In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is
in this document.
Basic Requirement for Industrial Hygienist:
A. Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in industrial hygiene; or a branch of engineering, physical science, or life science that included 12 semester hours in chemistry, including organic chemistry, and 18 additional semester hours of courses in any combination of chemistry, physics, engineering, health physics, environmental health, biostatistics, biology, physiology, toxicology, epidemiology, or industrial hygiene.
OR
B. Combination of Education and Experience: Minimum of 12 semester hours of course work in chemistry, including organic chemistry, and 18 additional semester hours as specified in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. The work experience must have provided a professional knowledge of the theory and application of the principles of industrial hygiene and closely related sciences such as physics and engineering controls, and included all of the following areas: (1) the acquisition of quantitative and qualitative data, and the measurement of exposures for a variety of chemical, physical, and biological stresses; (2) the analysis of the data acquired and the prediction of probable effects of exposures on the health and well-being of workers; and (3) the selection and recommendation of appropriate controls, including management, medical, engineering, education or training, and personal protective equipment.
In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:
Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes at least 4 of the following 7: (1) interpreting and applying safety and occupational health standards and permissible exposure limits; (2) conducting noise, air, and environmental sampling to assist with determining employee exposures; (3) identifying employees to be enrolled into and taken out of medical surveillance programs, conducting safety and occupational health training - specifically noise, chemical or environmental (lead, asbestos, mold, etc.) related; (4) developing controls and techniques to eliminate or reduce safety and environmental hazards in the workplace; (5) developing new or modifying existing health standards to protect employees from exposure to toxic substances, harmful physical agents, and other health hazards; (6) conducting inspection of all workplaces to assure safe working environments; (7) keeping abreast of continuing developments and advising management on incorporation into safety programs; performing ergonomic assessments. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-09).
OR
Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Industrial Hygiene.
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages.
You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas:
- Oral Communication
- Standards
- Technical Competence
- Technical Credibility
Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the second lower grade or equivalent (GS-09).