Whether you are a Canadian or International applicant, the Association of Saskatchewan Forestry Professionals (ASFP) is here to help you work in Saskatchewan as a Registered Professional Forester or Registered Professional Forest Technologist.
If you are a student, you can easily and affordably become a member while you are creating your forestry degree or diploma at an accredited school.
If you are a member of an allied profession working within the scope of practice of professional forestry in Saskatchewan, you also have the opportunity to become a member of the Association.
Accredited Forestry Programs at Canadian Universities, for Foresters
The Canadian Forestry Accreditation Board (CFAB) accredits Canadian forestry programs at the baccalaureate level (bachelor’s degree) or higher. This ensures that accredited programs meet or exceed common educational standards for registration as a Professional Forester in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador. A list of accredited Canadian forestry programs at Canadian Universities is found here.
Professional Foresters and Professional Forest Engineers (from Quebec) in good standing may transfer to another province with relative ease because of common cross-Canada standards for education and competencies. This is in line with a Mutual Recognition Agreement signed by the provincial professional foresters associations that belong to the The Forest Professional Regulators of Canada (FPRC) and Canada’s Agreement on Internal Trade.
Accepted Forestry Programs at Canadian Colleges, for Forest Technologists
There are 23 diploma programs that are currently accepted by the ASFP for registration as a Professional Forest Technologist in Saskatchewan. Please see the document below for a listing of these programs.
A separate procedure exists for assessing the credentials of people applying to be registered as a Professional Forester who have graduated from a non-accredited forestry program. These applicants may be foreign-trained, or they may have graduated from a university program in Canada that is not accredited by the Canadian Forestry Accreditation Board (CFAB).
The procedure is applied consistently across Canada by each provincial association that belongs to The Forest Professional Regulators of Canada (FPRC). It involves the assessment of an applicant’s current education, training, and experience to determine the extent to which the competencies of the Certification Standards have been met.
Please review the detailed credential assessment process handbook that outlines the requirements and the application procedure to follow.
Under this application process, the applicant first contacts the professional association in the province where he or she wishes to practice professional forestry. Once admitted into the process, assessment of a candidate’s credentials is undertaken by an independent panel of assessors in accordance with a national credential assessment process (described in the applicant handbook). The panel provides an assessment report to the provincial association, which then makes a decision about the membership application.
Professional Foresters and Professional Forest Engineers (from Quebec) may transfer to another province with relative ease because of common interprovincial standards for education and competencies. This is in line with a Mutual Recognition Agreement signed by the provincial professional foresters associations that belong to the The Forest Professional Regulators of Canada (FPRC) and Canada’s Agreement on Internal Trade.
Restricted members may not fully meet the educational and employment requirements needed to become a Registered Professional Forester or Registered Professional Forest Technologist and may not have successfully completed the ASFP registration exam. They may have expertise in specific aspects of forestry or an allied science. Restricted members are entitled to practice forestry in accordance with conditions set on the scope of their practice and length of time they may practice. They also have the right to use the title “Restricted member” and to sign and seal professional documents.
Students currently enrolled in a post-secondary program in forestry or an allied science are encouraged to join the ASFP. Why?
- To start learning about the regulation of your profession before you graduate and start working.
- To build a network of forestry contacts.
- To be recognized as a professional.
- Employers may prefer people with professional qualifications.
- Workers who are certified may receive higher wages.
There are no fees for a student ASFP membership. Simply complete the application form below and return it to the ASFP office. Once we receive your completed application form, the Admissions Committee will review it and accept you as a member if you are enrolled in a qualifying program.