Forestry technologists and technicians
Career Overview
Forestry technologists and technicians may work independently or perform technical and supervisory functions in support of forestry research, forest management, forest harvesting, forest resource conservation and environmental protection.
People in this group:
- Work for the forest industry sector, provincial and federal governments, consulting firms, and other industries and institutions
- May be self-employed
- Must be able to draw conclusions from data and communicate conclusions clearly
- Should be physically fit and have knowledge of safety procedures, as well as be able to work independently and in a team setting, both in the laboratory and in the field
- Are required to use technological equipment for field work
- Must have the ability to use maps and compasses to navigate in the forest
- Must be familiar with geographic information system (GIS) software and computers
Job Titles
Duties
Forestry technologists and technicians:
- Conduct, supervise and participate in forest inventory cruises, surveys and field measurements following accepted scientific and operational procedures
- Assist and perform technical functions in the preparation of forest management and harvest plans using photogrammetric and mapping techniques and computerized information systems
- Assist in planning and supervise construction of access routes and forest roads
- Implement, supervise and perform technical functions in silvicultural operations involving site preparation, planting, and tending of tree crops
- Co-ordinate activities such as timber scaling, forest fire suppression, disease or insect control or pre-commercial thinning of forest stands
- Supervise and perform technical functions in forest harvesting operations
- Monitor activities of logging companies and contractors and enforce regulations such as those concerning environmental protection, resource utilization, fire safety and accident prevention
- Provide forestry education, advice and recommendations to woodlot owners, community organizations and the general public
- Develop and maintain computer databases
- Supervise forest tree nursery operations
- Provide technical support to forestry research programs in areas such as tree improvement, seed orchard operations, insect and disease surveys or experimental forestry and forest engineering research
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
2,225% Employed Full Time
48%Most forestry technologists and technicians work at least part of the time outdoors in remote forested areas or log-sorting yards. They are often required to work in remote field camps away from home for extended periods, but other work may also take place in offices and laboratories.
Workers must be able to walk long distances in heavily forested areas, sometimes on steep and difficult terrain and often in extreme weather (heat, rain, snow).
While work occasionally requires the use of dangerous equipment, such as chain saws and brush saws, safety is the most important aspect of every job in the forest industry and mandated safety procedures must be followed. Workers may also encounter wildlife when working in isolated backcountry areas.
Extended work hours are common during peak seasons. Workers may also experience periods of seasonal unemployment.
Workers must be comfortable operating 4x4 motor vehicles, all-terrain vehicles (also known as quads) and snowmobiles, and working around airplanes or helicopters.
Career Pathways
Forestry technologists and technicians typically work for government, forest companies or research facilities or they are self-employed. Progression to supervisory and management positions is possible with experience.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
Forestry technologists and technicians are required to have completed a two-year college program in forestry technology, renewable resource program or forest ranger program in B.C.
There are two paths of certification and registration for forestry technologists:
The Association of BC Forest Professionals (ABCFP) certifies the occupation of forest technologists. An individual with a two-year forest technology diploma from an institute recognized by the ABCFP can enrol as a Trainee Forest Technologist (TFT). Once enrolled as a TFT, individuals are required to complete 24 months of acceptable work experience and must write part A and part B of the Registered Forest Technologist (RFT) exam. On passing, they can then become an official RFT.
For more information, see the ABCFP website at www.abcfp.ca.
The Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of British Columbia (ASTTBC) organization certifies the occupation of forest engineering technologists. An individual who has completed a college program in forest technology can register with the ASTTBC as a graduate technologist or technician. After completing a minimum of two years of work experience, individuals can then apply to become a certified member. Certification under ASTTBC is transferable among provinces.
For more information, see the ASTTBC website at www.asttbc.org.
Those who are certified for an occupation by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information such as a letter of good standing, references, or criminal record check.
For those who trained outside of Canada and never received certification from any Canadian jurisdiction, a full assessment is likely needed. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants.
For details on how to apply for certification in B.C., contact the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC and/or the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development: Forest Policy and Indigenous Relations Division, Timber Pricing Branch.
For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.
View a list of Professional Regulatory Authorities in B.C.
Education programs in B.C.
Top Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Teaching others how to do something.
Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
2,225Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 470 | 21.1% |
| Kootenay | 230 | 10.3% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 285 | 12.8% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 200 | 9.0% |
| Northeast | 55 | 2.5% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 490 | 22.0% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 500 | 22.5% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
520Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 90 | -0.3% |
| Kootenay | 70 | 0.3% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 30 | -1.0% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 90 | 1.6% |
| Northeast | 0 | -0.7% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 110 | -0.1% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 130 | -0.1% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Forestry, Logging and Support Activities | 220 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 180 |
| Public Administration | 70 |
| Manufacturing | 20 |
| Information, Culture and Recreation | 10 |
Insights from Industry
There will be a significant number of job openings as a result of both new job creation and the need to replace experienced workers who retire.
Employers have found it difficult to attract young skilled people to the Forestry and Logging industry and retain them. This problem may become worse as older workers retire. In recent years, the number of graduates in this field has also been decreasing.
Demand for forestry-related employment services are expected to be constrained by the limited growth in related activity in government agencies and forestry companies. As well, there has been increased consolidation of companies and greater use of technology to remain globally competitive, which will continue to limit job creation. These trends are expected to result in limited employment growth for forestry technologist and technicians.
Resources
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Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC (ASTTBC)www.asttbc.org
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B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Developmentwww.gov.bc.ca/forests
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British Columbia Community Forest Association (BCCFA)bccfa.ca
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British Columbia Forest Safety Council (BCFSC)www.bcforestsafe.org
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Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists (CCTT)www.cctt.ca
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Forest Practices Boardwww.bcfpb.ca
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Forest Professionals BCwww.fpbc.ca/
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Forest Professionals BC – Job Centrewww.fpbc.ca/job/
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Tree-planter.com – An Online Resource for Tree Planterswww.tree-planter.com