Graduate Information
NAIT Certification
Diploma in Forest Technology
Pre/Post Graduation Affiliation
The College of Alberta Professional Forest Technologists (CAPFT) regulates all forest technologists in Alberta under the Regulated Forestry Profession Act (RFPA), and protects and serves the public interest. CAPFTprovides direction to and regulates the practice of its members. It establishes, maintains and enforces standards of practice, registration and continuing competence. It also establishes, maintains and enforces a code of ethics. Students who graduate from the Forest Technology program and who work on public lands in Alberta must register with CAPFT and follow the right-to-title provisions established by the RFPA.
Attributes of Successful Graduates
Successful graduates of the Forest Technology program demonstrate the following characteristics:
- are able and willing to work alone and independently in remote locations
- are prepared and punctual
- work well with others
- work in all types of weather
- travel long distances by truck, helicopter, and all-terrain vehicle
- are physically fit
- have a good work ethic
Advanced Credit Possibilities
Graduates of the NAIT Forest Technology program are eligible for credit towards degrees in various universities. Note: The amount of eligible transfer credits varies for each university.
Graduates of this program can transfer into Year 2 of the Biological Sciences - Renewable Resources diploma program at NAIT.
Successful graduates from the Portage College Forest Technician program will be granted one year of advanced credit in the Forest Technology program at NAIT, provided they meet the prerequisites for the program.
Professional Association Courses
Contact the CAPFT for technical sessions.
Major Skills Acquired
- Remote sensing
- Global positioning systems
- Timber cruising
- Engineering
- Logging planning and supervision
- Reforestation
- Stand tending
- Reclamation
- Wildlife and plant identification
- Watershed management
- Grazing management
- Integrated forest land use
- Regeneration surveys
- Fire detection and suppression
The following is a partial list of major activities that a graduate of the Forest Technology programs can undertake:
| Major Skill: | |
| Timber Harvest Planning | - Plan and undertake a detailed forest inventory.
- Compile, analyze and interpret timber inventory data.
- Design, lay out and supervise the construction of logging roads.
- Develop detailed harvest plans.
- Design and lay out harvest cutblocks.
- Plan and supervise timber harvesting activities.
|
| Silviculture Planning | - Conduct post-harvest surveys.
- Select appropriate site preparation prescriptions for reforestation activities.
- Supervise reforestation activities and conduct planting quality checks.
- Conduct regeneration surveys.
- Plan and supervise silvicultural activities such as stand thinning and tree spacing.
|
| Mapping | - Identify tree species, forest stand types, land forms and various other features on aerial photographs.
- Capture digital data using global positioning systems technology.
- Use geographic information systems technology to interpret and manage geographic data.
|
| Forest Protection | - Undertake and supervise fire, insect and disease detection and suppression activities.
|
| Forest Land Reclamation | - Recognize the habitats of both fish and wildlife, and minimize and mitigate the impacts of forestry operations on these habitats.
- Recognize the potential impacts on watersheds caused by forestry operations and take appropriate actions to minimize and mitigate these impacts.
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| Certifications | - Canada Safety Council ATV Safe Rider Certification
- Woodland Trainers Association Chainsaw Certification (Bucker level)
- Alberta Safety Council Bear Awareness Certification
- Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System
- Transportation of Dangerous Goods
- Alberta Log Scaling Certification
- Alberta Regeneration Surveys
- Defensive Driving Certification
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