Credential Assessments
FPRC has developed and adopted a common set of competency-based certification standards that all applicants for professional practice are required to meet in order to become registered.
FPRC has a credential assessment process (CAP) for forester applicants who are internationally trained or who have graduated from non-accredited post-secondary programs in Canada. The process has been adopted by most provincial regulatory bodies in Canada and involves the assessment of an applicant’s current education, training and experience to determine the extent to which the competencies of the Certification Standards have been met. Applicants who wish to apply to the province of Québec, must apply directly to OIFQ.
All CAP applicants are assessed at the level of competence and experience expected of a new graduate of an accredited forestry program.
Under this application process, the first point of contact for a potential applicant is the regulatory body in the province where an individual wishes to practice forestry professionally.
All internationally trained individuals or applicants from non-accredited forester post-secondary programs must, prior to making an application for registration with a provincial regulator, participate in a credential assessment to determine if they meet the certification standard requirements for entry into the profession. The assessment identifies any gaps in competencies that are communicated to the regulator and the applicant.
Regulators then work with individual applicants to determine how competency gaps can be filled to enable registration as a forestry professional.
Forest technologist credential assessments are completed by each of the specific regulators (BC, AB, and SK) at this time. Please contact the regulator directly.
NOTE: FPRC and all of the member regulatory organizations are not able to assist in immigration processes. Please contact the Government of Canada with immigration inquiries. Job listings can be found on some regulatory organization job posting pages, but the regulators do not assist individuals in finding jobs.
Fees
Fees associated with the credential assessment process are charged per panel assessment.
All applicants must speak to the provincial regulator to discuss the fees applicable to their assessment situation.
Panel A (academic assessment): $500
Panel B (work experience assessment): $500
Combined assessments: $1,000
Internationally Trained Individuals & Graduates of Non-Accredited Programs
INTERNATIONALLY TRAINED INDIVIDUALS & GRADUATES OF NON-ACCREDITED POST-SECONDARY PROGRAMS
The application for the Credential Assessment Process (CAP) is hosted through an external website. The applicant portal enables a prospective applicant to access the information and materials required to submit an application. A list of educational credential assessment (ECA) service providers can be found here.
The pre-screening tool can be used by individuals prior to starting an application to determine if their education and experience align with the standards.
Applicants must contact the applicable provincial regulator directly prior to starting an application. Applications are accepted year-round.
A credential assessment process manual has been prepared as guidance for internationally trained applicants and graduates of non-accredited programs in Canada. The handbook describes how the assessment process works, the steps to take to enter professional forestry practice in Canada and the information and documents required when making an application.
Graduates of Accredited Programs
ACCREDITED CANADIAN POST-SECONDARY PROGRAMS
Graduation from a post-secondary program accredited by FPRC automatically certifies applicants as application eligible for each of the regulatory associations across Canada. The provincial regulatory bodies may impose additional academic requirements that are regionally unique (e.g., provincial forest policy) and generally require a period of work experience that is not acquired as part of the accredited post-secondary program education.
Applicants must contact the applicable provincial regulator directly.
BRIDGE TRAINING FOR FORESTERS
For applicants that have gaps identified in their assessments, there are opportunities for bridge training to fulfill the competency requirements.
Bridge training programs are available for foresters which provide training and assessment for the 35 demonstrable competencies required for entry into the profession of forestry in Canada (2008 Certification Standards for the Profession of Forestry in Canada). This training will be updated; timeline TBD.
Third-party suppliers are responsible for training module registration, setting of participant fees, training delivery and participant evaluations. Please contact the training supplier with any questions about their modules, or to register.
For more details, see the:
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Canadian Institute of Forestry CIF BTPF Poster and CIF BTPF website.
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Lakehead University LU BTPF Poster and LU BTPF website.