Admission Process

Membership Requirements – New Applicants

Applicants must complete the Application for Membership Form and return to the ARPFNB office along with certified evidence of graduation, a current resume, and the application fee.

Applications are reviewed by the Board of Examiners, and upon approval, applicants will be informed of the next available date to write the policy and ethics examination, or take the next ARPFNB RPF Course. Upon successful completion of the course or exam, the applicant will be admitted to the Association.

Applications for registration in the Association are valid for one year from receipt by the Executive Director. The policy and ethics examination must be written within that year to avoid additional application fees.

Applicants to the ARPFNB must be sponsored by a current member of the Association. Sponsorship forms are found below.
(see RPF Sponsorship Form). Please complete and submit an application form.

Application for Membership

Graduates from an Accredited Canadian Program:

The basic requirement for membership is a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university program by the Canadian Forestry Accreditation Board (CFAB) recognized with a curriculum of study in forestry. An applicant must also have a minimum of two years’ experience in the field of forestry and must pass an examination on the provincial regulations applicable to the practice of forestry in New Brunswick.

The applicant will also be required to adhere to the ARPFNB code of ethics.

Graduates from non-Accredited Programs or Foreign Trained Applicants:

Applicants holding university degrees from non-accredited programs from within Canada, or foreign-trained applicants must provide additional documentation for review before approval for membership is granted by the ARPFNB.

The Association has worked with its sister agencies under the Forest Professional Regulators of Canada (FPRC), provincial governments and the Government of Canada to develop credential assessment procedures for applicants who are foreign-trained or who have graduated from university programs within Canada that are not accredited by the CFAB.

The procedures have been adopted by each subject regulatory body in Canada and involve the assessment of an applicant’s current education, training, and experience to determine the extent to which the competencies of the Certification Standards have been met.

To be considered for registration, an applicant must meet the following minimum requirements:

Have graduated from a four-year, science-based baccalaureate degree program, or equivalent
Can demonstrate that he/she meets the competencies of the current Certification Standards.
Can demonstrate a commitment to professionalism.
Have work experience as required by the regulatory body to which application is being made.

A detailed credential assessment process handbook has been prepared as guidance for foreign-trained applicants and for graduates from non-accredited programs in Canada. The handbook identifies all of the requirements and the procedures for making application. Please download the handbook and review carefully.

Credential Assessment Handbook -English

Once admitted into the process, assessment of an applicant’s credentials is undertaken by an independent panel of assessors in accordance with the adopted national credential assessment process (described in the applicant handbook). Panels are convened by the FPRC on a quarterly basis.

The panel provides an assessment report to the association which then renders a certification decision.

The applicant similarly must have a minimum of two years’ experience in the field of forestry and must pass an examination on provincial regulations applicable to the practice of forestry in New Brunswick. The applicant will also be required to adhere to the ARPFNB code of ethics.

For more information concerning membership contact: Executive Director

Transferring Membership

Transferring between provinces

The ARPFNB is a signatory to a Mutual Recognition Agreement between the Forest Professional Regulators of Canada. This agreement is designed to facilitate ease of transferring from one province to another. If an RPF from another province relocates to New Brunswick, they may apply for registration with the ARPFNB immediately, without the required two years of forestry practice in New Brunswick. They will have to pass the policy and ethics examination in order to become registered in the province. A member of the ARPFNB who wishes to practice in BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia, or Newfoundland will undergo the same process in those provinces. Quebec is not currently a signatory to the agreement. PEI and Manitoba do not have professional foresters’ organizations at this time.

RPF’s may retain membership concurrently in more than one province’s professional foresters association, or may be regular members in one province, and associate members in New Brunswick. The objective in these cases is to maintain contact with the ARPFNB while a non-resident of the province.

Transferring between membership categories

Members may request to change their membership category by filling out the appropriate form. Changes from Regular RPF to Associate or Non-practicing member is by application (written request) to the ARPFNB Executive Council.

Non-practicing members may also become Regular members by contacting the council, and by paying the appropriate Fees.

Currently there are three streams in which entrance is permitted into the ARPFNB.

Once an applicant has been approved by the Board of Examiners to proceed to the RPF candidate stage, they will have 1 year in which to complete the exam or course if they are eligible. Please contact the Registrar/Executive Director to discuss your best stream, and potential dates and location.

Entrance Stream 1: Exam Option

Preferably, entrance into the ARPFNB is by writing the jurisprudence exam. FIT’s, transferring RPF’s from other jurisdictions, or individuals are encouraged to follow this stream. It is expected the exam takes most individuals 3 hours to complete and has three parts.

Part A is given first and is closed book. It covers Professionalism and your understanding of our Code of Ethics.

Parts B and C are open book and covers all relevant legislation and policies a practicing forester is expected to know in the performance of his job in New Brunswick. It is administered only after Part A is completed and handed in.

(Open book means that any written material or the help of a computer is permitted while all other materials will not be allowed).

Consultation with other people during the exam is not permitted.

Entrance Stream 2: Course Base Option

Alternatively, foresters in New Brunswick may attend a full-day RPF Course. This course is new in 2013, and covers all material on the exam. It is a rigorous course, which the candidate must come prepared with a thorough working knowledge of the laws of New Brunswick. It is meant for those foresters that have worked for many years in New Brunswick, but have not yet made that commitment into the RPF status. Additionally, as space permits, it will be used as a refresher course for senior RPF members. This course will be scheduled to be offered every six months.

Entrance Stream 3: Agreement Option between ARPFNB, and UdeM or UNB

The only other way into the association is to have graduated from UNB or University de Moncton, Edmundston campus, School of Forestry after 2015 and 2003, respectively and have received a mark surpassing 80% in FOR4020 (Forest Management Practicum) or 75% in the course: FORS 4153 (formerly 5153) (Politique, législation et éthique en foresterie).

Click Here To Apply Online