Postgraduate DiplomaHealth, Biomechanics, Wearables & Operational Safety Applications open

Postgraduate Diploma in Sampling of Chemical and Biological Agents

Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Sampling of Chemical and Biological Agents. 8 modules with Royal Decree 374/2001 (chemical agents), Royal Decree 664/1997 (biological agents) and IHSTAT (AIHA). Assigned tutor and open enrolment.

Duration800 h
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma

Postgraduate Diploma in Sampling of Chemical and Biological Agents — studying from the United States

Health technology and biomechanics form a significant sector in the United States, anchored by medical device hubs in Minnesota, Massachusetts, California and New Jersey. Companies develop implants, diagnostic equipment, rehabilitation devices and wearable sensors under strict regulatory oversight. Engineers apply biomechanical modeling, human factors and operational safety analysis to improve device performance and worker well-being. Careers often involve close collaboration with clinicians and regulatory affairs teams.

Fees for the United States: US$1,670 (US Dollars), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.

Relevant bodies in the United States

  • U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  • Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI)
  • American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
  • Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Typical roles

  • Biomedical Engineer
  • Biomechanics Engineer
  • Wearables Development Engineer
  • Operational Safety Engineer

Questions from the United States

Which professional bodies in the United States relate to this area, and does a SEIUM qualification make me a licensed engineer?

In the US, the Professional Engineer (PE) license is issued by state licensing boards and generally requires an ABET-accredited engineering degree, supervised experience, and passing the FE and PE exams. Biomedical and safety work also connects to bodies such as ASME and IEEE EMBS. A SEIUM qualification is a private qualification, not a state degree, and does not itself grant PE licensure. Recognition is decided by employers or the relevant licensing body.

Where do people with this training typically work in the United States?

Careers in this area commonly appear in medical device companies, wearable technology firms, hospitals and research institutions, and occupational safety departments in industrial employers. Hiring decisions depend on each employer's requirements and how they value private, non-accredited training, so you should check specific job postings and speak with target employers before enrolling.

Can I study this programme while working full time in the US?

The programmes are 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from home and no student visa is needed. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours, and specialist courses 300 hours, so you should plan your weekly hours realistically. Fees are payable in instalments, and some employers offer sponsorship, which you can ask your employer about directly.

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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Identify chemical and biological agents and their routes of exposure.

02

Design sampling strategies in accordance with UNE-EN 689.

03

Apply techniques for capturing gases and vapours.

04

Sample particles according to the inhalable, thoracic and respirable fractions.

05

Plan the sampling of biological agents in air and on surfaces.

06

Interpret results against limit values using statistical methods.

07

Ensure sampling quality and propose control measures.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Industrial hygienist wishing to specialise in Sampling of Chemical and Biological Agents.
  • Environmental sampling technician wishing to specialise in Sampling of Chemical and Biological Agents.
  • Hygiene laboratory technician wishing to specialise in Sampling of Chemical and Biological Agents.
  • Prevention technician specialised in hygiene wishing to specialise in Sampling of Chemical and Biological Agents.
  • Occupational exposure consultant wishing to specialise in Sampling of Chemical and Biological Agents.
  • Laboratory quality manager wishing to specialise in Sampling of Chemical and Biological Agents.
  • Graduates in engineering or sciences seeking to enter prevention services.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • Royal Decree 374/2001 (chemical agents)
  • Royal Decree 664/1997 (biological agents)
  • UNE-EN 689 (measurement strategy for inhalation exposure)
  • UNE-EN 482 (general requirements for measurement procedures)
  • UNE-EN 481 (particle size fractions)
  • UNE-EN 14583 (volumetric sampling of bioaerosols)
  • UNE-EN 13098 (measurement of airborne micro-organisms)
Syllabus

8 modules · 800 h

  1. 1.1Routes of entry of contaminants into the body
  2. 1.2Concept of daily and short-term exposure
  3. 1.3VLA-ED and VLA-EC limit values of the INSST
  4. 1.4Royal Decree 374/2001 on chemical agents
  5. 1.5Royal Decree 664/1997 on biological agents
  6. 1.6Biological risk groups 1 to 4
  7. 1.7Safety data sheets and REACH Regulation
  8. 1.8Preliminary qualitative assessment: COSHH Essentials
  9. 1.9General exposure assessment strategy
  10. 1.10Practical case: identification of agents in an analytical laboratory
  1. 2.1UNE-EN 689 standard on exposure measurement
  2. 2.2Similar exposure groups
  3. 2.3Number of samples and preliminary test
  4. 2.4Personal versus area sampling
  5. 2.5Duration and timing of sampling
  6. 2.6Intra- and inter-individual variability
  7. 2.7Statistical compliance tests
  8. 2.8Periodic measurement and reassessment
  9. 2.9Documentation of the sampling plan
  10. 2.10Workshop: sampling plan per UNE-EN 689 for a paint shop
  1. 3.1Sampling pumps and flow rate calibration
  2. 3.2Charcoal and silica gel adsorbent tubes
  3. 3.3Passive diffusion samplers
  4. 3.4Bags and canisters for gases
  5. 3.5INSST MTA analytical methods
  6. 3.6NIOSH and OSHA reference methods
  7. 3.7Gas chromatography in analysis
  8. 3.8Direct-reading instruments: PID and electrochemical detectors
  9. 3.9UNE-EN 482 requirements for procedures
  10. 3.10Laboratory: pump calibration and sampling with adsorbent tube
  1. 4.1Inhalable, thoracic and respirable fractions
  2. 4.2UNE-EN 481 standard on size conventions
  3. 4.3Cyclones and IOM and CIP10 samplers
  4. 4.4Filters: types and gravimetric preparation
  5. 4.5Respirable crystalline silica: sampling and analysis
  6. 4.6Asbestos fibres and phase-contrast microscopy
  7. 4.7Metals and ICP analysis
  8. 4.8Welding fumes and nanoparticles
  9. 4.9Optical particle counters
  10. 4.10Practical: respirable dust sampling with cyclone and gravimetry
  1. 5.1Bioaerosols: bacteria, fungi and endotoxins
  2. 5.2Andersen-type impactors
  3. 5.3Sampling on filters and in liquid media
  4. 5.4Surface sampling with swabs and plates
  5. 5.5Standards UNE-EN 13098 and UNE-EN 14583
  6. 5.6Culture, CFU counting and identification
  7. 5.7Molecular methods: quantitative PCR
  8. 5.8Legionella in risk installations
  9. 5.9Absence of limit values and reference values
  10. 5.10Laboratory: bioaerosol sampling with impactor in an enclosed space
  1. 6.1Calculation of concentrations and daily exposure
  2. 6.2Exposure to mixtures: additive effect
  3. 6.3Handling results below the limit of detection
  4. 6.4Lognormal distribution and 95th percentile
  5. 6.5IHSTAT and BWStat software
  6. 6.6Measurement uncertainty
  7. 6.7Biological monitoring and its relationship with environmental monitoring
  8. 6.8Hygiene assessment report
  9. 6.9Communicating results to the worker
  10. 6.10Practical: statistical analysis of a series of measurements
  1. 7.1Control hierarchy: substitution and isolation
  2. 7.2Local exhaust ventilation
  3. 7.3Respiratory protective equipment
  4. 7.4Analytical laboratory quality control
  5. 7.5ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation
  6. 7.6Chain of custody and sample transport
  7. 7.7Technician safety during sampling
  8. 7.8Biosafety in sampling Group 3 agents
  9. 7.9Sampling waste management
  10. 7.10Practical case: evaluation of local exhaust extraction effectiveness
  1. 8.1Selection of workplace and agents
  2. 8.2Identification and qualitative assessment
  3. 8.3Design of the sampling strategy
  4. 8.4Selection of methods and equipment
  5. 8.5Logistical and quality planning
  6. 8.6Statistical analysis of simulated results
  7. 8.7Proposal of control measures
  8. 8.8Drafting the hygiene report
  9. 8.9Written report and presentation
  10. 8.10Final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

Fully 100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine study with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is IHSTAT (AIHA), Altrex Chimie, R, advanced Excel, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Trials are studied on real personal sampling procedures with pumps and collection media, bioaerosol sampling with impactors, and statistical interpretation of results against VLAs. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final integrative project.

Accreditable laboratories(EN ISO/IEC 17025) with rotor test rig, EMC/Lightning pre-compliance, HIL/SIL, vibration/acoustics.
Evidence-oriented Master's Thesis (final project):safety case, test plan, compliance dossier and operational limits.
Industry mentoring:lecturers with experience in training, , eVTOL/UAM and flight test.
Flexible format(hybrid/online), international cohorts and support from SEIUM Career Services.
Ethics and safety:safety-by-design approach, cyber-OT, DIH and compliance as core pillars.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Selection of workplace and agents

Identify chemical and biological agents and their routes of exposure.

Identification and qualitative assessment

Design sampling strategies in accordance with UNE-EN 689.

Design of the sampling strategy

Apply techniques for capturing gases and vapours.

Selection of methods and equipment

Sample particles according to the inhalable, thoracic and respirable fractions.

Logistical and quality planning

Plan the sampling of biological agents in air and on surfaces.

Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Industrial hygienistEnvironmental sampling technicianHygiene laboratory technicianPrevention technician specialised in hygieneOccupational exposure consultantLaboratory quality manager
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
  • Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
  • Sufficient level of Spanish to follow the reading of technical regulations.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme comprises 800 hours in total, spread over 6 to 8 months. That is an average of between 10 and 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.

The programme uses IHSTAT (AIHA), Altrex Chimie, R and advanced Excel. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.

An own diploma from SEIUM upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.

Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised towards the higher programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.

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