Student Membership – Students enrolled in a forestry-related, post-secondary program may apply for Student Membership

Provisional Membership – You may apply for Provisional Membership which continues while the remaining membership requirements for Full or Associate Membership are being fulfilled. Provisional membership, under the supervision or mentorship of an OPFA member, is required while attaining 18 months of progressive, relevant forestry experience, after graduation from an accredited program. Mentored professional forestry experience prior to obtaining Provisional Membership may be considered. Professional foresters licensed in jurisdictions other than Ontario, are accepted as sponsors or mentors for relevant experience gained while outside of Ontario. See Criteria For Relevant Experience  for more information.

Graduates from a Canadian Forestry Accreditation Board (CFAB) accredited forestry program will undergo the Accredited Graduate Process (AGP) towards Full membership. All other applicants for Full Membership undergo the Credential Assessment Process (CAP). Applicants for Associate Membership may undergo the Credential Assessment Process depending on their scope of practice. Details of these processes can be found below.

To Apply For Provisional Membership:

1. Submit a completed Provisional Membership Application Form;
2. Submit the application fee-see Fee Schedule–  you may mail (5 Wesleyan Street, #201, Georgetown, ON  L7G 2E2) a cheque, money order or Visa/MasterCard information or call 905-877-3679 with credit card information.
3. Submit a resumé or curriculum vitae (CV)

When received, this application material will be considered by the Registration Committee at their next regularly scheduled meeting (see meeting schedule and deadlines below).

Re-admission-Members who have resigned or have had their membership cancelled may apply for Re-admission-for more information refer to the Re-admission Process

Ontario Forest Policy & Legislative Framework Requirement Policy–Please refer to this policy for information on which of the 4 modules of the Ontario Forest Policy & Legislative Framework Bridge Training you will be required to successfully complete. The required modules can be completed through the online Bridge Training Program for Foresters.

Upcoming Registration Committee Meeting Dates and Deadlines: 

Meeting Date	Deadline for Submissions
November 4, 2021	October 21, 2021
January 20, 2022	January 6, 2022
March 3, 2022	February 17, 2022
May 12, 2022	April 28, 2022
July 7, 2022	June 23, 2022
September 8, 2022	August 25, 2022
November 3, 2022	October 20, 2022

Forms & Additional Information:

• Provisional Membership Application Form
• Full Membership Application Form
• Associate Membership Application Form
• Student Membership Application Form
• Temporary Membership Application Form
• Provisional Member Work History Form
• Sponsorship Form
• Sponsorship Instructions
• Mentoring Agreement 
• Mentorship Instructions
• Provisional Member Guide to Developing a Personal Practice Focus and a Learning Plan
• Associate Membership- Proposed Scope of Practice Development Form
• Character Witness Form
• Re-admission Application Form
• Competency Support Report Form 
• Fee Schedule

 

ACCREDITED GRADUATE PROCESS (AGP) FOR FULL MEMBERSHIP:

E-lecture – Navigating the Registration Process: The Accredited Graduate Process

FULL MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION PROCESS FOR GRADUATES OF PROGRAMS NOT ACCREDITED BY CFAB:

Full Membership through the CAP

ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP

The Associate Membership Application Process

 

COMPETENCY ASSESSMENT DOCUMENTS:

Credential Assessment Process (CAP):

Visit the Forest Professional Regulators of Canada website for the most up to date information on the national Credential Assessment Process (CAP). Here you will find the CAP Manual which explains the process, and access the free Pre-Screening Tool which allows you to compare your current knowledge and skills with those required to become a Registered Professional Forester.

2017 Certification Standards for the Profession of Forestry in Canada – These are the current standards in use for the Credential Assessment Process (as of April 1st, 2021).

The CAP assessments are now conducted through an online database. For more information about the CAP, or to enquire about getting access to the database to begin preparing for your assessment, please contact us at registration.manager@opfa.ca.

Additional resources to assist in the completion of the CAP:

• Example Learning Narrative
• CAP Database Guide-Applicant
• CAP Database Guide- Witnesses

Associate Membership with a Limited Scope of Practice Competency Assessments:

2017 Certification Standards for the Profession of Forestry in Canada   These are the current standards in use for the associate membership with a limited scope of practice competency assessments (as of July 8 2021)

Witness Feedback Form – For Associate Membership with a Limited Scope of Practice only

If you have questions or would like more information about this process, please contact us at registration.manager@opfa.ca

Gap Filling:

Bridge Training Program for Foresters

See Bridge Training Program for Foresters for training modules available to meet required to fill gaps in core demonstrable competencies which are identified in the assessment process.

Please email the OPFA Registration Manager (registration.manager@opfa.ca) for any questions regarding the competency assessment process.

 

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 an 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.