Forest Technology
Overview
Forest technology programs prepare people to help foresters manage and produce forest resources.Forest technology programs teach people the general principles of logging and tree growth to help foresters. Students learn to identify and inspect trees. They also learn to protect trees from forest fires, measure timber, and keep records.
Forest technology programs include topics such as:
- Timber measurement
- Logging and timber harvesting
- Forest propagation and regeneration
- Forest firefighting
- Resource management
- Equipment operation and maintenance
- Recordkeeping
- Sales and purchasing operations
- Personnel supervision
Schools
Many community colleges and technical schools offer certificate and associate degree programs in forest technology. A certificate program usually takes a year of full-time study. An associate degree program at a community college usually takes two years of full-time study to complete. After earning an associate degree students can transfer to a college or university for further study.
Several colleges and universities offer bachelor’s degrees in forest technology. A bachelor's degree usually takes about four years of full-time study.
See schools that offer this program.
Related Educational Programs
- Conservation Biology
- Ecology
- Environmental Biology
- Environmental Science
- Environmental Studies
- Forestry
- Natural Resources Conservation
- Natural Resources Policy and Management
Related Careers
Careers Directly Related to this Program of Study
Other Careers Related to this Program of Study
Program Admission
You can prepare for this program of study by getting your high school diploma or GED.
Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this program of study:
- Algebra
- Biology
- Environmental Science
- Fire Fighting
- Forestry
- General Computer Applications
- Integrated Math
- Natural Resources Management
- Physical Education
- Science Technology and Engineering
Typical Course Work
Program Courses
In this program, you typically take courses such as the following:
- Arboriculture
- Biology
- Botany
- Dendrology
- Fire Control
- Forest Ecology
- Forest Equipment Operation
- Forest Measurements
- Forest Products
- Forest Protection
- Forest Recreation
- Forest Resources
- Forest Surveying
- Logging Methods
- Mapping
- Mensuration
- Photo Interpretation
- Reforestation and Tree Planting
- Safety and Supervision Practices
- Silviculture
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
Many forest technology programs incorporate supervised training opportunities in their curriculums. This gives you hands-on experience using your education in real-life forestry applications. It also allows you to work in an aspect of forest technology that most interests you. For example, if environmental conservation is your passion, you could help a team of foresters survey different forests and plant saplings.
Whatever application you choose, you benefit from the guidance and supervision of an experienced forest technology professional.
Things to Know
As a technician in the wood products industry, you might help log and harvest timber. As a technician at a recreational park, you might help plant trees or maintain trails. As a technician for the government or a non-profit agency, you might test soil or collect data on forest programs.
If you're interested in the forests of a particular region, apply to schools located in that region. Programs tend to offer fieldwork courses on local forest technology issues.
Schools
East Side Area
Job Corps - Curlew
- Forestry Conservation and Firefighting
Wenatchee Valley College
- Natural Resources
King-Snohomish Area
Green River College
- Natural Resources--Geographic Information System Option
West Side Area
Centralia College
- Natural Resource Management Pre-Major
Grays Harbor College
- Forest Resource Management
- Natural Resource--Forestry Technician