NIOSH-Approved Spirometry
Introduction
Location: Rush University, 600 S Paulina St, Chicago, IL 60612
Date: March 6-7, 2026
Time: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Cost: $650 each; Medical residents: $200
Location: South Bend, Indiana
Date: January 23-24, 2026
Time: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Cost: $650 each; Medical residents: $200
This course is being brought to a private group. If you are near South Bend and would like to register an employee to join, please email us at llorenza@uic.edu
The purpose of this course is for participants to gain the knowledge and practical skills to collect accurate and valid spirometry results. The initial training requires a minimum of 16 hours instruction.
No prior training in pulmonary function testing is required. Our practicum instructors have extensive practical experience in spirometry testing to help participants learn proper testing procedures.
OSHA regulations require individuals who administer spirometry tests as part of mandated health surveillance for employees exposed to cotton dust and respirable crystalline silica to complete NIOSH-approved spirometry training courses. MSHA regulations also require this training for those administering spirometry tests to coal miners as part of their mandated health surveillance. NIOSH-approved spirometry trainings have also been widely accepted for training healthcare professionals in other occupational settings.
Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and certificate of completion available after completing the training and passing an exam.
Who Should Attend?
For primary care practitioners, internists, allergists, pulmonologists, occupational medicine physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, and their office technical staff who are, or may be, conducting spirometry.
Learning Objectives:
- A basic understanding of pulmonary anatomy and physiology
- Understand the role and origin of predicted values for FVC, FEV1 and FEV1/FVC
- Know the basic patterns of impairment (obstruction and restriction)
- Understand how a spirometer works
- Understand and demonstrate calibration and calibration verification of a spirometer
- Know the relative contraindications for spirometry
- Perform valid spirometry
- Know the most common error in spirometry and how to coach patients to correct them
- Understand the role of quality assurance in spirometry
Instructors
Main instructor:
William Clapp, MD
Former Medical Director of Pulmonary Physiology Laboratories
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Cook County Heath and Hospital System
Chicago, IL
www.cookcountyhealth.org/physicians/william-d-clapp-md
Co-instructors:
Renee Bergtold, MSc, RRT-RPFT
Assistant Professor, Department of Cardiopulmonary Sciences
Division of Respiratory Care
Clinical Manager, Pulmonary Function/Bronchoscopy
RUSH University
Chicago, IL 60612
www.rushu.rush.edu/faculty/renee-bergtold-msc-rrt-rpft
Mark Yoder, MD
RUSH Medical Group
Specialties: Pulmonary Disease, Critical Care Medicine
Chicago, IL 60612
www.doctors.rush.edu/details/971
For registration questions,
Email us at llorenza@uic.edu
Willing to Travel
Dr. Clapp is willing to travel to instruct Spirometry trainings for small groups of participants. To discuss having a training for your group of employees, contact Dr. Clapp at bclapp2@uic.edu and Lindsey at llorenza@uic.edu.