Trainees meet this requirement by completing 24 months of qualifying work experience under the guidance of a practising registrant sponsor (RPF or RFT). Work experience gained during the enrolment period prepares you for practising registration and the obligations and rights of a practising professional. 

To meet this requirement, you must maintain contact with your sponsor, complete a professional development plan, complete a professional practice diary, and submit work history forms on the Learning Management System (LMS). 

The articling requirement ensures trainees experience a wide range of professional forestry practices, develop professional practice skills, and receive guidance on the application of legislation to their practice. 

A professional development plan is a summary of the knowledge and experience you plan to acquire during your enrolment period. The plan sets out the intended course of action that a trainee will need to take to develop and improve upon knowledge and skills. You will build this plan with the support of your sponsor. 

A professional practice diary is a chronological, written record of the activities you take to meet the learning goals outlined in your professional development plan. Forest professionals are encouraged to build and maintain a practice diary as an opportunity for reflection, professional development, and record keeping. Go to the Practice Diary web page for more information and examples.

As trainee, you must have a sponsor during your enrolment period. Among other things, your sponsor agrees to oversee your growth and development as you work towards becoming a practising registrant. Sponsors periodically review your practice diary and professional development plan and help identify practice areas that may be missing in your work experience.

Individuals pursuing an RPF designation must be sponsored by a practising RPF. Individuals pursuing an RFT designation can be sponsored by either a practising RFT or a practising RPF. 

You will identify a sponsor when completing your application for registration as a trainee with Forest Professionals BC. 

Your sponsor: 

• must be a practising registrant in good standing with Forest Professionals BC; 
• must not be related by blood or marriage to the trainee, per the Code of Professional and Ethical Conduct; and 
• must not be in a subordinate position to the trainee. 

 Find a sponsor by: 

• getting recommendations or suggestions from colleagues; 
• networking within your community (who do you look up to, who are you comfortable with?); 
• using the public registry of BC forest professionals to identify individuals who work in your area; or 
• contacting Forest Professionals BC’s registration department for assistance.

While you need to have a sponsor at all times during your enrolment period, it is possible to change your sponsor. 

There are many reasons why you may need to change your sponsor, such as relocation, incompatibility, employment change, your sponsor can no longer maintain the commitment, or your sponsor ceases to be a practising registrant due to retirement or taking a Leave of Absence (LOA). 

The change-of-sponsor process is simple and can be completed once you have identified a new sponsor. 

To change sponsors, log in to the Forest Professionals BC registrant portal: 

• click on the “Contact FPBC” tab in the top navigation;  
• click on the “Change Requests” bar in the left side navigation;
• select the “Request to Change Sponsor” button.