas.

Personal Belongings

No personal items, valuables, or weapons should be brought to the Test Center. Personal items must be left outside the testing room. You will be provided a locker to store your personal items. You will not have access to these items until after the examination is completed. Please note the following items will not be allowed in the testing room and must be kept in the secured locker:

  • Watches
  • Hats
  • Wallets
  • Keys
  • Cellphones
  • Pagers
  • Books and manuals
  • Notes or reference materials
  • PDAs or other electronic devices
  • Food or drinks
  • Jewelry
  • Jackets

If all personal items will not fit in the locker, you will not be able to test. The site will not be responsible for any personal belongings.

Once you have placed your personal items into the locker, you will be asked to do the following to ensure that no prohibited items enter the testing center:

  • If your test center has one, you will be asked to walk through a metal detector.
  • The test center administrator will perform a visual inspection of your person.

You will be required to:

  • Take off your glasses to check for camera devices.
  • Pull up your sleeves and show your forearms for full visibility of your wrists.
  • Turn your pockets completely inside out to ensure they are empty.
  • Raise your pantlegs for full visibility of your ankles.
  • Depending on the exam you are taking, there may be a test-day photo taken.

If any personal items are observed or heard (cellular/smartphones, alarms) in the testing room after the examination is started, you will be dismissed, and the administration will be forfeited.