Certificate of Operational Competence

The Certificate of Operational Competence in Occupational Hygiene examination is available to those whose responsibility in the profession relates to the conduct of surveys of the working environment. It is awarded to candidates who are able to satisfy the examiners as to their knowledge of the broad principles of occupational hygiene, including knowledge and understanding of instrumentation, sampling methods, appropriate hygiene standards, the principles of control and the general principles of hygiene practice.

The examination is in two parts: Part 1, the Certificate Core, a written examination - from which there are some exemptions (see below) - and Part 2, the Certificate Oral - from which there are no exemptions.

Routes to the Certificate:  

If the candidate has a good standard of general education, together with three years experience of comprehensive occupational hygiene practice, and:
 
passes in the four compulsory modules: M101-M104
 
passes in a further TWO optional modules from: M201-M203 and S301
 
 
he/she is deemed to have passed the Certificate Core (i.e. exempt)
 
 
 
 
he/she is required to sit the Certificate Oral
 
or an approved‡ first or postgraduate degree in occupational hygiene
 
none of the above
he/she is required to sit the Certificate Core


‡ Click here for the list of Faculty-approved qualifications which provide an exemption to the Certificate Core Examination.


Part 1 : The Certificate Core Examination, which is the written part of the examination, is usually held twice a year and consists of two papers.

Each paper consists of 100 multi-choice questions (where three points are awarded for a correct answer, one mark deducted for an incorrect answer and no marks are awarded or deducted for an abstention), and one essay question (from a choice of four). The time allowed for each paper is three hours.

For the examination overall, multi-choice questions will be based on Modules M101-M104, M201 and S301; the essay questions will be based on Modules M101-M104, M201-M203 and S301.

In order to achieve a pass at this examination, it is necessary to obtain a mark of 50% (70% for a credit) in each paper. Past examination papers are not available.

Part 2 : The Certificate Oral Examination, from which there are NO exemptions, is conducted by a panel of practising and experienced occupational hygienists who are all holders of the Society's Diploma.  The examinations are usually held four times a year, in the first week of March, June, September and December, and last for approximately one hour.

The examination covers Modules M101-M104, M201- M203 and S301, and is designed to test the candidate's ability to plan and take such measurements, to select the appropriate sampling equipment, to demonstrate the correct use of such equipment, to take relevant on-site observations and to calculate results.  Questioning will normally, but not solely, be based on scenarios reflecting workplace situations.

For further information on this examination, please contact:

Sarah Pont
email: sarah@bohs.org
tel: 01332 250713

Please click here for a printed version of this page.
Download an application form for the Certificate Examination