AHMM™
AHMMAn Associate Hazardous Materials Manager™ (AHMM™) is specifically for [a] recent college graduates with little or no experience or the holder of a Student CHMM, [b] military personnel or those out of the military with no degree and less than 3 years of experience, or [c] other professionals such as first responders who have no degree or less than 3 years of experience. The AHMM is an early career professional with experience in handling hazardous materials in a wide variety of specialties, such as safety, environmental protection, compliance, or basic dangerous goods transportation. The AHMM professional focuses on technical knowledge and expertise in handling hazardous materials gained from some experience in the United States military from time in a military occupation specialty code [MOS] or Air Force Specialty Codes [AFSC], or formal education in undergraduate or graduate degree studies in applied science, environmental science, environmental engineering, chemistry, biology, physics, or geology.
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The IHMM AHMM is a reflection of your commitment to your profession, to yourself, and to excellence.
Benefits of a AHMM™ Credential
Planning on leaving the military or just mustered out but don’t have a degree or much experience? Just graduated with an undergraduate or graduate degree but don’t have experience? Are a Student CHMM and just graduated? Are a first responder without a degree and less than 3 years of experience? Then the AHMM™ is the entry-level environmental credential built for you.
For military applicants IHMM has compiled the MOS and AFSC codes most closely aligned with the AHMM blueprint. Please review this material closely and if your MOS/AFSC code is on this list then you should seriously consider applying for this credential. The next section cites each military branch and the MOS or AFSC codes most closely associated with the AHMM.
Employers face an increasingly challenging task of proving their regulatory compliance and safety to suppliers, customers and enforcement agencies. With an AHMM™, not only are you personally recognized for your entry-level competence in the laws and regulations of hazardous materials, but it demonstrates the company’s high standard of regulatory compliance, as well. With demand for AHMM™ professionals, the credential positions you for a career of growth and impact.
If You Are in the U.S. Military or Recently Discharged
Welcome! If you are in the United States military or recently discharged and are looking for the professional certification just right for you, you may search the MOS/AFSC codes for your service listed above for the Associate Hazardous Materials Manager [AHMM] credential. If your experience code is listed for your service branch it means that the AHMM was designed for you.
If you have any questions please send a note to Kortney Tunstall, PMP, Certification Coordinator, at [email protected]
Who Hires AHMMs?
Here is a small example of the companies and government entities that hire AHMMs. You are about to embark on an amazing career advancement with the IHMM AHMM. This credential was launched on May 15, 2023.
Eligibility Requirements
A candidate must meet all eligibility requirements before scheduling and taking their exam. These include (1) file an application; (2) transcript (upload a copy of your transcript/diploma if applicable to the application) (3) third-party employment verification, (4) submit an application and pay the application fee, and (5) move on to pay for and schedule your examination. Finally, pass the exam and pay the annual fee to be issued the credential. The following are the prerequisites…
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Prerequisites
- Associate degree (or higher) from an accredited college or university (i.e., in applied science, environmental science, environmental engineering, chemistry, biology, physics, or geology) – AND – No experience required, or
- Student CHMM upon completion of their degree (i.e., environmental studies, environmental engineering, chemistry, biology, or geology) – AND – No experience required, or
- High school graduate (or GED) – AND – 180 days or more of continuous active military service – OR – 6 months of experience in handling hazardous materials in a wide variety of specialties, such as safety, environmental protection, compliance, or basic dangerous goods transportation.Specialized experience may include but is not limited to: Safety Managers, Directors, Fire, Rescue/EMS, Hazardous Materials Response Team Members (Fire Rescue, State, Federal, Commercial, Industrial), Lab Workers, Transportation Specialists, Police Assigned to Specialty Teams (ESU, SERT, CERT, SWAT, ERT, Bomb Squad), Wastewater Treatment Operators, State and Federal Environmental Compliance Officers Abatement Workers, Sanitation (Solid Waste Worker)
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College Transcript
Your official transcript or diploma must be uploaded to your application before it can be submitted. To find out whether a college in the U.S. is accredited, check with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Degrees from colleges or universities outside of the U.S. are acceptable if they are documented as equivalent to a BS/BA degree issued in the U.S. Candidates with degrees from colleges and universities outside of the U.S. must upload a copy of their statement of equivalency from a recognized evaluating agency. For a list of recognized agencies, see https://www.naces.org/members. Once there, select an entity under CURRENT MEMBERS, and then do your research on your degree.
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Relevant Experience
Relevant experience [if experience is used] includes, but is not limited to, the following examples:
- 6 months of experience in handling hazardous materials in a wide variety of specialties, such as safety, environmental protection, compliance, or basic dangerous goods transportation.
- Specialized experience may include but is not limited to: Safety Managers, Directors, Fire, Rescue/EMS, Hazardous Materials Response Team Members (Fire Rescue, State, Federal, Commercial, Industrial), Lab Workers, Transportation Specialists, Police Assigned to Specialty Teams (ESU, SERT, CERT, SWAT, ERT, Bomb Squad), Wastewater Treatment Operators, State and Federal Environmental Compliance Officers Abatement Workers, Sanitation (Solid Waste Worker)
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Submit an Application, Pay the Application Fee
Submit an application and pay the application fee. See below under Let’s Start Your Application! There is also a fee for the test and, if you pass, an annual maintenance fee. If you need assistance with the AHMM application contact Kortney Tunstall at [email protected] or call 301-244-4864
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Move on to Schedule and Take the Examination
Having submitted your application, paid your application fee, and been approved, then you move on to purchase your examination. Move down to the next section of this site for information about taking the exam. If you need assistance with the AHMM examination contact Kortney Tunstall at [email protected] or call 301-244-4864
Examination Preparation
Having successfully completed and submitted your application and paid your application fee, then you move on to request to take your examination and pay the examination fee. The IHMM staff member who assisted you with the application will now also assist you with paying for and scheduling your examination.
Candidates need to be familiar with relevant laws and regulations, relevant scientific principles and their application, and best management practices. Many candidates attend overview courses or use self-study materials to prepare for the examination. IHMM does not require any specific type of exam preparation or training and the exams are not based on any single reference.
IHMM credentialing programs and examinations are based on an Exam Specifications “blueprint.” The blueprints govern the competency requirements for each credential and provide the outline of topics for the examinations. Examination questions are developed from the blueprints and applicants base their examination study on the blueprint.
Please see the Candidate Handbook for additional information
AHMM Blueprint
The AHMM examination is a testing instrument designed to evaluate candidates seeking professional certification in the field of hazardous materials management. This Specification Blueprint is intended to offer guidance to candidates by outlining reasonably expected duties and tasks based on surveys of what hazardous materials managers do in practice. As your AHMM examination is drawn directly from the AHMM blueprint, if you understand the blueprint you will understand what is on your AHMM examination.
Accreditation
and Recognition
The IHMM AHMM is not yet accredited by a third-party accreditation agency.
Apply or Pay a Fee
If you are a first-time user and want to make an application to take an exam, or if you are an existing certificant wanting to pay a fee, everything is done through our online Portal MYIHMM.
Existing certificants use their username/password to log in. New users can create an account and then apply. If you need assistance in any way, please contact Kortney Tunstall at [email protected], Rosie Wilson at [email protected], or Kaylene Cagle at [email protected]. One of them will be glad to help you.
When you have your user/pass and can enter MYIHMM, Click on MENU and you will see this display. Select what You want to do from the menu and proceed…
A collaborative culture is important for every business but is especially important for our hazardous materials, dangerous goods, environment, health and safety communities of practice. IHMM credentialed professionals are at the top 1% of their professions and their reach is global. We are at the forefront of environmental protection, health, and safety and this is where collaborating with the best people in their fields, always willing to help one another, lessens the stress of our jobs and where we strive as a team to make a difference of which we are proud.
Policies and
Code of Ethics
Per the guidance of our accreditation authorities and our internal leadership, IHMM has a variety of policies that bear on our impartiality, our Code of Ethics, our regard for the privacy of your information and data, nondiscrimination, and additional federal guidelines for access to our tests and facilities. Everyone needs to be familiar with these policies as every applicant will be asked to affirm having read, understood, and agrees to be bound by all of these policies in the application process.
Recertification of Your Credential
Congratulations. After hard work and dedication, you earned your professional credential. Now, every 5 years you will need to recertify your valuable credential. Over 5 years you need to earn 200 certification maintenance points or CMPs. You receive 100 CMPs for the job you perform, and then need to earn a minimum of another 100 CMPs in a variety of ways demonstrating your commitment to continuous improvement and remaining current with the demands of your profession and our communities of practice.
Considering everything you did to achieve certification, don’t let it go to waste by failing to recertify.
IHMM will remind you, fairly often, about your impending recertification deadline. If you follow the steps outlined below you will find this process fairly easy to accomplish. Start with the advice in Step #1!
Step 1
Be proactive and enter your CMPs as you earn them. CMPs must be claimed following the guidelines in the IHMM Recertification Handbook.
Step 2
In your MYIHMM account, start your recertification application now to track CMPs as you go. Go to MYIHMM > then MENU > then Recertification > then Create a New Recertification Application.
Step 3
Keep your employment status and professional information current in your MYIHMM account. Please make sure your annual fees are also up-to-date.
Step 4
In your 5th year, make sure all information is correct, confirm your minimum of 200 CMPs, and submit application. Don’t worry, we’ll remind you along the way, too!
Step 5
Audits. Keep records of employment and CMPs requested. We may check in from time to time to assure accuracy.
Following these simple steps will make your recertification simple and easy to complete. Go to your online MYIHMM account, using your unique username and password.
If you have any questions about this process, please contact Jimmy Nguyen at [email protected] or Jelian Labri at [email protected] and someone will assist you.
IHMM Recertification Videos
IHMM has prepared these step-by-step videos for you to watch as you prepare your recertification application. Start with Video #1 and then move on to Video #2.
Recertification Video #1 – Start Here
Recertification Video #2 – Finish Here
Reinstatement
An individual who previously held an IHMM certification that has not been decertified on ethical grounds may apply to have his or her certification reinstated if their annual fees have been expired for less than five (5) years and/or their decertified certification has been expired for less than five (5) years.
If either condition is not met, the individual must go through the full certification process to become certified again.
Reinstatement is not a reversal of decertification. All time in service is lost at the time of decertification. For more information regarding the reversal of decertification, please refer to IHMM’s Decertification Appeal Policy.
Evidence of knowing continued use of a decertified certification after having been provided notice of decertification by IHMM is a violation of your certification agreement and is unethical, and will render the individual ineligible for reinstatement.