The title of this blog post is something I have heard time and time again in a variety of different forums, Facebook groups, and LinkedIn posts. The conversation usually starts with someone asking for guidance on how to prepare for a certification, or which certification they should begin to pursue. Someone invariably will chime in and try to dissuade the poster from moving forward with getting a certification.
I was standing in line at the testing center, waiting for my turn to undergo the mental pain and anguish of an undergraduate science exam. The testing center at my university was an interesting place - it was quiet except for the occasional cough or shuffling of feet, and many swore they could smell the cortisol in the air.
How do I study for a certification exam? Do I need to pay for a review course? What are some good study resources to prepare? These are just a few of the questions I asked when I was preparing for my first certification exam, and that I have subsequently been asked by other professionals beginning their journal to certification. Here is what I have learned through the years as someone who has been successful with many certifications and actively is involved in preparing others to be successful.
I consider the Certified Safety Professional®, the Certified Industrial Hygienist, and the Certified Hazardous Materials Manager the EHS Triad of Certifications; individuals who have achieved these credentials have demonstrated knowledge across the main areas where EHS professionals often hold responsibility. Although credentials do not automatically make someone an outstanding safety professional, anyone who has spent any time in the environmental health and safety (EHS) field is well-aware that there are many EHS-related credentials available.
I’m pretty active in social media and participate in a few safety groups on Facebook and LinkedIn. Although I prefer LinkedIn due to the quality of posts and the value of the discussions, I do spend time in some Facebook groups dedicated to safety “professionals.” I use the term lightly because some of the conversations and opinions I see being shared are anything but professional some are downright scary.
Back in early January, I started watching what was going on in China with an outbreak of a novel virus. At the time, it got a bit of a mention on the news here and there. But it was there, and we were here, so no big deal; nothing to worry about. Fast forward to late March, and the world of a Safety Professional seems to have changed quite a bit in response to what we now know as SARS-CoV-2.
You worked hard to earn your EH&S certification and now you’re in maintenance mode. However, you may be finding it difficult to work full-time, be available for your family and friends and have enough time to maintain your certification.
You've been studying for the CIH exam for months on end. Maybe you think you can't take one more stroke or read one more sample question. Maybe your brain is clouded like murky water and you can't get through the sea of anemone jumbling your thoughts. As Dory sings in the film, Finding Nemo, "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming." That's Dory-speak for keep on truckin', keep the faith, and keep your eyes on the prize.
Keep reading as Sonia Lal, a Bowen EHS client, tells her story about how she just kept swimming, swimming, and swimming....
We often receive questions from our clients about other exam prep resources they are using to prepare for their EH&S certification exam. We know we have a great product, but it's not the only resource you can use for your exam prep.
You might be preparing to take the comprehensive exam for the Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), the Associate Safety Professional (ASP), the Certified Safety Professional (CSP), or the Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) certification. You studied all the rubric topics or subject matter, practiced with hundreds of sample exam questions, and memorized your flashcards. Now your exam date is looming, and you might not feel ready. Having an exam day strategy can help reduce your stress.
Are you interested in earning your Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) certification? Do you know if you qualify? Do you know where to start?
The following steps will help you begin the process of earning and maintaining your CIH certification.
1. Know the certifying agency.
The Board for Global EHS Credentialing (BGC) awards the CIH certification. (GoBGC.org)
Would you like to pursue the Associate Safety Professional® (ASP®) or Certified Safety Professional® (CSP®) certification and don’t know where to start? We know it can seem daunting and you’re not even sure what the first step is. That’s okay. We understand. We’re here to help.
Learning a new discipline or grasping a new concept isn't always easy for most of us. To really understand the new concept or idea, one must, well….. practice, practice and practice some more. There are a few things we can master the first time we are presented with the information, but most of the time, we must go through the material again and again and again. (And maybe some more.)
Some of our most popular and powerful exam resources are our Exam Logistics Forums. In them, you can post your impression of the certification exam, tips about how you prepared for the exam, resources you used to study, or about your experience at the testing center. We strongly encourage the use of these forums.
As you know, our instructors are here to help you prepare for and pass your certification exams. From teaching online courses to meeting you online during study sessions, to setting up personal encouragement phone calls, our instructors' main goal is to see you through passing your certification exam.
A common question I receive from Bowen EHS ASP/CSP class participants is: "when will I know I am ready to take the exam?" You don't want to wait too long because you want the course material to be fresh, yet you do not want to take it too soon, only to find that you're not ready. Here are some practical tips to help you make that decision for yourself:
I mentor lots of people preparing to pass their EH&S certification exam. Some folks are working toward a safety certification, including the Associate Safety Professional (ASP) and the Certified Safety Professional (CSP).
You prepared for months, reviewed practice exam questions by the thousands, and you hope you’re prepared enough to take your ASP, CSP, CIH, or CHMM exam.
Moving takes place in several phases. Beyond the packing and unpacking, there are subtleties like where to put your lava lamp and which room offers the best lighting for that Elvis picture you inherited from your Uncle Albert.
I get it. We all do. You feel run down with the stresses of everyday life. You don't have time for one more thing that's going to take up hours in your day.
At Bowen EHS, we believe our clients are most successful when connected to a supportive learning community. One of the major components to this success is great customer care and service.
Once upon a time, there was an EHS (Environmental, Health, and Safety) Professional named Goldilocks.
Goldilocks worked for a shipping company. She was a valued member of the management team, and she was well respected by her co-workers.
Okay.
I am ready.
I am going to do it.
I am going to take the exam.
You received this week’s study question and it doesn’t look right. The solution says the correct answer is C, but the explanation clearly states B should be the correct answer.
I bought a new car in December. It is a 2016 Subaru Outback and I am still pretty excited about it.
I decided to get the premium package with the automatic hatch lift and heated seats.
We get this question quite often and our honest answer is “We don’t know.” We are honored that some of our clients believe we are the certifying body for some EH&S certifications, especially those we have exam prep courses for.
Benjamin Franklin once said, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”
We are often asked “If I take your review course, am I guaranteed to pass the exam?” Our short answer is “No.”
Early in my safety and health career, I sat for the CIH and CSP as soon as I was qualified. After passing, I made a vow to myself that I would do whatever it takes to never have to sit for those exams again.
We frequently hear the question "what do I need to do become a CIH or a CSP or a CHMM?"
If you have asked this question, please continue reading. This post is for you.
This is an interesting question, especially around the career of occupational health and safety. I'm certain the meaning of a being a professional is as varied as the number of people that consider themselves professionals. However, there are probably a core set of values and ideas that resonate with the majority of professionals.
