Safety Knights

I hope not, because I did the noise surveying at my facility, and I am neither one of those.

If you just doing a survey to see how loud things are and have properly calibrated sound meter, I see no reason to have an IH. If you want to do noise dosimetry to get TWAs, having an IH do this is probably a good idea to ensure the equipment is set up correctly.

Michael and John are right on. I would feel comfortable going around he plant with a plant map writing down sound meter readings from my I-Watch. I have NO letters (that matter here) behind my name. To me that is a "Sound Survey". For you purest if you want to use a calibrated sound meter go for it. If my repeated readings (with dates) are all not more than 82 I am good. I sign and date the map and save it in case anyone asks.
If I get data that suggests I need to dig deeper with noise dosimetry and TWAs I am calling a CIH (sorry guys not just an IH, I can do what and IH can do). A CIH report is the Gold Standard, especially one with a good reputation! I once was asked by a OSHA CSHO to see my last Sound Survey Information. I showed him my map from above (using a calibrated sound meter, before I-Watches). I said that map indicated to me I had to call in my friend Dan the CIH. So I handed him Dan's report. He took one look at the cover letter with Dan F's Signature and he said, "That is good enough for me! I know Dan and he would not sign it unless it is GOOD! Good Bye I am out of here!"

I think the answer is partly based on your company and/or corporate policies. At the last huge corporation I worked for I could do prelim studies (like a sound survey) but for evaluations, testing, and recommendations as to employee health and OSHA compliance I had to hire a CIH. So I always tried to hire the best I could. I found one that was the best in the state in my opinion. Ended up saving my butt many times! Expensive OH YES! However, his word was Gold!