Education · 1 of 5
The path
One degree, then you learn the ground you work on. Summer jobs matter more than your grade point average.
- 1
Finish high school
Grade 12
Biology, chemistry and math. Get outdoors on your own time, because interviewers ask what you have actually done in the woods.
- 2
Bachelor's degree in forestry
4 years
Pick a program accredited by the Society of American Foresters. Federal hiring rules and several state licenses are written around those programs, so an unaccredited degree can quietly block you later.
- 3
Summer field session and seasonal work
Summers during the degree
Almost every forestry degree has a field camp. Spend the other summers as a seasonal technician for a state or federal agency. That is how nearly everyone gets hired.
- 4
First permanent job
Year 4 or 5
State forestry agency, the US Forest Service, a timber company or a consulting firm. Expect to start on inventory, marking timber and writing plans.
- 5
Certification or a state license
After a few years of experience
Earn the Certified Forester credential, or get licensed if you work in a state that requires it.