Correspondence Programs
The Society of American Foresters (SAF) has developed a national program
to review professional
forestry schools (accreditation) and forest
technician schools (recognition). It is a rigorous process involving
self-evaluation reports, peer review, and on-site visits. Standards are
developed by a wide cross-section of employers and education representatives
throughout the country. Our procedures are recognized by the Council for
Higher Education Accreditation as the sole accrediting authority for forestry
education in the United States.
Through this process, we have determined the equivalent of a professional
forestry or forest technician degree, the standard for most employment
in forest resources work, is extremely difficult to obtain through correspondence
programs. Therefore, the Society of American Foresters does not endorse
correspondence programs as the sole means to obtain professional forestry
or forest technician education for an entry-level position in forestry.
We suggest you first determine the general
career direction you wish to pursue, contact personnel departments
in agencies, industries, or in other locations that hire entry-level positions,
and determine the specific education and experience they require. For a
career in forest resources management, contact several schools on the professional
forestry schools or forest
technician schools listings and ask similar questions of them. This
will allow you to make a more informed judgment of the appropriate education
and experience required for your individual circumstance.
Please contact the National Office Science & Education Staff directly.
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