The Academy (also known as The Academy of Industrial Hygiene (AIH) and previously named the American Academy of Industrial Hygiene) originated as a non-incorporated professional society under the sponsorship of ABIH. In 2000, the AIH merged with the AIHA at which time only CIHs who were AIHA members qualifed for Academy membership. In 2008, AIHA by-laws were changed to allow non-AIHA CIHs to join The Academy as an Affiliate member (i.e., reduced fees and no AIHA benefits).

The purpose and objectives of The Academy are to provide leadership in advancing the professional field of industrial hygiene, by raising the level of competence of industrial hygienists and by securing wide recognition of the need for high quality industrial hygiene practice to ensure healthful working conditions in the various occupations and industries.

Its activities include:

• Recruitment and training of Certified Industrial Hygienists (CIH)
• Promotion of industrial hygiene with those in government, industry and labor
• Advancement of the ABIH certification process
• Education of IHs in the application of the Code of Ethics

The Academy sponsors the academic accreditation of industrial hygiene bachelors and masters degree programs through the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), organizes and delivers the annual Professional Conference on Industrial Hygiene (PCIH) and acts as secretariat for the Joint Industrial Hygiene Ethics Education Committee (JIHEEC).