Education · 1 of 4
The path
The degree is the entry ticket. Field seasons and a professional registration are what turn it into a career.
- 1
High school
Grades 11 and 12
Biology, chemistry and math. Get a driver's licence as early as you can, because field jobs assume it.
- 2
Biology, wildlife or natural resources degree
4 years
Four years. Guelph has a Wildlife Biology and Conservation degree and UNBC (University of Northern British Columbia) a Wildlife and Fisheries one, and a general biology degree works too. A two year fish and wildlife technician diploma at Fleming or Sault College is a cheaper technician route.
- 3
Field seasons
2 to 3 summers
Bird banding, surveys of deer, moose and other hoofed animals, camera traps, plant plots. Apply in January for the coming summer, every year, everywhere.
- 4
Master's degree
2 years
The usual step up from technician to biologist. Funded, and built around a real management question.
- 5
Professional registration, in the west
After at least 3 years of work
In British Columbia you must be registered with the College of Applied Biologists to do this work, and the RPBio (Registered Professional Biologist) title needs at least 3 years of experience. Alberta has its own P.Biol (Professional Biologist) title.