CHMM (IHMM)
Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM)
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ExploreAbout this exam
The Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM®) is a professional credential administered by the Institute of Hazardous Materials Management (IHMM), a not-for-profit organization founded in 1984. The CHMM was IHMM's first credential, with the first recipients receiving it on May 1, 1984. Under EPA regulation 40 CFR §312.10, the CHMM is recognized as an "Environmental Professional," and corporations, universities, and government entities use the credential to identify qualified environmental professionals. More than 17,000 professionals have earned it.
The credential suits practitioners whose work involves hazardous materials identification and handling in compliance with applicable laws and regulations; planning, preparing for, and responding to hazmat emergencies and incidents; sampling and analysis of air, water, soil, and waste for potential contaminants; site investigation and remediation; and hazmat program or project management. Candidates need a baccalaureate degree (or higher) from an accredited institution and a minimum of four years of relevant experience.
The examination is built from the CHMM blueprint, which outlines the domains and topics tested. IHMM states the exam is challenging and is not based on any single reference, and it does not require any specific preparation or training. Candidates commonly attend overview courses or use self-study materials. IHMM recommends downloading the blueprint first, then using the Candidate Handbook and study guide, and optionally a preparation course offered through its companion foundation. Questions are developed directly from the blueprint, so understanding its domains is the most efficient study strategy.
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About CHMM preparation
What does the CHMM application process require before I can sit for the exam?
IHMM lists five steps: file an application; upload your official transcript or diploma; provide third-party employment verification; submit the application and pay the nonrefundable $175 application fee; then pay for and schedule the examination. After passing, you pay the annual fee to be issued the credential. All eligibility requirements must be met before scheduling.
How much does the CHMM cost in total?
The application fee is $175 and is nonrefundable. The examination fee is $360. Once credentialed, the Annual Certification Maintenance fee is $160 for a single credential, or $225 if you hold more than one IHMM credential. Late annual maintenance payments add a $25 fee. Recertification with documentation every five years costs $0; recertification by exam is $360.
How difficult is the CHMM exam, and what should I study first?
IHMM describes the examination as challenging and states it is not based on any single reference. Download the CHMM blueprint first, since questions are developed from it and understanding its domains tells you what is tested. Then use the Candidate Handbook and study guide, and consider an overview course if you want structured instruction.
What is the exam format and how long do I have?
The source does not state the number of questions, the time limit, or the passing score; those details appear in the CHMM Candidate Handbook and blueprint. IHMM does note that exams can be taken at Kryterion testing centers or via Kryterion remotely proctored delivery, which ANSI has approved for the CHMM.
If I fail, can I retake the exam, and what does it cost?
The retrieved IHMM pages do not describe a retake policy, waiting period, or reduced retake fee. The published fee schedule lists the examination fee as $360 and recertification by exam at $360. Contact IHMM staff directly for retake rules before you schedule, and confirm current terms in the Candidate Handbook.
How do I keep the CHMM after I earn it?
You recertify every five years and must earn 200 certification maintenance points (CMPs). You receive 100 CMPs for the job you perform and must earn a minimum of another 100 CMPs through other activities. Enter CMPs in MYIHMM as you earn them, keep employment information current, and retain records because IHMM audits.
What happens if my certification lapses?
If your annual fees or certification have been expired for less than five years and you were not decertified on ethical grounds, you may apply for reinstatement. The reinstatement application fee is $75, plus a $200 reinstatement fee and all past-due annual fees and late fees. Beyond five years, you must repeat the full certification process.
What are the most common preparation mistakes candidates make?
Studying generic environmental science instead of the blueprint is the biggest error, since questions come from blueprint domains. Others include ignoring the regulations and best management practices the blueprint names, skipping the Candidate Handbook, and delaying CMP entry until year five. IHMM advises entering CMPs as you earn them and starting your recertification application early.
Does IHMM require a prep course, and are degrees from outside the U.S. accepted?
No specific training or preparation is required. Degrees from colleges outside the U.S. are acceptable if documented as equivalent to a U.S. BS/BA degree; those candidates must upload a statement of equivalency from a recognized evaluating agency, such as a member listed by NACES. U.S. accreditation can be checked with CHEA.