There are some regulated occupations within forestry that don’t require a university degree or college diploma. These fall under the Forest Professionals BC associate registrant category and are detailed in FPBC Bylaw 6. 

Forest Professionals BC offers certification in the following technical occupations:

  • Accredited Timber Cruisers (ATC)
  • Accredited Timber Evaluators (ATE)
  • Silvicultural Accredited Surveyors (SAS)
  • Limited Licences (LL)

Benefits of certification with Forest Professionals BC:

  • Eligible to practise aspects of professional forestry in BC as stated on your Certificate of Accreditation; 
  • Recognized as a registrant within the largest community of practising forest professionals in Canada; 
  • Indicates to the public that you are a professional and uphold professional standards as defined in FPBC Bylaws; and
  • Access to Forest Professionals BC resources for continuing professional development (CPD), practice guidance, and practice advice. 

How to apply for technical certification 

ATC, ATE, and SAS certification is available to both current Forest Professionals BC registrants as well as non-registrants. However, the application process is slightly different for the two. Applications are submitted via an online form accessed through Forest Professionals BC’s registrant portal. 

As part of your application, you will need to provide the following information:

  • Educational background such as degree or diploma, date when it was completed, name of the educational program, name of the educational institute, and country in which you completed your education. 
  • Employment information including whether you are currently employed or unemployed. 
  • Indictable Offence Declaration. Indictable offences are the most serious of criminal offences such as murder, break and enter, theft over $5,000, assault, aggravated sexual assault, drug trafficking, and other serious criminal acts. Forest Professionals BC Bylaw 14 allows the Board to reject an application for registration from anyone who has been convicted of an indictable offence or other serious criminal offences. 
  • Police background check. As part of its public protection mandate, FPBC applies due diligence when confirming the identity of applicants seeking admission to the profession. All new FPBC applicants must upload a complete, recent police information checks (PIC) with their application. If you have not completed a PIC with myBackCheck.com before, use this link to create your account. You will automatically be assigned with Association of BC Forest Professionals, the legal name of Forest Professionals BC. If you have completed a PIC with myBackCheck.com within the past six months, log in through the link above and select your record to be sent to Forest Professionals BC. Police Information Checks completed more than six months ago are not accepted. 

You must also upload the following documents to complete the application:

  • Current curriculum vitae (CV). 
  • References. Provide the names of two Forest Professionals BC registrants who have worked with you as a supervisor or colleague for the time period specified in the work history detail you provide and have direct knowledge of your work experience. Forest Professionals BC will contact your selected references directly. 
  • If applying for ATC or ATE certification, upload a completed copy of the Timber Cruiser’s Log. 
  • If applying for SAS certification, upload proof of completion of the Silviculture Survey Accreditation Process from the BC Ministry of Forests. 
  • If applying for a Limited Licence, you will need to upload a completed Scope of Practice form signed by a guarantor who is a practising RPF or RFT registrant with Forest Professionals BC. You will also need to upload a completed Work History form demonstrating that you have previously completed or are currently performing the tasks under the work described in the Scope of Practice form. 

You can stop and save the application form and return to it at any point. 

You must provide a credit card when submitting your application to pay the application fee online. This card should be saved in your profile, as it will also be used to pay the pro-rated registration fee upon approval.  

A full listing of all fees is available in the schedule of Forest Professionals BC registration and application fees.

How to Access the Online Application Form 

Existing Forest Professionals BC Registrants

  1. Log in to the FPBC registrant portal. 
  2. Click “Contact FPBC” in the top line navigation bar. 
  3. Click “Change Requests” in the left side navigation. 
  4. Select the “Apply for ATC/ATE/SAS/Limited Licence” button. This will open a new application form. 

Non-Forest Professionals BC Registrants

Non-Forest Professionals BC registrants must first create a profile in the Forest Professionals BC registrant portal before completing and submitting the application form. 

  1. Log in to the FPBC registrant portal.
  2. Enter personal and contact information to create a profile. 
  3. Select “Applications” from the top-line navigation. This will open the application form. 
  4. Select the certification sought: ATC, ATE, or SAS.

Limited Licence

Limited Licence (LL) may be available exclusively to practising RFTs and associate registrants, specifically affiliated forest professionals, or natural resource professionals who are authorized under Bylaws 5-5, 5-6, 5-7, and 5-8, respectively. 

Those who satisfy the provisions of Bylaw 6-7 and any conditions established by the Credentials Committee policy will be authorized to independently engage in a specific or limited aspect of forestry reserved practice. 

The following registrant categories are eligible to apply: 

  • Practising RFT. 
  • Associate Registrants.
  • Natural Resource Professional (NRP).
  • Affiliated Forest Professional (AFP).

To become a Limited Licence (LL) holder, you must: 

  • Be in good standing. 
  • Have the minimum education and/or experience or other qualifications established by the Credentials Committee to the specific or limited aspect of forestry reserved practice applied for and are acceptable to the Registrar and the Credentials Committee–Limited Licence Working Group. 

How to Apply for a Limited Licence

  1. Log in to the FPBC registrant portal. 
  2. Click “Contact FPBC” in the top line navigation bar.
  3. Click “Change Requests” in the left side navigation.
  4. Select the “Apply for ATC/ATE/SAS/Limited Licence” button. This will open a new application form. 

As part of your application, you will need to provide the following information:

  • Educational background such as degree or diploma, date when it was completed, name of the educational program, name of the educational institute, and country in which you completed your education. 
  • Employment information including whether you are currently employed or unemployed. 
  • Indictable Offence Declaration. Indictable offences are the most serious of criminal offences such as murder, break and enter, theft over $5,000, assault, aggravated sexual assault, drug trafficking, and other serious criminal acts. Forest Professionals BC Bylaw 14 allows the Board to reject an application for registration from anyone who has been convicted of an indictable offence or other serious criminal offences. 
  • Police background check. As part of its public protection mandate, FPBC applies due diligence when confirming the identity of applicants seeking admission to the profession. All new FPBC applicants must upload a complete, recent police information checks (PIC) with their application. If you have not completed a PIC with myBackCheck.com before, use this link to create your account. You will automatically be assigned with Association of BC Forest Professionals, the legal name of Forest Professionals BC. If you have completed a PIC with myBackCheck.com within the past six months, log in through the link above and select your record to be sent to Forest Professionals BC. Police Information Checks completed more than six months ago are not accepted. 

You must also upload the following documents to complete the application:

  • Current curriculum vitae (CV). 
  • References. Provide the names of two Forest Professionals BC registrants who have worked with you as a supervisor or colleague for the time period specified in the work history detail you provide and have direct knowledge of your work experience. Forest Professionals BC will contact your selected references directly.
  • A completed Scope of Practice form signed by a guarantor who is a practising RPF or RFT registrant with Forest Professionals BC. You will also need to upload a completed Work History form demonstrating that you have previously completed or are currently performing the tasks under the work described in the Scope of Practice form.
  • You must provide a credit card when submitting your application to pay the application fee online. This card should be saved in your profile, as it will also be used to pay the pro-rated registration fee upon approval.  

A full listing of all fees is available in the schedule of Forest Professionals BC registration and application fees.