Hands-on, industry-relevant skills
Modern forestry is a high-tech, field-oriented career focused on forest management activities such as reclamation, fire behaviour and protection, insects and disease, watersheds, ecosystems, reforestation, forest engineering, wildlife habitat, forest legislation, recreation, soils, harvest planning and operations, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS).
These are just some of the subject areas we cover in the Forest Technology program to help prepare you for real-world environmental management:
- Learn to use current tools, equipment, techniques and technology for forest and land management
- Conduct wildfire and forest health operations
- Generate a vegetation inventory
- Apply relevant policy and legislation
Field training
What better way to learn about forests than spending some quality time outdoors? In Forest Technology, field training is stressed over the 2 years of the program.
The first 5 weeks of Year 1 are spent at NAIT’s Kidney Lake camp, located about 50 km northwest of Whitecourt, AB. During camp, plenty of time will be spent in the field developing foundational skills in wildfire suppression, plant identification, forest ecology, and forest measurements.
The Kidney Lake camp has a number of modest cabins and permanent structures in which you'll sleep, eat and attend classes. You'll also have time to develop strong relationships with the people you’ll be working with during the program and throughout your career.
Year 2 field training primarily occurs in the Cache-Percotte forest, located adjacent to Hinton, AB. Here you'll continue your hands-on learning and further develop career focused skills essential to becoming a successful forest professional.
Field labs will emphasize real world activities associated with reforestation, operational planning, sustainable harvesting, and reclamation using the latest technology.
Other field labs in and around Edmonton are conducted throughout the two years of the program.
Co-op option
Students may be eligible to participate in a 4, 8, or 12-month co-op placement once they complete all level 1 courses, and before they complete all the level 2 courses. Successful co-op students will secure a position working in a program-related industry and gain advanced job-readiness skills. Acceptance into our co-op program is based on successful completion of a minimum of 30 credits in first term coursework, including two prerequisite courses and a minimum GPA of 2.5+.
For international students to participate, a Co-op Work Permit is required. Applying and receiving this permit can take time so please apply as soon as possible. To learn more, visit nait.ca/immigration.
- Length: 1 to 3 semesters
- Salary: Determined by participating employers with support through MITACS
- Dates: January to April, May to August, or August to December
For more information about our co-op program, please contact Program Chair, Heath Schneider, at fot@nait.ca or 780-471-8652.
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Student success
Career Outcomes
NAIT's Forest Technology program currently works with the Association of Forest Management Professionals (AAFMP) to set the academic benchmark required for Registered Professional Forest Technologists under the Regulated Forestry Profession Act.
Graduates of the program are eligible to register as Registered Professional Forest Technologists.
Any person who practices forestry in Alberta is required to register with the AAFMP. Learn more about the AAFMP and mandatory registration at http://www.aafmp.ca.
The program will work closely with you to identify career opportunities within the forest industry and help you develop the skills you'll need to find a meaningful, lifelong career.
Over 80% of our grads have secured employment directly related to their studies a short time after graduation. Graduates report competitive salaries and opportunities for rapid career advancement.
Build your resume before you even graduate
Explore work experience opportunities that help grads get hired even sooner.
View Work Integrated Learning
Work Experience Placements
Courses and Advanced Credit
Current and recently admitted students can find information and updates about their program on their My Program page in the MyNAIT Portal. To monitor your course progress and the courses still needed to graduate, visit your Academic Progress Report.
Advanced Credit
You may apply for advanced credit once you have been accepted into the program. Advanced credit can be Transfer Credit (for completed post-secondary courses) or PLAR (Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition).
Transfer Credit
In addition to the common guidelines outlined on the Transfer and Credit Options section, your program has other advanced credit requirements that are applied to each request including:
- You must have completed the course or program no more than 7 year(s) ago unless a formalized articulation agreement is in place
- You must have a minimum mark of D in the course(s) or program
Transfer credit - 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.
Read more about advanced credit or contact us about applying for credit for this program.
Scholarships & Awards
NAIT awards over $6 million in scholarships and bursaries to more than 4,000 students each year, with the support of donors and the government. A variety of awards are available, including ones for academics, community involvement, equity/diversity grants, bursaries for financial need, program-specific awards and more!
Learn how to apply for awards
International Applicants
This program accepts international students.
PGWP Eligibility: This program does not meet eligibility criteria for a Post-Grad Work Permit (PGWP), following Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) field of study requirement effective November 1, 2024. Students who applied for a study permit before Nov. 1, 2024, are not affected by the new field of study rule and may be eligible for a PGWP.
While graduates are currently ineligible to apply for a PGWP, NAIT still welcomes international students to this program to gain valuable knowledge and skills to pursue your career goals, whether in Canada under another type of permit or in your home country or other international markets.