Certified Foresters: Learn About Certification

Goals and Benefits of Forester Certification

These are the goals of the Certified Forester program.

To promote excellence in the stewardship of our nation's forest resources, in compliance with both legislated and voluntary best management practices.

To provide employers, clients, colleagues, and the public a credential they can trust.

To enhance the credibility of the forestry profession.

To set a recognized standard of excellence for foresters who demonstrate knowledge, experience, and dedication to the profession of forestry.

The CF advances these goals through the development, maintenance, promotion, and administration of an examination-based professional forester certification underpinned by on-going professional development and commitment to standards of professional practice.

For the public and employers, the CF designation is a simple way to identify foresters who meet the profession's academic and professional experience benchmarks, adhere to professional standards of practice, value continuing education-and can pass a rigorous assessment of professional knowledge and skills. Hiring a CF exhibits to customers and stakeholders a tangible commitment to excellence, perhaps providing a competitive advantage in promoting services to clients.

For foresters, the CF designation demonstrates third-party verification of forestry qualifications to peers, employer, clients, and the public while providing membership in a distinctive peer network. The CF exemplifies an individual's commitment to excellent resource stewardship, strengthening your value in the market, enhancing credibility in legal testimony. And the CF benefits all foresters regardless of employer, location, or discipline.

For the profession of forestry, the CF program advances excellence-credentialed foresters demonstrate commitment to the resource and stay ahead of the curve through professional development, enhancing the profession's performance and credibility. In addition, the CF program provides a measure of control over spurious practices. The Certified Forester credential is the gold standard for professional forestry practice.