Who May Apply: US Citizens
In order to qualify, you must meet the education AND 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:
Degree: Bachelor's or graduate (or higher level) degree in science and technology, industrial hygiene, occupational health sciences, occupational and environmental health, toxicology, safety sciences, or related science. The education must be accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained.
OR
Related Degree: Bachelor's degree in 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. The education must be accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. For engineering degrees to be acceptable, the curriculum must be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum.
OR
Certification from the American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH). (Note: You must attach a copy of your certificate.)
In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:
GS-7
Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes:
1) assisting with planning inspections;
2) assisting with the implement of occupational health programs, or
3) using office automation to prepare reports.
This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-05).
OR
Education: One full year of graduate level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: industrial hygiene, occupational health sciences, occupational and environmental health, toxicology, safety sciences, or a related science. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.)
OR
Superior Academic Achievement. To be creditable under this provision, Superior Academic Achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled, such as that identified in Education above. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.)
Superior Academic Achievement is based on:
(1)
Class Standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.
OR
(2)
Grade-Point Average (G.P.A.) - Applicants must have a grade-point average of either (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on your official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.;
OR
(3)
Honor Society Membership - Applicants may be considered eligible based on membership in one of the approved national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies (https://www.achshonor.org/).
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position if 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) by 18. Add the two percentages.
GS-9
Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes:
1) assisting in identifying and evaluating health hazards;
2) investigating health problems, and
3) determining the probable cause, and/or recommending solutions.
This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-07).
OR
Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 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, occupational health sciences, occupational and environmental health, toxicology, safety sciences, or a related science. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.)
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position if 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 first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages.
GS-11
Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes:
1) conducting assessments of areas ensuring compliance with regulations;
2) utilizing industrial hygiene equipment;
3) reviewing the hazardous records and chemical inventory to ensure compliance; and
4) providing training on various industrial hygiene topics such as hazard communication, respiration selection, usage and care; or chemical health hazards, within existing guidelines.
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, occupational health sciences, occupational and environmental health, toxicology, safety sciences, or a related science. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.)
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position if 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.
Position can be filled at any level (GS-7; GS-9; or GS-11) with noncompetitive promotion to the next grade levels are authorized until you reach the full performance level of GS-11; pending time in grade requirements and demonstrated ability to perform the next higher/target level grade duties.