These are questions we have been asked in the past at Hazmacon and dinner meetings. Send any corrections or additions to Georgina Dannatt: e-mail:gdannatt@juno.com. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Institute of Hazardous Materials Management (IHMM) is the founding organization and is a non-profit, private group composed of :
The Board evaluates the qualifications of candidates, they monitor and maintain the quality of the exam, administer the exam, and grant the CHMM credential.
The Academy of Certified Materials Managers (ACHMM) was originally formed as a subsidiary of IHMM, but in October 1995, ACHMM incorporated as a separate entity to protect the IHMM's tax status which does not allow it to conduct membership activities. An affiliation agreement joins the Institute and the Academy. As the membership arm of the CHMM program, the role of the Academy is to charter chapters, conduct education and training, provide a conduit for peer interaction and information exchange, and to help define standards in hazardous materials management.
Originally, a group of about 20 professionals got together in 1983 to develop a much needed multi-disciplinary certification. The current Board of Directors consists of five senior professionals. These are not elected positions. The positions are not paid, and travel expenses are not reimbursed. There is also a category of CHMM Fellows, who are a select group of long-time, distinguished CHMMs who have been deemed worthy of special honors by the IHMM Board.
IHMM - 1984; ACHMM - 1985; Exam - 1984
None. Hal Gordon was involved with the Certified Hazard Control Managers which has a separate board. Originally many of the CHMMs came from this broader certification background which has less stringent certification requirements. IHMM is not in the training business so as to avoid any conflicts of interest. ACHMM is the entity offering training.
Activities related to certification. Develop and administer the exam (arrange for space and proctors with sponsoring institutions of higher learning, review applications), publish brochures, publish the handbook, advertise, answer inquiries and send out information, distribute dues cards and directories, monitor legislation to promote the credential, review recertification submittals, work with new chapters and universities to set up exam programs, and provide office space/equipment for the Board's Executive and Deputy Directors, support staff, and office operations. In the past, ACHMM was a subsidiary and therefore received money to support office operations and an Academy Executive Director.
Mainly activities related to professional development and dissemination of knowledge. Holds annual national meetings and periodic committee meetings, publish a newsletter, provide assistance for the establishment of new chapters, answer inquiries and send out information, distribute dues cards, promote the credential, disseminate ACHMM and IHMM organizational information to chapters, arrange remote meetings for CHMMs not near a local chapter, and provide office space/equipment and salary for one support staff position for Academy operations. ACHMM is in the process of developing or has recently developed local chapter set up and expansion guidelines, on-line services, an insurance program, and improvements to the newsletter. Due to monetary shortages in 1994 and 1995, other programs which were under development have been eliminated, including a book publishing program, a job bank, a speakers' bureau, and a professional journal. After budget cutting and a couple of successful annual meetings, ACHMM's financial situation is once again healthy.
Over 8,500 CHMMs nationwide as of March 1998. About 100 new CHMMs are added monthly.
There are at least 58 organized chapters in at least 36 states and one territory (Guam). A list is available from the ACHMM. At this time there is not a chapter in Southern California or Sacramento. New chapters are formed by a core of interested CHMMs getting together, promoting the group to get local members, and then following a set of guidelines for set up of the formal chapter structure.
It should be noted that CHMM is the oldest certification program in the nation dealing with hazardous materials management, and the most respected, and the most recognized.
CHMMs must:
The CHMM credential recognizes the interdisciplinary nature of our profession requires a broad range of academic backgrounds, and also a common need for an understanding of the regulations and hazardous material management principles. All professionals passing the exam are held to the same standard. The CHMM credential serves as an independent validation that a person has meet this standard.
A CHMM must demonstrate a broad range of knowledge in the environmental arena and a proficiency in the full range of applicable regulations. The credential is useful both to people as a complement to their existing licenses in specific disciplines (such as a PE or RG), and to people who may have no license available. Many talented environmental professionals have an academic background in chemistry, environmental science, biology, and related science disciplines. These people are generally not eligible to apply for and take the exams for the more focused PE or RG exams without first obtaining a sizable number of undergraduate academic credits in the engineering or geology disciplines.
No. The Hazardous Materials programs offered by UC Extension are similar to a mini degree program resulting in issuance of a certificate, as opposed to a certification. The CHMM certification program holds all participants to the same standard through administration of a nationwide examination and requirements proficiency in our business. The use of the CHMM credential without meeting IHMM certification requirements represents the same breech of professional ethics as would the use of the PE or RG credential without meeting requirements for those credentials. The attendance of college courses, receipt of a college certificate, or recognition by another professional organization does not make one a CHMM.
Since 1993, the UC Santa Cruz and UC Berkeley extension programs in conjunction with our local chapter has offered the CHMM overview course and sponsored the exam. UC has published information in their brochures describing the CHMM certification exam as sort of a final achievement that the UC certificate programs qualify a person to take. Copies of brochures for the next class will be available in our booth.
States with passed legislation include New Jersey, Louisiana, Indiana, and North Carolina pending for legislation in Illinois, Virginia, Wisconsin, Missouri, Ohio, and others. Many states are recognizing the need for a credential specific to environmental expertise; some are developing their own programs and some are recognizing CHMM. For example, in New Jersey, a Professional Engineer may still sign off for the engineering soundness of an Environmental Impact Report, but a CHMM must sign off the environmental portion. Legislation allowing CHMM sign-off had passed in Indiana but was struck down due the lobbying efforts of the Profession Engineers organization.
EPA had solicited comments in 1993 regarding the appropriateness of CHMMs signing off on Spill Prevention, Countermeasure, and Control Plans (SPCCs). Originally, CHMM was the only certification this input was requested for, but after publication in the Federal Register, a lot of other organizations requested to be evaluated also. The EPA apparently decided it would be too difficult to evaluate so many programs, and decided not to do anything.
In January 1996, the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB) accredited the CHMM credential. Changes are now underway to the CHMM recertification program to continue to meet the rigorous requirements of the CESB.
Many industrial firms and government agencies are also recognizing the credential. Agencies such as the National Park Service, numerous Air Force installations, Army Corps of Engineers, several U.S. EPA Regions, U.S. Department of Energy, the FDIC, Colorado Department of Transportation, and local government entities have policies or contracts requiring their projects to be overseen by CHMMs. About 20 utility companies require CHMM credential for their own employees and/or for contracts they let (e.g. New Jersey Public Gas & Electric, PG&E, Pacific Gas Transmission, Nebraska Power & Light). Private industry and consulting firms (TRW, IT, GTI, Roy F. Weston, WMX/Rust Remedial (former Chem Waste), ICF Kaiser Engineers, General Motors) are also requiring the credential for new hires and current employees. A few companies treat it like a degree program offering a bonus when you pass the exam. Government agencies in New Jersey, Indiana, and North Carolina (and possibly Kansas and Louisiana) are also requiring certification for their staff.
At this time, the CHMM credential is not officially recognized by the State of California. NCC-ACHMM strives to have people monitoring upcoming legislation for opportunities to have CHMM certification of plans included in the laws. It is primarily through the work of local chapters that CHMM gains state recognition. Since the CHMM is national in scope, a state like California is likely to consider CHMM sign-off only for regulations which are closely aligned with the federal version.
A passing grade is 65 percent on the 150 question test. It is not graded on a curve. The exam is independently evaluated by the University of Maryland to ensure that questions are statistically not to hard or too easy, and that a proper mix of topics are covered.
69.92% of people taking the exam passed in 1997 (>1000 exams given). This meets the rule of thumb goal of 70%. Though no exact statistics have been gathered, an overview class seems to improve the pass rate. Many people who have taken the overview course say they needed that extra review and focus on the exam content to pass. It all depends on how knowledgeable a person is, both through practical work experience and studying. It should be emphasized that the exam can be taken without taking the overview class and vice versa. An applicant must study prior to the exam and use the overview class as a good summary or refresher. Taking the overview class is not a guarantee to pass the test.
In the past, it was about 60% in the latest edition (5th Edition, 1995) though the recent trend has been to test more practical knowledge and less on regulations. The exam now covers 25% laws and regulations, 35% science and technology, and 40% management principles and practical applications.
A new book editor has been appointed, and a major revision is being undertaken to significantly update the handbook, and make it better represent the topics covered on the exam and the multi-disciplinary nature of the hazardous materials management field. A copy of the current handbook will be available as a display item in our booth. A new version of the handbook is expected to be released in late 1998 or 1999.
All the laws and science/technology issues are covered in the handbook. Practical hazardous materials management experience cannot be covered in a book and must come from an individual's work experience.
This truly depends on the individual and their background. A person who deals with a wide variety of regulations every day probably would spend less time studying than someone who specializes in one aspect.
Class participants receive an approximately three inch thick binder of copies of instructor's overhead transparencies, other notes, and/or related articles. All instructors must provide handouts. We'll try to have a copy of the handouts from the last class will be available our booth as a display item.
A data bank of questions have been developed so that the exam is computer generated three times a year. The questions are reused regularly so samples are not available. Strict procedures are followed so that even the exam proctor cannot preview the exam. All questions are multiple choice. The exam is 3 hours long (closed book) and covers 25% laws and regulations, 35% science and technology, and 40% management practices and work principles. A lists of the Table of Specifications for the CHMM Exam is available from the NCC-ACHMM.
Several articles have been written in the IHMM newsletter outlining the certification process which requires 16 points in 5 years. The October 1995 issue has a complete outline of how to earn points. Activities can consist of
When you receive your recertification notification letter, a manual is attached listing the requirements. IHMM has just announced a revision to the recertification requirements to meet CESB standards. A minimum of 20 hours of continuing eduction will be needed annually through attendance at courses, workshops, seminars, and conferences related to hazardous materials. Attendance of the ACHMM Annual meeting is also expected to fulfill this requirement.
Documentation can consist of a letter from the local chapter president or secretary verifying chapter service or meeting attendance, copies of course completion certificates, copies of receipts for attendance of over one half of regularly scheduled local chapter dinner meetings, etc. List all your qualifying activities, even if you don't have documentation. Since the period is now 5 years, CHMMs should establish themselves a folder where they put notations and documentation for each class attended, conference, etc..
Yes. When your package has been reviewed you will receive a letter saying so.
You are not automatically un-certified if your haven't paid; you are essentially inactive. The IHMM works with people on a case by case basis. Dues would have to lapse for two years before the IHMM would take action. IHMM has recently been taking action against to decertify people who have not submitted recertification packages.
Most other local organizations do not have a certification affiliation. Joining another organization is similar to being an associate member of ACHMM who hasn't passed the exam and doesn't have to meet any professional qualifications. Like NCC-ACHMM, most other organizations hold lunch or dinner meetings to provide a forum for technical information exchange and networking between members. Since NCC-ACHMM is incorporated as a "non-membership" organization, we call our members "subscribers".