FPBC Regulates the Largest Group of Forest Professionals in Canada

Provincial legislation requires anyone practising professional forestry in BC be registered with, and regulated by, Forest Professionals BC (FPBC). This protects the public interest by ensuring registered forest professionals meet specific educational and professional standards and can be held accountable for their work and conduct.

The simplest avenue to becoming a Registered Professional Forester (RPF) or Registered Forest Technologist (RFT) is to earn a degree or diploma from a nationally accredited program. Several BC and Canadian post-secondary institutions offer accredited forestry programs.

You can graduate from a non-accredited program and still apply for registration with FPBC, but you may be required to take additional educational courses or other gap-filling measures.

What Are the Different Forest Professionals

There are two main types of forest professionals with full practice rights: Registered Professional Foresters (RPF) and Registered Forest Technologists (RFT). There are also several categories of associate registrants with varying practice rights.

Check Your Eligibility

Assess your academic background and work experience to determine if you are eligible to apply for registration as a trainee with the FPBC.

Apply for Registration

If FPBC has confirmed you meet the eligibility requirements, you may apply for registration as a trainee.

Fees

Fees for registration and application for all registrant types.

Registered Professional Foresters

Commonly hold a four-year post-secondary degree and are involved in all aspects of the care, management, and use of the forest.

Registered Forest Technologists

Commonly hold a two-year post-secondary diploma and are mainly involved in technical forest management activities, such as forest measurements, silviculture, forest operations, and forest protection.

Requirements to be a Forest Professional

To become registered and allowed to practise professional forestry in BC, you must meet the core competency requirements, and complete six education modules, as well as the articling process.

Technical Occupations

FPBC accredits and regulates certain technical occupations in forestry, such as timber cruisers (ATC), silvicultural surveyors (SAS), timber evaluators (ATE), and forest technicians.

Associate Registrants

Associate registrants have limited reserved practice rights.

Forms & Documents for Trainees

A list of forms and documents for trainees working through the articling process.