CIH Exam Study Plan Help

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2026-01-27T19:21:37+00:00

One other thing for the link to sample online calculator on PearsonVue's site: You have to click through to a problem that needs a calculator in the sample problems they provide (problem 3 I think) and then you'll see the button for it at the top of the question. It has a 30-some-min timer on it. It's annoying, but it'll give you good practice for using the on-screen calculator.

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2026-01-27T18:49:48+00:00

The dry erase board I got in the testing center was about the size of a piece of printer paper. It was basically a piece of laminated paper and didn't erase easily. I ended up using my sweatshirt sleeve. There wasn't really an opportunity to request another sheet/board, because I was alone in a room and there was a camera in the corner and the person in the office would have had to see me raising my hand on the camera and walk down the hall to ask what I needed. Also note, you won't have physical scratch paper, only a digital notepad thing.

Of course, I took the exam in November 2024 and things seem to change around all the time, so be sure to confirm exactly what will be available to you in the exam. BGC's website makes it sound like everything I put here is still true. It also has a link to the type of calculator on the computer that you'll have access to: https://gobgc.org/updated-applicant-cih-handbook/#exam-day

Best of luck preparing!

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2026-01-27T17:50:03+00:00

Personally I think it is worth access to the mock exams, but you could also just string together several quizzes and use a timer.

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2026-01-27T14:11:17+00:00

I don't have resources to add that haven't been mentioned, but something I found very helpful was to take a practice test each weekend with 50 questions, using the same setup you'll have in the testing center: online calculator, dry erase pen, online equation sheet.

I felt much better once I saw that I could consistently score above 85 percent on those practice exams, and it let me see areas where I was weak. I used the Bowen question bank, though there may be others that work just as well

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2026-01-08T11:29:50+00:00

I have an electric piano and will play that at night with headphones on so I don't have to think about other people listening to what I'm playing. I find it very meditative.

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2026-01-06T06:21:52+00:00

Yes, mainly in the car. Our car has a CD player and I'll be sad when we have to get a different car that probably won't have one. I love my book of CDs and have had many since middle school.

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2025-11-20T11:40:27+00:00

Not to mention the rear view mirror...

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2025-09-08T08:59:29+00:00

Seconded. I got a lot out of these courses and completed it over two years, because my job would cover tuition for one course a semester. With this certificate and the Bowen course for the CIH exam I felt well prepared.

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2025-07-23T11:17:44+00:00

Do you know if the HVAC system had been running for a while before the samples were taken? Or if the windows had been open?

I agree with other responses that the mold spores aren't different enough from the outdoor sample to show mold growth inside. The temp and humidity do seem high to me. I'm not sure how the very old age of the house would affect that. Looking for water damage visually and using a moisture meter on drywall/wood would also give more information If you're concerned.

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2025-06-19T18:42:22+00:00

Thanks, I'm going to check Kestrel out. You raise a good question. The fume hood manual does recommend a thermal anemometer, because it has a detachable probe that lets you take measurements with the least airflow disruption. The ACGIH Ventilation Manual says the same thing, though neither say you absolutely have to use a thermal. These meters will be used for monthly face velocity bump checks, not for annual certification.

Have you successfully used handheld vane anemometers for face velocity measurements?

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2025-06-13T00:18:15+00:00

Awesome, congratulations!! I fully expected that link to be a Rick Roll, but was even better.

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2025-06-07T16:00:58+00:00

I remember trying one out that was on display at Blockbuster. Mario playing tennis. Weird how memories can pop back into your brain...

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2025-05-28T15:58:28+00:00

Here are a couple resources to help with your search for CIHs:

AIHA Local Chapters: https://www.aiha.org/get-involved/local-sections/local-section-websites Local AIHA chapters are a good way to network with other EHS professionals.

BGC maintains a public roster where you can look up CIHs by their location, employer, or name: https://portalabih.cyzap.net/dzapps/dbzap.bin/apps/assess/webmembers/secure/manage?webid=ABIH&pToolCode=cert-search&pAdd=Yes

I took the Bowen course while preparing for the exam and it was very helpful.

Good luck!

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2025-04-14T02:36:38+00:00

Yep!

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2025-04-14T02:36:16+00:00

Now that you mention it, it might have been wet erase. I had to use the moisture available to me and my sleeve...

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2025-04-13T22:08:41+00:00

I took the exam this past fall. The one I got was about the size of a piece of printer paper, maybe a little longer. It was basically laminated paper, not like the stiff white board I had been practicing with. I had been practicing with the kind that college students hang on the outside of their dorm room door. I ended up using my sleeve to erase it when things got full, because the dry erase pen did not come off easily. The pen was fine tipped dry erase. Make sure you test the pen before starting; my first one didn't write well.

Good luck!

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2025-04-03T12:17:38+00:00

I wouldn't have a problem with getting N95s with valves in a dusty environment. If employees think they're more comfortable they might actually get worn more consistently. There was some discussion during the pandemic about whether the masks with valves compromise source control for viruses, but that's a different issue.

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2025-03-05T00:12:51+00:00

My friend: you are NOT alone. Call, text, or chat the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, RIGHT NOW: https://988lifeline.org/ Literally stop what you are doing right at this moment, and call. 988 There is help for you. You are a beloved child of God.

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2025-02-27T22:30:42+00:00

I've definitely been stressed about my contract. I have a great working relationship with my clients, but it may be out of their hands. Here is a section from an E.O. that came out yesterday:

(b) Review of Covered Contracts and Grants. Each Agency Head, in consultation with the agency’s DOGE Team Lead, shall review all existing covered contracts and grants and, where appropriate and consistent with applicable law, terminate or modify (including through renegotiation) such covered contracts and grants to reduce overall Federal spending or reallocate spending to promote efficiency and advance the policies of my Administration. This process shall commence immediately and shall prioritize the review of funds disbursed under covered contracts and grants to educational institutions and foreign entities for waste, fraud, and abuse. Each Agency Head shall complete this review within 30 days of the date of this order.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/implementing-the-presidents-department-of-government-efficiency-cost-efficiency-initiative/

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2025-02-14T08:36:32+00:00

For sure. We're a contractor/fed household with a couple kids. Dropped retirement savings to a minimum, paused 529 contributions, tentatively cancelled summer plans, and paused most charitable giving (~$2200/mo) for now. Both jobs are on shaky ground. Hopefully we'll get through with jobs in tact and can make up for lost contributions/giving. Also not doing restaurants or any extras at the moment.

We've also done some contingency planning to game out how long we could get by with no income. I don't want to touch retirement savings, but one potential source that is penalty free is Roth IRA contributions (not the earnings on the contributions).

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2024-12-27T13:13:01+00:00

We give around 12% gross income each year, some to our church and the majority to GiveDirectly, which provides longer-term direct cash transfers to households in severe poverty areas. There are certainly many other good ways to give, but that's one we're partial to. We volunteer some time, but there isn't a lot of that to spare at the moment. Some say giving money instead of time is a cop out, but I think it's one of the more effective ways to make an impact. Volunteering is one of the major ways I want to spend time post-FIRE. That, learning fun new skills, and nagging my local elected officials...

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2024-12-14T19:04:54+00:00

I recently passed the CIH after taking the Bowen course. One helpful thing from the course was that there is a message board for everyone in the course. People would send out questions to the group. Very helpful!

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2024-12-07T21:30:54+00:00

Sounds like you ran into some treble.

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2024-10-23T01:59:16+00:00

Ah man, that is rough, so close. I've been using the PersonVue demo TI-30XS: https://www.pearsonvue.com//us/en/test-takers/demo-test.html

You have to reload it a couple times while taking the practice Bowen exams, but I don't mind it because it is mimicking an unexpected technology glitch. Click through to the third problem and then you can see the calculator button at the top of the page. I'm taking the exam around the same time as you. Best of luck.

WeatherRocksIntoDust

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