Aurora Le earns occupational health and safety practice’s top credential, Certified Industrial Hygienist

Aurora Le, PhD, an associate professor at the Texas A&M University School of Public Health, recently earned an elite Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) credential. She is one of only five Texas A&M employees to hold the certification.

The CIH, which is issued by the Board for Global EHS Credentialing, is considered the national and international gold standard certification for the occupational health and safety practice. Recipients have demonstrated their understanding of how to identify and investigate chemical, physical, biological, and ergonomic hazards and then prepare a plan to eliminate or minimize the hazard to prevent exposure-related illnesses and death in workplaces and communities.

Globally, only about 8,000 individuals hold this prestigious certification. Texas A&M currently leads all universities in the number of CIH recipients on staff and faculty. In addition to Le, other recipients include School of Public Health Dean Shawn Gibbs and Public Health Professor of Practice Dennis Johnson; Texas A&M University Environmental Health and Safety Assistant Vice President Christina Robertson; and Texas A&M Utilities and Energy Services Assistant Director of Safety & Environmental Compliance Joseph Gallucci.

The rigorous test, which only has a 40 percent pass rate, requires prospective test takers to already have completed certified education courses in areas such as ethics, science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Additionally, these individuals need to have specific work experience and recommendations from two CIH holders.

The test is given twice a year and test takers must complete the 180 questions, which includes computations, over a five-hour period. “It’s an arduous process,” Le said. “It’s a comprehensive examination that consists of the entire occupational hazards core, including ventilation, radiation, biological hazards, noise exposures, personal protective equipment selection, general chemistry, community health and leadership and management.”

CIH designations must be reestablished every five years with continuing education requirements that can be achieved through attendance at national conferences and webinars, conducting research and publishing articles on industrial hygiene topics.

These certified individuals also are required to uphold certain ethical and practice standards, which increases their value in the eyes of employers and clients. “As a researcher who does work in the occupational health space workplace setting, having this certification increases my confidence and boosts my credibility with clients,” said Le, who also holds a Certified Safety Professional designation.

The School of Public Health is encouraging students to consider the benefits of seeking certification and taking foundational courses as part of their coursework to begin to prepare. Le noted that many employers value the certification and, seeing it as a return on investment, are willing to pay for the employee’s preparation and testing. The School of Public Health’s Master of Public Health, in particular concentrations in Environmental Health and Occupational Safety and Health, can help students become eligible to sit for the exam.

Earning CIH certification offers multiple benefits. For example, annual salaries for employees who hold CIH certification are approximately $20,000 higher than employees who don’t have this type of certification. Additionally, holding a CIH opens a range of lucrative consulting opportunities. “While the process of earning the CIH is challenging, the rewards and international recognition received if the designation is earned is immeasurable in your career,” Le said. “I highly encourage our students to seek professional certification.”