Hardship Help - Cycle Extension & Leave of Absence

ABIH offers two programs to help with hardship case situations.

Program Implication
CM Cycle Extension An additional six months to earn CM credit.
Leave of Absence Minimum requirements reduced during the cycle.

How To Request

Diplomates in good standing (i.e. no unresolved ethics issues, current on all fees) should notify ABIH as soon as the need exists.  Requests, which will be held in strict confidence, must include a brief description of the circumstances and current status of CM credit that has been accumulated.  Supporting documentation may be required.

Requests can be sent via email, fax or postal mail.

CM Cycle Extension

The CM cycle extension provides an additional six months to earn CM credit. The Diplomate will be assigned a new CM cycle end date and will follow the worksheet schedule for their new CM cycle.

Cycle extensions are granted for circumstances such as but not limited to:

  • Personal or family catastrophic illness/disability
  • Overseas military deployment
  • Geographic displacement due to natural disasters (e.g., weather, earthquake)
  • Maternity leave
  • Involuntary unemployment

Leave of Absence

Eligibility

The Leave of Absence (LAO) is for those who are unable to practice industrial hygiene for a minimum of one year and a maximum of two years due to circumstances such as:

  • Medical or health related (personal or family)
  • Military assignment
  • Educational pursuit
  • Family care

Unemployment is excluded from the LOA program.
CM Credit Reductions

During the LOA period, the Diplomate's minimum requirements are proportionately reduced for the total CM points and the IH CM Credit in Category 4.

For example, for Diplomates on a 60 month CM cycle, a 12-month LOA will reduce the minimum requirements by 20% (12/60) to:

  • 32 total CM points (from 40 points)
  • 48 IH hours (8 IH points) in Category 4 (from 60 hrs)

The IH Ethics requirement of 2 hours (0.33 points) in Cat 4 per CM cycle is not affected.
LOA Period

The LOA period must be a minimum of one year and a maximum of two years.

Up to two LOAs will be granted during a CM cycle as long as the sum of the two LOA periods is less than the two year maximum.

A LOA of one year can be extended (during the same CM cycle) upon written request to ABIH. Additional supporting documentation may be required.
Terms

During the LOA, the Diplomate:

  • Is listed as CIH-Inactive in the ABIH roster
  • Is restricted from using their certification designation (e.g., CIH), embossing seal or stamp on any new efforts but does not need to remove the designation from previous materials, e.g. business cards, resumes
  • Continues to pay fees
  • Can earn CM credit only in Category 4 - Education
Worksheet Submission

Diplomates must submit an acceptable CM worksheet in order to recertify.

If the requested LOA period ends at or near the end of the normal CM cycle, the Diplomate has three timing options to submit a CM worksheet:

  • Pre-LOA – before the start of the LOA, or
  • Post-LOA – within 90 days of the LOA end date, or
  • The regularly scheduled cycle calendar window

If the LOA period overlaps two CM cycles, the LOA rules will apply to both CM cycles with one exception.

  • Exception: for the 2nd CM cycle, the Diplomate will submit their worksheet during the 2nd CM cycle following the regularly scheduled cycle submission window.

The new certificate will be delivered at the end of the CM cycle, not when the CM worksheet is reviewed and approved.

 

 

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