Benefits of IHMM Credentials

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Just wanted to say thanks to you and your IHMM team. You do a great job of consolidating and presenting information pertinent to our field. It is a great resource for us! Please tell your team, how much they are appreciated.

Renee Witherspoon, MS, RS, CSP, CIH, CHMM, Occupational Hygiene and Safety Manager, Research Campus and Environmental Safety (RCES)

Certification’s Relevance To Skills Needed in the Labor Market Increases Their Potential Value for Employers and Employees

Employers’ use of certifications for hiring and promotion differs substantially among industries, professions, geographic areas, and size of establishment, and often reflect industry and professional policies and practices with their different pay scales, working conditions, and inherent gender, race, and other biases. These factors impact the labor-market value of the certification to the individual and its utility as a vehicle for promoting economic mobility. Yet, employers can trust that the certification holder has the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform different jobs because of the rigorous testing processes undertaken with certifications.3 The clarity and specificity with which certification competencies are validated and articulated helps “learners understand and document their own knowledge, skills, and abilities relative to labor market requirements, thereby increasing their competitive advantage, qualifying for new and evolving jobs in labor markets, and advancing in their careers over time.”

What are the benefits to an Employer of being certified by IHMM?

Hiring and onboarding new candidates can be costly. According to a study, hiring an employee costs an average of $7,645. Precisely because of that, employers should focus on retaining top performers. That is where providing career advancement opportunities and certifications shine.
Today, customers can compare businesses before making purchasing decisions. They choose brands and products they trust. According to statistics, 81% of consumers said they needed to trust the brand before purchasing. Most importantly, trust also inspires loyalty. One of the most effective ways to build trust with your target audience is to encourage your employees to earn a professional certification.
A differentiator against the competition. When employers hire certified professionals it evidences to government regulators that the employer is serious about regulatory compliance.
IHMM certifications boost employee satisfaction, engagement, and productivity. Above all, they reduce employee churn and allow you to attract top talent. Professional certifications are also an opportunity to gain a competitive advantage in the competitive market.
The assurance that, with recertification, your certified professional employees are constantly improving their knowledge, skills, and abilities.
An assurance of the highest quality of work from certified professionals
Reduced liability from hiring certified professionals who have mastered their positions and requirements to go their jobs correctly.
Recognition of commitment to public safety and the environment
Identification as a company that invests in its employees and is committed to their professional growth and ability to serve the company to the highest standards of ethical behavior.

If you deal with hazardous materials, dangerous goods transportation, environmental protection, health, and safety in any capacity, your employees should be certified! Corporations, universities, and government agencies depend on these credentials to identify professionals.

What are the benefits to an Employee of being certified by IHMM?

You’ve been tested against global standards and passed and have greater confidence in your abilities.
Your adherence to the IHMM Code of Ethics assures confidentiality and ethical behavior.
On average, your certification puts you on a path to higher income by evidencing your expertise against all others without certification of their abilities.
In 2019, the global best practice firm AXELOS conducted a survey on “The Power of Professional Certification” to understand how organizations and employees across the world valued corporate certifications Source. 97% of decision-makers and 84% of individuals (employees) said that certification had a positive impact and that it brought higher efficiency and employee satisfaction.
Mandatory participation in recertifying your credential every 5 years, requiring continuous improvement in your knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Being a part of a unique and distinctive group of professionals, only about 1% of whom have earned an IHMM credential.
Recognition from peers, the public, and employers.
The satisfaction of personal achievement.
Career development, growth, and advancement.
Confidence in doing your job.
Belonging to highly select communities of practice where through IHMM’s unique COLLABORATION platform, you gain access to thousands of your peers worldwide.
Recognition of commitment to public safety and the environment.
Identification as a distinguished professional.
Ask your employer for assistance paying for your certification.

If you deal with hazardous materials, dangerous goods transportation, environmental protection, health, and safety in any capacity, you should be certified! Corporations, universities, and government agencies depend on these credentials to identify professionals like you.

IHMM Certifications Are LifeLong Credentials

Unlike other types of credentials, IHMM certifications promote lifelong learning through our recertification processes. These processes require IHMM certification holders to demonstrate that they have up-to-date knowledge and skills either through re-examination and/ or participation in a specified learning activity every 5 years after receiving the initial certification. IHMM’s certification renewal processes also require the certification holder to provide assurances of having met professional ethics and other standards needed to renew the certification.

You Deserve Professional Recognition

Companies value professionals who proactively seek opportunities to develop their skills and expertise. One of the best ways for individuals to demonstrate their commitment to career growth is by pursuing industry-recognized professional credentials. Is it worth it? The eligibility requirements are tough. Preparation can be a lot of work. The examination can be hard. Everyone has a different reason for pursuing voluntary credentials, e.g., peer recognition, personal satisfaction, job placement or advancement, market value, higher salaries.

For some, the rewards are immediate and outward; for others, the rewards are intrinsic as you could become a member of the 1% of professionals who have earned an IHMM credential.

Salary Increases with Certification

Earning IHMM Credentials – CHMM, CHMP, and CDGP – can provide numerous benefits, including improved career prospects and enhanced earning power. According to a recent salary survey, the results indicate that the median annual base salary of individuals holding a credential from IHMM – CHMM, CHMP or CDGP – is $100,000, about 20 percent greater than the median annual base salary of survey respondents who held no certification; $83,000. Further, when years of experience are taken into account, salaries are approximately10 percent higher for IHMM certificate holders with 5 to 14 years of experience than a professional with the same experience not holding a credential.

Certified Professionals Have Powerful Earning Potential

Let’s review the earning potential you may have as a CHMM, for example. Here we see the earnings ranges based on the type of degree you may have, then your earning potential based on some popular companies you may work for, and then your earning potential based on the cities in which you may live.

One spends a great deal of time and money gaining academic degrees that have unquestioned value – though hundreds of thousands of people may have the same or similar degrees. How does one differentiate one’s self from everyone else in an intensely competitive job market?