The IOA and the Chartered Society for Worker Health Protection (BOHS) have agreed to recognise each other’s professional qualifications.
The main terms are:
Holders of certain IOA qualifications, including the Certificate of Competence in Workplace Noise Risk Assessment and the Diploma in Acoustics and Noise Control, will be able to use these in the BOHS qualification pathway to the Certificate of Operational Competence in Occupational Hygiene, the qualification for Licentiate membership of the Faculty of Occupational Hygiene and use of the post nominal letters LFOH.
Holders of other IOA Certificates of Competence will be eligible for BOHS Specialist Licentiate grades. This specialist route is for those whose expertise lies in a specific area of occupational hygiene. Specialist Licentiate members of the Faculty of Occupational Hygiene are entitled to use the post nominal letters LFOH(S).
Holders of the IOA Diploma will be eligible for the BOHS grade of Specialist Member of the Faculty of Occupational Hygiene which entitles the use of the post nominal letters MFOH(S).
Hygienists who hold the BOHS occupational hygiene module entitled W503: Noise – Measurement and its Effects will be eligible to apply for Technician membership of the IOA.
Holders of the BOHS Diploma of Professional Competence in Occupational Hygiene will be able to use this qualification to gain admission to courses for the IOA Diploma,
Trainers with suitable experience who hold relevant BOHS professional qualifications will be eligible to teach IOA-accredited Certificate of Competence courses.
Allan Chesney, IOA Chief Executive, said, “This mutually beneficial agreement is an indication of the high regard between our bodies and holds great promise for important professional collaboration. I am confident that the new arrangements will foster the development of strong links between our professional organisations, both at the local and national levels.”
Steve Perkins, BOHS Chief Executive, said: “We look forward to encouraging members of the IOA to expand their careers into occupational hygiene, and enabling BOHS members to gain further professional recognition in the specialised areas of acoustics and noise control.”