This post presents detailed information on the forestry technician career, including how to get into it, the various opportunities involved, and the benefits of being a forestry technician.
What Does a Forestry Technician Do?
The forestry technician is responsible for planting trees, shrubs, and vines.
Their duties also involve collecting samples of trees to be tested for disease and infestation and maintaining tools, equipment, and supplies.
See detailed forestry technician job description.
How to Become a Forestry Technician
Here are various steps you can take to become a forestry technician:
- Complete a high school diploma program or obtain equivalent education.
Most employers of forestry technicians demand a high school diploma or equivalent qualifications.
Some schools and universities provide forestry technology certificate programs that will help you obtain essential hands-on experience and prepare you for a career as a forestry technician.
2. Think about enrolling in a forestry technician certificate program.
While a high school diploma or equivalent is required for this position, many employers prefer people who have completed some form of forestry certificate program.
Forestry technician certificate programs normally span two years and are provided through community colleges and technical schools.
Forest management, wildlife protection, soil science, and tree identification are among the topics covered in these programs.
3. Gain work experience in the forestry industry.
Most forestry technician roles require at least two years of field experience. Work as a laborer, groundskeeper, or other entry-level employment in forestry to earn this experience.
Entry-level forestry occupations sometimes involve chores such as tree planting and forest maintenance.
4. Obtain certification from the Society of American Foresters.
For forestry technicians who have completed an Associate degree in Forestry or a similar discipline, the Society of American Foresters (SAF) offers a certification program.
In addition, candidates must have at least 1,500 hours of field experience and pass an exam covering themes such as forest management, silviculture, wildlife conservation, and ecology.
More on How to Become a Forestry Technician
5. Improve your interpersonal skills.
As a forestry technician, you will collaborate with other professionals in your industry. During projects or other activities, you may interact with clients and the general public.
It is critical to acquire good communication skills and the ability to communicate technical concepts in an understandable manner.
This can help you develop relationships with your coworkers and make your job easier.
6. Physical fitness and the ability to execute difficult duties are required.
Forestry technicians are frequently required to operate in distant regions, therefore they must be physically fit and capable of doing tough activities.
Forestry professionals may be required to walk across difficult terrain with heavy equipment or climb trees in order to assess them.
They also spend a lot of time bending over to attentively inspect plants and other objects.
7. Possess a current driver’s license.
For forestry technicians who must travel to remote regions, a valid driver’s license is essential.
A vehicle may also be required to bring tools and equipment to the job location. However, if you intend to work in a city, a car may not be necessary.
Many cities feature easy-to-use public transit systems that will get you where you need to go.
Forestry Technician Career Opportunities
Here are various career opportunities for a forestry technician:
- Forest and Conservation Technician
A Forest and Conservation Technician is a registered professional engineer who is an advanced technician.
They are issued the title of Consultant, Woodsman, or Forester. They perform a wide range of technical and administrative functions to assist forest managers and foresters in their programs on public lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service and other federal agency, state agencies, private landowners, universities and other non-profit organizations.
2. Log Grader and Scaler
A Log Grader and Scaler is an individual with a background in engineering, science, and mathematics required to design and implement forest development programs.
The holder of this title reports to the supervisor of the crew leader. They may perform many functions such as: timber stand preparation, selection, application of herbicides under the direction of their supervisors, Timber Harvesting operations and other jobs that are assigned by their supervisors.
3. Logging Equipment Operator
A Logging Equipment Operator designs and maintains forest operations, in conjunction with the forestry technician, to provide pertinent log-related services.
The holder of this title reports to the Supervisor of the crew leader. The duties include planning logging operations in conjunction with the forestry technician, oversight of crew members and their safety needs, stocking of equipment and supplies related to logging operations, maintenance of equipment and supplies related to logging operations, care, cleaning and operation of hand tools as directed by his supervisor and making decisions about environmental conservation practices as requested by his supervisor.
4. Forest and Wildland Firefighter
A Forestry and Wildland Firefighter is a person who is skilled in wildland firefighting techniques.
They should be trained in forest fire suppression techniques, wildland firefighting equipment operation, forest fire defense, and wildland fuels management and rehabilitation techniques.
More Forestry Technician Career Opportunities
5. Field Technician
A Field Technician is a person who is employed by a consulting or sales firm to perform forestry services for one or more forest owners.
The technician works under the direction of a consulting forester on a variety of forestry related concerns.
The duties include maintenance of high quality records and computerized information management systems.
6. Biologist
The title of Biologist means different things to different people. It could mean that you are a person who studies living organisms such as plants, animals, and habitats, or it could mean that you are a person who works in the field of biology – any kind of biology.
The two terms “biologist” and “botanist” are used interchangeably by many college programs, which may cause some confusion when looking for a job in this field.
7. Senior Biologist
A Senior Biologist leads the work of other biologists. They assign tasks to field researchers, which they in turn make sure are completed by the end of a given period.
They make regular visits to their workers in the field and provide feedback to their subordinates on how they can improve their performance.
Additional Forestry Technician Career Opportunities
8. Forest Ranger
The Forest Ranger is a person who supervises individual forest supervisors and crews. They are the main contact between management and the field staff of a specific unit, such as a district, planning area or management area.
A Forest Ranger must have excellent interpersonal and leadership skills in addition to their current forestry duties.
9. Environmental Compliance Inspector
An Environmental Compliance Inspector inspects all of the individual units, which consist of forestland and other natural resources in one geographical area.
They also inspect any finished products to ensure they comply with regulatory requirements.
Environmental Compliance Inspectors must be able to collect and analyze data, and must meet the criteria which are already established by the regulator.
10. Post-secondary Forestry and Conservation Science Teacher
The main responsibility of a Post-Secondary Forestry and Conservation Science Teacher is to educate people about their environment, plants, animals, land management practices, travel resources, renewable resources, sustainable development, and conservation.
Challenges Faced by Forestry Technician on the Job
Some of the challenges that are faced by Forestry technicians are:
- Their work is always undervalued
Due to the low wages, forestry technicians have a hard time getting a good attitude at work. They don’t have time to make anything of themselves because they have to pay bills, even though they are barely making a living wage.
Most of them are teenagers or young adults who need money to survive.
2. Their work schedule may conflict with the family life
Forestry technicians are always on call and that can sometimes get in the way of their family life.
They are very busy in the forest and during the season they have to work, they are busy and they don’t have time to attend family functions.
Their children can’t keep up with their school work.
3. Boring monotonous work
There is nothing exciting about being a forestry technician. All they do all day long is place bark from trees over dead trees by cutting off the branches of the tree and placing them over it.
The work is very monotonous and it gets boring after a while.
Major Benefits of Forestry Technician Career
Some of the major benefits of being a forestry technician include:
- The ability to work outdoors
Forestry technicians enjoy the freedom of working outdoors. You’ll be able to see some great scenery, feel the breeze on your face, and enjoy being away from the city life.
2. Interesting and challenging work
Forestry technicians are given unique projects that they can work on. The work is always interesting and challenging because they have a chance to learn more about trees and other species in the forest.
They also have to study their environment so they can do an even better job at their position.
3. The ability to give back to the environment
Forestry technicians are required to do research on trees and forest animals so that they can protect them.
They also may have to identify invasive species and carry out other preventative measures in order to help preserve the environment.
It is also important for forestry technicians to do considerable field research, which encourages thinking outside the box and develops new strategies for problem solving.
4. It’s a highly secure career
The work of a forestry technician is guaranteed. They may be employed by a private company or they may be employees of the government.
The job security is excellent because the government heavily regulates the forestry industry.
Forestry technicians are not employed as a substitute for forestry professionals.
More Benefits of Forestry Technician Career
5. The ability to make ends meet
Forestry technicians can count on their regular paychecks and the benefits of working for a government contractor or private company.
They may have additional money to do things like take a vacation, go to college, or support their families during hard working periods.
Their paychecks will also be paid regularly, which helps them plan their budgets accordingly.
You’ll learn new skills and develop a new perspective on the world around you.
Professional tree care companies or government agencies want technicians with a keen interest in nature.
They want people who can learn new skills and develop a new perspective on the world around them.
This can lead to better attitudes and open up their minds to new ideas.
6. Good opportunities for advancement
If you get your foot in the door with a professional forestry company, you can expect many opportunities for advancement.
They may offer promotions and raises as your work improves.
Conclusion
The forestry technician is one of the most interesting careers in the world. It offers good pay, benefits, and a chance to learn new things. If you want to help preserve the environment, give back to society, or have a healthy and challenging career then this job is for you.