T r a i n i n g P r o g r a m 

SPIROMETRY 

National Institute for 

Occupational Safety and Health 

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Spirometry Training Program is responsible for 

approving course sponsors to train participants on how to perform spirometry, a type of lung function test. 

NIOSH-approved spirometry training is required by Federal Law for individuals performing spirometry testing 

on workers exposed to cotton, coal, and silica dusts.

What is a NIOSH-approved Spirometry Training Course Sponsor, Course 

Director, and a Faculty Member? 

Course Sponsor

Organizations or individuals responsible for 

sponsoring a NIOSH-approved spirometry 

training course. Sponsors can be NIOSH 

Education and Research Centers (ERC), 

academic institutions, non-profit organizations, 

private companies, or individual professionals. 

• To become a sponsor, you must select a 

Course Director to oversee your course. 

• Sponsors submit curriculum vitaes for 

applicant Course Directors to the NIOSH 

Spirometry Training Program at 

NIOSHbreathe@cdc.gov for consideration 

 and approval. 

General Program Information 

Course Director 

Oversees the training course program, develops course 

curriculum, and is present at all courses. Course directors 

enlist Faculty Members. 

Faculty Member

Works under direct supervision of the course director and 

provides practical course instruction. To become a faculty 

member, the course director submits a curriculum vitae 

for NIOSH review and approval. 

• All healthcare professionals who perform or interpret spirometry are eligible and encouraged to take a 

NIOSH-approved spirometry training course. 

• Course participants receive a strong foundation of the knowledge and practical skills to collect accurate and 

 valid spirometry results. 

• NIOSH-approved spirometry training course sponsors offer initial 2 or 3-day courses, which you can view online 

at cdc.gov/niosh/topics/spirometry/sponsors. See the map on the back of this sheet for course locations. 

• Course sponsors issue initial and refresher course certificates that are valid for five years.

• Schedules for online and one-day refresher courses are available at cdc.gov/niosh-rhd/spirometryTrainingSchedule 

for participants who need to be recertified after five years.

• Course sponsors determine registration fees depending on the type of course and the geographical location. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Course Design Course Goals 

Course participants must complete a minimum of 16 hours of 

spirometry training. This includes: 

• At least 4 hours of formal lectures and/or audio visual 

material 

• At least 8 hours of practical instruction 

• At least 2 hours of evaluation and testing 

• At least 2 additional hours of lecture, practical instruction, 

or testing at the course director's discretion 

NIOSH-approved Spirometry Training

Course Locations 

Spirometry 

Equipment 

Accuracy & 

Precision 

System Quality 

Control & 

Recordkeeping 

Technician 

Training, 

Review, & 

Feedback 

Improve

Spirometry 

Quality 



 Initial Courses 

Initial Courses with staff who are willing to travel

Refresher courses 

Training Resources 

NIOSH Spirometry Training Program Questions 

and Answers can be found online at 

cdc.gov/niosh/topics/spirometry/QA. 

Other resources include: 

• NIOSH Spirometry Training Guide

cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2004-154c

• Get Valid Spirometry Results EVERY Time

cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2011-135

• Maximize Your Spirometry Screening and

Surveillance Resources

 cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2011-133

• Spirometry Quality Assurance: Common

Errors and Their Impact on Test Results

cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2012-116

• Learning Curves: Technical Procedures

for Spirometry Testing in the Occupational

Setting

 cdc.gov/niosh/topics/spirometry/videos 

For more information: 

• Go to the NIOSH Spirometry Training Program webpage at cdc.gov/niosh/topics/spirometry/training 

y Email us at NIOSHBreathe@cdc.gov 

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2019-110

https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB2019110

October 2018