Hands-on, industry-relevant skills
Modern forestry is a high-tech, field-oriented career focused on forest management activities such as reclamation, fire behaviour and protection, insects and disease, watersheds, ecosystems, reforestation, forest engineering, wildlife habitat, forest legislation, recreation, soils, harvest planning and operations, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS).
These are just some of the subject areas we cover in the Forest Technology program to help prepare you for real-world environmental management:
- Learn to use current tools, equipment, techniques and technology for forest and land management
- Conduct wildfire and forest health operations
- Generate a vegetation inventory
- Apply relevant policy and legislation
Field training
What better way to learn about forests than spending some quality time outdoors? In Forest Technology, field training is stressed over the 2 years of the program.
The first 5 weeks of Year 1 are spent at NAIT’s Kidney Lake camp, located about 50 km northwest of Whitecourt, AB. During camp, plenty of time will be spent in the field developing foundational skills in wildfire suppression, plant identification, forest ecology, and forest measurements.
The Kidney Lake camp has a number of modest cabins and permanent structures in which you'll sleep, eat and attend classes. You'll also have time to develop strong relationships with the people you’ll be working with during the program and throughout your career.
Year 2 field training primarily occurs in the Cache-Percotte forest, located adjacent to Hinton, AB. Here you'll continue your hands-on learning and further develop career focused skills essential to becoming a successful forest professional.
Field labs will emphasize real world activities associated with reforestation, operational planning, sustainable harvesting, and reclamation using the latest technology.
Other field labs in and around Edmonton are conducted throughout the two years of the program.
Co-op option
Students may be eligible to participate in a 4, 8, or 12-month co-op placement once they complete all level 1 courses, and before they complete all the level 2 courses. Successful co-op students will secure a position working in a program-related industry and gain advanced job-readiness skills. Acceptance into our co-op program is based on successful completion of a minimum of 30 credits in first term coursework, including two prerequisite courses and a minimum GPA of 2.5+.
For international students to participate, a Co-op Work Permit is required. Applying and receiving this permit can take time so please apply as soon as possible. To learn more, visit nait.ca/immigration.
- Length: 1 to 3 semesters
- Salary: Determined by participating employers with support through MITACS
- Dates: January to April, May to August, or August to December
For more information about our co-op program, please contact Program Chair, Heath Schneider, at fot@nait.ca or 780-471-8652.
Video gallery
Student success
Career Outcomes
NAIT's Forest Technology program currently works with the Association of Forest Management Professionals (AAFMP) to set the academic benchmark required for Registered Professional Forest Technologists under the Regulated Forestry Profession Act.
Graduates of the program are eligible to register as Registered Professional Forest Technologists.
Any person who practices forestry in Alberta is required to register with the AAFMP. Learn more about the AAFMP and mandatory registration at http://www.aafmp.ca.
The program will work closely with you to identify career opportunities within the forest industry and help you develop the skills you'll need to find a meaningful, lifelong career.
Over 80% of our grads have secured employment directly related to their studies a short time after graduation. Graduates report competitive salaries and opportunities for rapid career advancement.
Industries
- Government agencies
- Consulting firms
- Conservation groups
- Private landowners
Working Conditions
Positions typically involve a mixture of work in both the forest and office, and are almost always based out of towns near the forested areas of Alberta.
Median Starting Salary
The expected starting salary for individuals with a(n) Forest Technology Diploma is $58,800.
This salary information was based on graduate data from the past 3 years and reflects annual salaries for graduates who claimed they were working more than 30 hours per week. Graduates who quoted salaries below $10,000 and above $200,000 per year have been excluded. Note that NAIT publishes the median salary instead of the average to minimize the potential of outlying salaries distorting the mean. Data represented here may differ from other data sources due to differences in definition or differences in timing.
Grad Employment Rate
Employment rates are reported by NAIT alumni, are for information purposes, and do not guarantee future employment opportunities. Please note that data for newer programs may not be included within this report.
Download report
Take your career planning to the next level
This program can be used as a step toward earning higher credentials and/or certifications.
Further education at NAIT
Once you complete your credential, explore the programs below to specialize further or develop management skills.
Post-secondary articulation agreements within Alberta are approved by the Alberta Council on Admissions and Transfer (ACAT). To view the details of specific agreements, please visit transferalberta.ca or contact articulations@nait.ca For questions regarding transfer agreements or to obtain a course description/outline that is no longer available on our website, please contact articulations@nait.ca.
Build your resume before you even graduate
Explore work experience opportunities that help grads get hired even sooner.
View Work Integrated Learning
Work Experience Placements
Students in this program gain valuable work experience with Work Integrated Learning (WIL). WIL is a form of experiential learning that integrates academic studies with relevant work-based learning. The WIL placement in this program is a Co-op.
Co-op
A Co-op provides experience in a workplace setting related to the student's field of study. The number of required work terms varies by program; however, the time spent in work terms must be at least 30% of the time spent in academic study for programs over 2 years in length, and 25% of time for programs 2 years and shorter in length.
| Duration |
15 weeks |
| Compensation |
Yes |
| International Students |
Co-op Work Permit required |
| Placement Identified By |
Student - Submits resume to employers to apply for WIL positions. |
| Student Interview Required |
Yes |
Non-academic requirements
First Aid
CPR-C (Basic Life Support - BLS) - Students must provide evidence of current BLS certification for entry into the program and remain current throughout clinical training. One of the following courses or certifications can be used to meet this requirement: + NAIT CPRS100 - Basic Life Support + NAIT CPRS500 - Standard First Aid and CPR/AED Level C. + Canadian Ski Patrol (CPR-C) + Heart & Stroke Foundation (BLS for HCP (C), BLS, CPR C) + Lifesaving Society (CPR-C) + Red Cross (CPR-C or HCP) + St. John Ambulance (CPR-C or HCP).
Driver’s License Recommendation
A valid driver’s license is required for most jobs in this industry. It is strongly recommended that students have achieved this prior to, or upon, enrollment into the program.
Benefits of a Co-op
- Understand more about career opportunities, expectations and requirements of the professional field
- Gain the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge in a real-world environment
- Create networking opportunities in your chosen industry
- Develop and improve communication, interpersonal and employment skills
- Gain confidence in your professional skills
- Practice job placement skills including job search, resume preparation, interviewing
- Explore career options and program specialization within the industry
- Improve application for future positions by gaining industry experience and increasing your employability
- Possibility of employment after graduation
- Potential financial benefits if the placement is paid
Finding a placement
- Create a profile on NAIT's job board, Career Connect
- Create and maintain a current resume, cover letter and list of references
- Apply for positions on Career Connect
- Prepare for, and attend, employer interviews
- Coordinate and communicate with your WIL Coordinator
- Be flexible, professional, and participate fully in the recruitment process
- Be aware of the anticipated outcomes of the placement
- Notify the coordinator for your program once you have an employment offer and sign a WIL Agreement
Courses and Advanced Credit
Current and recently admitted students can find information and updates about their program on their My Program page in the MyNAIT Portal. To monitor your course progress and the courses still needed to graduate, visit your Academic Progress Report.
Advanced Credit
You may apply for advanced credit once you have been accepted into the program. Advanced credit can be Transfer Credit (for completed post-secondary courses) or PLAR (Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition).
Transfer Credit
In addition to the common guidelines outlined on the Transfer and Credit Options section, your program has other advanced credit requirements that are applied to each request including:
- You must have completed the course or program no more than 7 year(s) ago unless a formalized articulation agreement is in place
- You must have a minimum mark of D in the course(s) or program
Transfer credit - successful graduates from the Portage College Forest Technician program will be granted one year of advanced credit in the Forest Technology program at NAIT, provided they meet the prerequisites for the program.
Read more about advanced credit or contact us about applying for credit for this program.
Tuition & Fees
This content is specific to the selected Aug 19, 2025 intake.
The tuition and fee amounts are estimates based on current academic year's rates. For financial planning purposes, please use these totals as an approximate estimate of your costs. Actual fees may vary by term and enrolment activities. Please refer to the tuition and fees page for more detailed information.
Books, Supplies & Program Fees (est.)
Level 1 Term 1: $1,825
Level 1 Term 2: $325
Level 2 Term 1: $225
Level 2 Term 2: $225
Scholarships & Awards
NAIT awards over $6 million in scholarships and bursaries to more than 4,000 students each year, with the support of donors and the government. A variety of awards are available, including ones for academics, community involvement, equity/diversity grants, bursaries for financial need, program-specific awards and more!
Learn how to apply for awards
Admission Requirements
This content is specific to the selected Aug 19, 2025 intake.
Minimum entrance requirements
The specific academic requirements you must meet to be considered for admission. Where applicable, the minimum accepted Alberta high school courses are listed in round brackets ( ). Equivalent or higher-level courses are also accepted.
- 63% in each of:
- Grade 12 Language Arts (English 30-2)
- Grade 12 Mathematics (Math 30-2 or Applied Math 30) or Grade 12 Physics (Physics 30)
- One of: Grade 11 Biology (Biology 20), Grade 11 Chemistry (Chemistry 20), Grade 11 Physics (Physics 20), or Grade 12 Science (Science 30)
- Proof of English Language Proficiency
Additional requirements & considerations
Alternative entrance pathways
If you are missing one or more of the minimum entrance requirements, you may be eligible for an alternative entrance pathway. For any pathway listed below, English language proficiency is also a requirement.
- Successful completion of minimum 24 post-secondary credits or 8 post-secondary courses* within an accredited or recognized degree or diploma in a related field (Forestry, Natural Resources, etc.) with an Admission GPA of 2.0 based on the most recently completed 24 post-secondary credits.
*Please note that acceptance into the program does not guarantee transfer credits. Transfer credits evaluation will take place after the student is accepted into the program.
Post-admission requirements
Although not required for admission, you must meet the following requirement(s) in order to progress in your program.
- First Aid – PRIOR TO ENTERING PROGRAM
CPR-C (Basic Life Support - BLS) - Students must provide evidence of current BLS certification for entry into the program and remain current throughout clinical training. One of the following courses or certifications can be used to meet this requirement: + NAIT CPRS100 - Basic Life Support + NAIT CPRS500 - Standard First Aid and CPR/AED Level C. + Canadian Ski Patrol (CPR-C) + Heart & Stroke Foundation (BLS for HCP (C), BLS, CPR C) + Lifesaving Society (CPR-C) + Red Cross (CPR-C or HCP) + St. John Ambulance (CPR-C or HCP).
- Driver’s License Recommendation
A valid driver’s license is required for most jobs in this industry. It is strongly recommended that students have achieved this prior to, or upon, enrollment into the program.
- English Language Requirement
A strong command of the English language is required for successful progression and completion of this program. Applicants who do not possess English language fluency are strongly encouraged to meet with program staff for a better understanding of the language requirements prior to applying.
- Computer Literacy - Basic
Basic computer literacy is required for a successful progression in this course. This comprises, but is not limited to, possessing fluency in basic word processing, spreadsheet creation, and an understanding of email and web best practices.
Students are required to have laptop computers for the duration of their studies at NAIT. This is referred to as BYOD (bring your own device). Exact laptop specifications to run industry standard software will be provided to the students upon acceptance.
Additional options
This program has courses that are available for Open Studies. Open Studies allows you to explore credit courses without applying to a program. It is an opportunity to get a feel for school and what program you want to be in.
Learn more about Open Studies
Dates & Deadlines
International
Applications Open:
Aug 01, 2024
International
Applications Deadline:
Once the program is full
Domestic
Applications Open:
Oct 01, 2024
Application Deadline:
Once the program is full
Term Start Date:
Aug 19, 2025
Seats are limited - Apply early! Applications will remain open for at least one month from the open date. If the program/waitlist fill after that date, applications will close.
International Applicants
This program accepts international students.
PGWP Eligibility
This program does not meet eligibility criteria for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), following Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) field of study requirement. Students who applied for a study permit before November 1, 2024, are not affected by the new field of study rule and may be eligible for a PGWP.
While graduates are currently ineligible to apply for a PGWP, NAIT still welcomes international students to this program to gain valuable knowledge and skills to pursue your career goals, whether in Canada under another type of permit or in your home country or other international markets.
Co-Op Work Permit
Optional Co-op: Students in this program can choose to move into a co-op pathway, which includes a mandatory co-op work practicum. International students who plan to participate in this option must apply for a co-op work permit and get approval before starting the work placement.
Learn more about PGWP and explore eligible NAIT programs.
