The Allied Science Trainee Forest Technologist (ASTFT) program is for individuals who have completed technology diplomas from an unrecognized/non-accredited diploma program or a foreign program in forestry or an allied discipline. 

You may be eligible for ASTFT registration if you have:

  • completed an Forest Professionals BC Recognized Diploma Program outside of the recognized period;

  • completed an unrecognized post-secondary technology diploma program (usually with a minimum of 1,000 credit hours) in forestry or an allied discipline, such as natural resource management, fish, wildlife and recreation, or GIS;

  • completed a post-secondary technician diploma program (usually with a minimum of 1,000 credit hours) in forestry or allied discipline and have forest technology work experience;

  • a combined academic and practice equivalent to a technology diploma (questions about eligibility in these cases are highly specific and should be discussed with staff in the registration department;

  • an international forestry program equivalent to a diploma program. International forestry programs (completed outside of Canada), must go through comprehensive assessment by the International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES) to determine your education’s Canadian equivalent. If you have already had your credentials assessed by another evaluation service, e-mail a copy of it to the Forest Professionals BC registration department at admissions@fpbc.ca along with your résumé and we will review it to determine if it is acceptable.

If you want to apply for the ASTFT program, you must complete the following steps:

  • confirm your eligibility to apply for registration;

  • prepare your application;

  • apply online.

ASTFT Core Competency Requirements

Allied Science Trainee Forest Technologists (ASTFTs) meet this requirement by satisfying the entry-level competency set in the FPBC Registered Forest Technologist Competency Standards for the practice of professional forestry in BC. 

The competency standards are the minimum common requirements to ensure ASTFTs are competent in all forestry practice areas at entry-level, regardless of what professional forestry job they take on and practice as an RFT. 

As an ASTFT, the onus is on you to provide evidence that you meet the core competency requirement. To determine how you meet this requirement, you must first complete the credential assessment process (CAP) administered by the FPBC registration department. 

Prepare Your CAP Portfolio

Described below are the two types of assessments available. Review them and then contact the FPBC registration department to confirm the appropriate assessment type and the forms and documents that you are required to submit. 

  • Full Competency Assessment – a full competency assessment is required for graduates of a program not reviewed by FPBC. You must prepare and submit a comprehensive credentials assessment portfolio. 

Contact cap@fpbc.ca to receive instructions on how to prepare your portfolio and gain access to CAP materials. 

Preliminary review – once you have started building your portfolio in the RFT CAP SharePoint, send an e-mail to the Forest Professionals BC registration department so we can periodically review your file and confirm if you are building your portfolio correctly. The preliminary review process leading to the final acceptance of an application might take weeks, depending on the number of CAP submissions received. 

Once your application is complete, you will be required to pay your application fee before the assessment can proceed. 

CAP Assessment Report

The CAP assessment report details the findings at the standard, demonstrable competency, and performance indicator levels. The report may provide additional information to indicate, more specifically, where an applicant’s competency is weak or deficient. Along with the report, the Forest Professionals BC registration department will provide the applicant with a summary and information about the next steps in the process. 

Once you receive your CAP assessment report, you are required to proceed to the next steps in the ASTFT CAP Process. 

If all of the competency requirements have been met, you can continue completing your ASTFT program requirements. If not all of the competency requirements have been met, your report should contain the recommendation from the Credentials Committee-RFT Competency Working Group. 

Complete Outstanding Competencies

The Credentials Committee–RFT Competency Working Group recommendation includes a list of actions to address any remaining competency gap or deficiency. You will need to work with your sponsor and mentors to help you develop a competency gap-filling plan. 

Submissions

Forest Professionals BC accepts CAP applications year-round. Assessment starts within a week from receipt of a complete CAP application portfolio. The CAP assessment result is available approximately eight to 10 weeks from receipt of a complete application.