Diploma of Professional Competence

The Diploma of Professional Competence in Occupational Hygiene examination is available to those who meet the application criteria and have been required to accept professional responsibility for all aspects of an occupational hygiene programme for at least five years. It is awarded to candidates who are able to satisfy the examiners as to their knowledge to make competent assessment of the probable extent of risk in various circumstances and to advise on suitable control procedures.

The examination is in two parts: Part 1, the Diploma Core, a written examination - from which there are some exemptions (click here for the list of Faculty-approved exempted qualifications) - and Part 2, the Diploma Oral - from which there are no exemptions.

Routes to the Diploma:
All candidates must hold the Certificate of Operational Competence. All candidates must be able to demonstrate at least five years’ comprehensive experience in the field of occupational hygiene. General education should be to degree level in a scientific or related subject but work in a full time senior occupational hygiene position over a five year period will also qualify.

Part 1 : The Diploma Core Examination is usually held twice a year (March and September) and consists of two  essay-type papers, each comprising six questions. From each paper one question is compulsory and three others should be answered from a choice of five.

The standard of answer expected to pass this examination should show extensive knowledge of the subject and indicate practical experience in the assessment and control of the hazard described in the question.

In order to achieve a pass at this examination, it is necessary to achieve an average mark from the two papers of 50%.

Copies of past examination papers are available from the Secretariat.

Part 2: The Diploma 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 (first week of March, June, September and December) and last approximately one hour each.

The examination is designed to test the candidate’s mature approach to the understanding and solving of occupational hygiene problems. Questions will be built around scenarios, the answers to which require deep and broad experience including strategy and data interpretation, practical control measures and application of legislation/good practice.

For further information on this examination, please contact:

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

Click here for a printed version of this page.
Download an application form for the Diploma Examinations.