Effective November 28, 2011, CM approval numbers will no longer be issued or required on the CM worksheets (for past or future events). Instead, Diplomates calculate the CM credit using the method below.
Note: Events previously assigned Fundamentals CM credit may now be counted as IH CM credit.
One course per CM cycle
The same course may be claimed only one time per CM cycle. An initial training course and then later, a refresher training course are counted as two different courses.
Note: A course can be repeated and then claimed in different CM cycles.
Internal Organizational Training
Often qualifies for CM credit if it's a designated topic on the meeting agenda and meets the time and subject matter specifications below.
Note: Many topics do not qualify since they are already credited in Category 1 Active Practice, e.g., leadership messages, goal reviews, strategy sessions, problem solving sessions, area updates.
CM Hour-to-Point Conversion
Newer CM worksheets will accept either CM points or CM hours. Older worksheets only accept CM points and the hours must be converted:
1 hour = 0.167 point
Doctoral & Masters Degrees
Doctoral: 60 IH hours (10 points) can be claimed for a Doctoral degree completed during the CM cycle, in IH or an IH-related field.
Masters; CM credit is not awarded for a Masters thesis (or degree).
Graduate Courses: Academic courses in the Doctoral or Masters programs can be claimed for CM credit if the course meets the criteria below.
Event Delivery Methods
Physical presence events and distance learning events (e.g. virtual courses, home study) are treated the same for purposes of CM credit calculations.
Determining CM Credit
Diplomates claim CM credit in Category 4 using either:
If previous ABIH approval information is readily available, the Diplomate can but is not required to use it. However, to use the previous ABIH approval, the Diplomate must have personally participated in the event.
2. Diplomate-Calculated
The Diplomate determines the technical contact hours aligned to at least one CM Area of IH, Safety, IH Ethics, or Management. The event must be targeted to the professional level (not technician level), and advance the IH's technical knowledge/skills.
If using an older worksheet which accepts only CM points (not hours), the Diplomate-Calculated hours can be converted to points at a rate of 0.167 points per hour.
Technical Contact Hours
Must be a minimum of 1 hour (60 minutes). Exception: ethics courses can be less than 1 hour.
Hours or CEUs (0.1 CEU = 1 hour) are often supplied by an event Provider. If not supplied, the contact hours must be calculated.
Contact time can be:
Exact, e.g. 75 minutes = 1.25 hours
Estimated - using the average hours per half day, e.g., 2.5 hrs/half day X 6 half days = 15 hours
Rounded down but not up, e.g. 95 minutes = 1.5 hrs
Includes but is not limited to presentations, lectures, break outs, Q&A, exams, event overview, event recaps, and discussions.
Excludes the non-technical portions: e.g., generic welcome speeches, participant introductions, breaks, meals, networking, exhibitor time, roundtables or discussions with unspecified topics, social tours.
Academic courses receive 15 CM hours per academic semester credit-hour, or 10 CM hours per academic quarter-hour.
Events are considered to be the IH CM Area if the subject matter aligns with the IH Rubrics or is identified on the IH Job Analysis. Additional areas will be accepted if there is a human health aspect.
Note: All events previously awarded Fundamentals CM credit have been converted to IH CM credit.
Safety
Events are considered to be the Safety CM Area if the subject matter is more acute hazard oriented and not addressed by the IH definition. For example, Safety CM credit can be claimed for guarding, electrical hazards, fall protection, workplace violence or physical security. Note: Confined Space Entry is considered to be the IH CM area.
IH Ethics
Events are considered to be the IH Ethics CM Area if the subject matter aligns with the ABIH Code of Ethics or the Joint Industrial Hygiene Associations Member Ethical Principles.
ABIH is interpreting this very broadly today. For example, appropriate subject matter includes: business conflicts, workplace relationships, technical judgment that compromises the values of an organization, integrity, professional conduct, confidentiality of sensitive information (e.g. HIPPA, human subject protection during research projects, employee medical records), conflict of interest, and intellectual property rights/plagiarism.
Some additional guidance is available in the Ethics FAQ.
Management
Events are considered to be the Management CM Area if the subject matter generically addresses professional development of management and leadership skills, e.g., communication skills, technical writing, presentation techniques, organizational effectiveness, media training, computer skills, supervisory skills, quality training, financial or accounting training, expert witness training, project management.
General management training must be completed before 1/1/10 in order to claim the Management CM credit
Management training completed after 1/1/10 is eligible for IH CM credit if there are EHS aspects (e.g. case studies) in the content.
Diplomate records must be consistent with the dates and activities listed on the CM worksheet. If participation cannot be verified, the Diplomate should not list the item on the worksheet.
Diplomates should retain records until after a recertification decision has been made.
Acceptable records include but are not limited to:
CM Credit Calculations
If the Diplomate has calculated their CM credit, retain an agenda, schedule or other document showing topics and contact time.
A
certificate of completion may be adequate if it clearly shows the contact time and subject matter that aligns to at least one of the CM Areas.
Attendance Records
Attendance roster
Acknowledgement letter
Certificate of completion
On-site registration receipt for a same day event
Transcript showing event completion
Hotel, meal or parking receipts in the city on the day(s) of the events
CIH Vouching: For one event during a CM cycle, a Diplomate is allowed to have another Diplomate vouch for attendance. This is expected to be used only when other proof-of-participation is not available.
Unacceptable Records
Registration receipt or travel purchases - these show intent, not participation.
Documentation dated differently than the dates claimed on the worksheet
Event badges - often, these are received prior to events, not during the actual event
Airline boarding passes - these only show arrival & departure
