University programs that have been accredited by the Canadian Forestry Accreditation Board (CFAB) have undergone an evaluation by the board and have been found to meet all of the competencies listed in the Certification Standards for the profession of forestry in Canada. To find out more about the accreditation process including a list of CFAB accredited programs, please visit the Forest Professional Regulators of Canada (FPRC) CFAB Accreditation web page.

Graduates of university programs that are accredited by the CFAB have met all of the competencies listed in the Certification Standards for the profession of forestry in Canada by successfully completing the accredited program, and are not required to undergo the Credential Assessment Process (CAP) to work towards Full Membership (R.P.F.).

Please refer to this step-by-step guide for a summary of the entire registration process for graduates of CFAB accredited programs, from applying for Provisional Membership (R.P.F. in Training) to becoming a Full Member (R.P.F.) .

Applicants must be able to legally work in Canada and plan to work in professional forestry in Ontario.

Forms & Instructional Documents

To apply:

Please submit the following to the OPFA Registration Coordinator at registration.coordinator@opfa.ca

• Provisional Application Form
• A line numbered CV/resumé (work experience in YYYY/MM/DD format)
• Pay the Application Fee – can be paid using the following methods:
  • e-transfer to opfa@opfa.ca (please provide your name and type of fee in the message section)
  • call the office to pay by Visa or Mastercard
  • mail a cheque or money order payable to Ontario Professional Foresters Association to the OPFA office
  • Pay the fee online in the Special Payments section.

When received, this application material will be considered by the Registration Committee at their next regularly scheduled meeting. You can find a list of upcoming Registration Committee meeting dates and the deadline to submit materials for them here. You will receive formal written notification within 2 weeks of the meeting date.

After approval as a Provisional Member (R.P.F. in Training):

• Mentoring Agreement – please also review the Mentorship Instructions
• Provisional Member Guide to Developing a Personal Practice Focus and a Learning Plan
• Provisional Membership Work History Form
• Criteria For Relevant Experience
• Request for Prior Experience Form (eligible experience only – please refer to the Criteria for Relevant Experience or contact the Assistant Registration Manager at office@opfa.ca to determine eligibility to submit this form)
• Have official transcripts submitted to the OPFA office directly from the institution

Provisional Members are also required to update their Progress Report Table every February and August to show how they are working towards meeting the registration requirements. This is an individual online report; the link will be provided to you.

If it has been over 5 years since you graduated from the CFAB accredited program, or the program was in a province outside of Ontario, please refer to the Ontario Forest Policy & Legislative Framework Requirement 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. These are online self-paced modules which can be started at any point in the registration process. You can register for the modules here (the last 4 on the list).

Indigenous Peoples Lands & Resources Standard Training Modules

As of May 1, 2025 all applicants for Full or Associate Membership are required to demonstrate competency in the OPFA’s Indigenous Peoples Lands and Resources Standard. There are 3 online self-paced modules (one for each competency in the Standard) available that can be begun at any point during the registration process. You will receive an email invite giving you access to the OPFA Training Centre upon approval of your Provisional Membership. There is no cost for OPFA Members to access these training resources. 

If you already have education or knowledge in these areas you may choose to complete the screening exams in order to evaluate your knowledge. If you are not successful in passing these exams you will be referred to the training modules, with the opportunity to  attempt the exams again at the end of the modules. Additional information about the implementation of this Standard is linked below.

Implementation of the OPFA Indigenous Peoples Lands & Resources Standard

After the experience requirement has been met:

The following documents will be required to be submitted when the 18 months of relevant mentored experience requirement has been met. The Criteria for Relevant Experience describes eligible experience, as well as how to request credit for eligible experience that you already have, including experience credit for graduate degrees. Please note that a minimum of 6 months of the 18 months experience must be attained after graduation from the CFAB accredited program.

• Character Witness Form (2 required- please review the eligibility requirements at the top of the form)
• Sponsorship Form  (2 required- please review the Sponsorship Instructions)
• Your sponsors will also be required to review a completed copy of your Work History Form
• Full Membership Application Form
• Page 2 of the Mentoring Agreement – Conclusion of Mentorship (must be submitted by your mentor(s))
• You will be required to report (via email is acceptable) that your Personal Practice Focus and Learning Plan are complete and up to date.

When received, this application material will be considered by the Registration Committee at their next regularly scheduled meeting. You can find a list of upcoming Registration Committee meeting dates and the deadline to submit materials for them here. You will receive formal written notification within 2 weeks of the meeting date.

Please contact the Registration Coordinator at registration.coordinator@opfa.ca with any questions.