Other Applications

Student Membership

Are you a student in a forestry or related program? If so, then you can apply to become a Student Member of the OPFA simply by submitting this form.

Student Membership is free. As a Student Member you will receive the OPFA’s newsletter The Professional Forester, invitations to events and updates on OPFA activities.

If you choose to apply for Provisional Membership and work towards becoming a professional forester when you graduate, you will receive a 50% discount on the application fee (if submitted within 6 months of graduation).

Temporary Membership

Practising R.P.F.s (equivalent to an individual with Full Membership) in good standing from another province, or OPFA Non-Resident Members can apply for a temporary permit to practise specific aspects of forestry in Ontario for a limited period of time.

Please refer to the Temporary Membership Application Form and contact the Registration Coordinator at registration.coordinator@opfa.ca for assistance.

Transferring R.P.F.s

If you are a practising R.P.F. (equivalent to an individual with Full Membership) in good standing from another Canadian province and are moving to work Ontario you may apply to transfer to the OPFA.

Please refer to the Transferring From Another Canadian Province instructional document for a description of the process.

Forms:

• Full Membership Application Form

Re-Admission

Members who have resigned or have had their membership cancelled may apply for re-admission.

For information on this process please refer to the Re-admissionProcess

Forms (note: please refer to the Re-admission Process to determine which forms you are required to submit/have submitted)

• Re-admission Application Form
• Competency Support Report Form
• Character Witness Form
• Good Character Declaration
• Sponsorship Form – Please refer to the Sponsorship Instructions for information on who can act as a sponsor.

If you have any questions about these applications, please contact the Registration Coordinator at registration.coordinator@opfa.ca.

Additional Information

Document Retention

• The OPFA retains all submitted document and keeps records for current and past members indefinitely.
• The OPFA will keep all documents, but will work with the applicant/member to return original documents where the applicant/member submits a written request and provides good reason for the request.

Alternatives to Registration Requirements

There are no alternatives to registration requirements at this time, however, the Registrar can work with the applicant if they are unable to meet the application documentation requirements.  After undergoing the Credential Assessment Process, applicants who did not graduate from a CFAB accredited forestry program may continue to fulfill Full Membership requirements, or may alternately choose to meet Associate Membership requirements.

Registration Reconsideration and Appeals Processes

An applicant may request that the Registration Committee reconsider its decision.  Any request for reconsideration must be received in writing by the OPFA within 60 days of the applicant being notified of the decision.  If the applicant remains unsatisfied after the reconsideration, the applicant may appeal in writing to the Registration Appeal Committee within 30 days of the Registration Committee’s reconsideration decision.

For more detailed information refer to Article 11.36 of the By-laws or go the section Reconsideration and Appeal.

How long does the application process take?

The length of the application process varies by the category of membership being requested, and will vary for each applicant.

Changes to the Registration Process

You can view all recent changes to the Registration Process here. (please note this document is currently being updated for 2022 changes and will be provided soon)