Certified Foresters: Serving the Public

Filing a Complaint

If a person believes that a CF has violated one of the Standards of Professional Practice, a complaint against the CF may be filed with the Society of American Foresters.

In a written statement, the complainant should identify the persons alleged to be involved and the facts concerning the alleged conduct in as much detail and specificity as possible with available documentation. The statement should identify by name, address, and telephone number the complainant and others who may have knowledge of the facts and circumstances concerning the alleged conduct.

SAF will acknowledge receipt of the complaint, forward it to the Certification Review Board (CRB) for review and action, and notify the CF of the accusation. The CRB may conduct a hearing to decide what action to take. The complainant will be informed of the outcome.

If at any time during the investigation the CRB discovers that legal proceedings are being initiated against the accused CF regarding practices similar to nature of complaint, the CRB will immediately suspend further investigation until such time as legal proceedings are resolved. Upon notification that legal proceedings have terminated, CRB will again take up investigation at the point where it was suspended.