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4B091 Career Guide

Air Force

4B091: Bioenvironmental Engineering Technician

Career transition guide for Air Force Bioenvironmental Engineering Technician (4B091)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 4B091 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Industrial Hygienist

$85K
High matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) certification

Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Specialist

$75K
High matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

OSHA certifications (e.g., OSHA 30-hour)Knowledge of specific industry regulations (e.g., manufacturing, construction)

Radiation Protection Technician

$68K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Certification as a Radiation Safety Technologist (e.g., NRRPT)Specific training in handling radioactive materials

Environmental Compliance Manager

$95K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Knowledge of EPA regulationsProject management skillsExperience with environmental management systems (e.g., ISO 14001)

Emergency Management Specialist

$70K
Moderate matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) certificationIncident Command System (ICS) trainingFEMA certifications

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 4B091 training built — and where they transfer.

Situational Awareness

This role demands constant vigilance and understanding of the environment, anticipating potential hazards (chemical, biological, radiological) and their impact on personnel and operations. You're always assessing the bigger picture to maintain safety and compliance.

Your ability to quickly assess complex environments and predict potential risks translates to a strong aptitude for roles requiring proactive risk management and strategic planning.

Procedural Compliance

Adherence to rigorous safety protocols, environmental regulations, and health standards is paramount. You meticulously follow established procedures to ensure compliance and mitigate risks associated with hazardous materials and environments.

Your experience in adhering to strict regulations and protocols makes you highly valuable in industries where compliance is critical for safety and operational efficiency.

System Modeling

You create and maintain models of environmental systems to predict the impact of Air Force operations, manage radiation sources, and develop effective pollution control strategies. This involves understanding complex interactions and predicting outcomes.

Your ability to build and analyze system models gives you a head start in any civilian role involving forecasting, impact assessment, and optimization of complex processes.

Rapid Prioritization

In situations like chemical spills or potential radiation overexposures, you must quickly assess the situation, prioritize actions, and allocate resources to mitigate the immediate threat and prevent further harm. You are good at making critical decisions under pressure.

Your demonstrated ability to quickly assess urgent situations and prioritize effectively makes you ideal for fast-paced environments where critical decisions must be made under pressure.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Emergency Management Specialist

SOC 11-9161.00

You've been trained to respond to hazardous incidents, develop emergency plans, and coordinate with various agencies. Your experience in radiological and chemical hazard response directly translates to managing and mitigating a wide range of emergencies in the civilian sector.

Industrial Safety Engineer

SOC 17-2111.00

You've got a deep understanding of industrial processes and potential safety hazards. Your experience in conducting industrial hygiene surveys, recommending protective equipment, and ensuring regulatory compliance makes you a strong candidate to design and implement safety programs in manufacturing and other industrial settings.

Environmental Consultant

SOC 19-2041.00

You've already performed environmental assessments, pollution source identification, and remediation planning. Your background makes you well-prepared to advise businesses and organizations on environmental compliance, sustainability, and risk management.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Bioenvironmental Engineering Apprentice Course, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH

480 training hours12 weeksUp to 9 semester hours recommended in Environmental Science, Occupational Safety, or Public Health

Topics Covered

  • Industrial Hygiene Surveys and Sampling
  • Hazardous Material Management
  • Environmental Compliance
  • Occupational Health Program Management
  • Radiological Health and Safety
  • Emergency Response Procedures
  • Air and Water Quality Monitoring

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH)70% covered

Requires a bachelor's degree in a related field (science, engineering) and significant professional experience. Would need to study advanced IH topics such as toxicology, statistics, and specific control methods in more depth.

Certified Safety Professional (CSP)60% covered

Requires a bachelor's degree in a related field (safety, engineering) and professional safety experience. Gaps include a broader understanding of general safety management principles, legal and regulatory frameworks beyond environmental and occupational health.

Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian (REHS/RS)75% covered

Requires a bachelor's degree and passing an exam. Gaps include more in-depth knowledge of food safety, vector control, and sanitation practices in community settings.

Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM)80% covered

May need some additional study of hazardous waste regulations (RCRA) and transportation regulations (DOT) to be fully prepared for the exam. Focus on specific regulations outside of military operations.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH)Certified Safety Professional (CSP)Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM)OSHA 30-Hour General Industry or ConstructionAssociate Safety Professional (ASP)

Technical Systems Translation

Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Defense Occupational and Environmental Health Readiness System (DOEHRS)Occupational health and safety management software (e.g., Cority, Intelex)
Air Force Radiation Dosimetry ProgramCommercial dosimetry services (e.g., Mirion Technologies, Landauer)
Hazardous Material Management System (HMMS)Chemical inventory management software (e.g., EHS Insight, VelocityEHS)
Confined Space Entry ProgramLockout Tagout safety programs
Industrial Hygiene Sampling Equipment (e.g., air sampling pumps, noise dosimeters, radiation survey meters)Industrial hygiene monitoring equipment (e.g., TSI, 3M, RAE Systems)
Base Environmental Compliance Assessment and Management Program (BECAMP)Environmental compliance audit software and services
Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG)SDS (Safety Data Sheet) Databases

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