Knowledge obtained by individuals during their formal forestry education provides the foundation for a lifelong process of knowledge and learning. With the rapid development of technology and the ongoing growth of the science of forestry, it is essential for foresters to keep their knowledge current. Continuing education helps in meeting this need.

Authorization

Section 89B-11(b) of the authorizing legislation states The Board shall require registered foresters to attend continuing education courses approved by the Board, not to exceed 12 hours per year as a condition of renewal.

Requirements

Administrative Rules adopted by the Board and approved by the legislature state:

(a) All registered foresters shall attend continuing education courses annually to maintain their registration. Ten CFE (Continuing Forester Education) credits approved by the Society of American Foresters’ CFE Coordinator shall be required each year, …, except as outlined in paragraph (c). CFE’s must be SAF category 1, 2, 3 or 4, with at least six being category 1.

(b) Registered foresters shall verify CFE compliance to the Board with each annual renewal.

(c) Those registered foresters who provide information to the Board which verifies that they are fully retired from a career in forestry may qualify to continue their registration by earning a minimum of three category 1, 2, 3 or 4 CFE’s annually.

Continuing Education Categories

The Board has adopted the Society of American Foresters' (SAF) continuing education categories to meet the requirements of our legislation. The SAF’s Continuing Forestry Education Program is explained on their web site: http://www.safnet.org/education/continuingeducation.cfm.

North Carolina recognizes only category 1, 2, 3 and 4 CFE credits toward meeting our continuing education requirements with at least 6 CFEs needing to be in category 1. SAF categories can be viewed at: http://safnet.org/education/cfecategory.cfm.

Category 1 - Organized course work or activities in forestry or forestry –related subject matters such as silviculture, mensuration, forest pest management, habit management, urban forestry, or forest policy. Included are seminars, short courses, and workshops conducted or sponsored by public or private organizations, as well as technical sessions of SAF meetings, or conferences. Credit will be approved only for subject matter directly related to forest resources. Credit accrues at the rate one hour for each hour of actual contact. Unless otherwise warranted, three hours of tour or field session equal one contact hour.

Category 2 - Other organized course work or activities not specifically in forestry or forestry-related subject matter, but which are professionally enriching or directly benefit the individual in his or her present position. Examples include general sessions of professional meetings and course work in such areas as real estate, computer science, managerial and leadership skills, public speaking or vertebrate zoology. Credit accrues at the same rate as for Category 1.

Category 3 - The development, preparation and presentation of course work or activities such as described in Categories 1 and 2 that require effort beyond the general scope of the individual’s normal duties or job description. Credit accrues at the rate of two contact hours for each hour of presentation.

Category 4 - The preparation, writing and publication of forestry or forestry-related subject matter that requires effort beyond the general scope of the individual’s normal duties or job description. Credit accrues at the ate of fifteen hours for each publication requiring technical review or five hours for an article or series of articles of a substantial nature in magazines, newspapers or similar publications.

CFE Coordinators

The SAF has CFE Coordinators across the country that evaluate courses, sessions, activities, etc. and determine whether they meet the SAF criteria for Category 1 CFE ‘s and the number of credits for each.

"Send detailed course agenda to:

Ed Pomeroy, NC SAF Division CFE Coordinator
PO Box 58430
2809 E. Millbrook Road
Raleigh, NC 27658-8430
office 919-878-2400 ext 103
fax 919-878-2436
eepomero@gapac.com

Emailed electronic requests are preferred over mailed or faxed
requests."

A list of other CFE Coordinators can be found on the SAF webpage: http://www.safnet.org/education/cfecoodinators.cfm Organizations, Companies, Agencies, Groups, Etc. are encouraged to submit scheduled forestry sessions to their State Coordinator for a CFE determination and provide CFE forms to attendees at the session.

Annual Renewals

A Continuing Forestry Education Personal Activity Record must be submitted with annual renewal of forester registration. Also, copies of the Category 1 CFE Contact Notices for each course must be submitted with the renewal. A Personal Activity Record will be mailed with each renewal notice or one can be down loaded from this web site.

Sources of Continuing Forestry Education Courses

North Carolina

Appalachian Society of American Foresters Annual Winter Meeting, January 24th through the 26, Pinehurst, NC

Eight excellent conference presentations….

• Carbon Credit Audits
• Regional Biomass Energy Overview
• Biotechnology Solutions & Value-added Opportunities
• Plantation Spacing for Maximum Value
• Forest Land Conversion
• Fuels from the Forest
• Harvesting Technologies and Systems
• Emerging Computer Technologies and Solutions

For more information ... http://www.apsaf.org/meeting.htm

North Carolina - Director, Forestry Educational Outreach Program, NCSU Box 8003, Raleigh, NC 27695-8003, phone: (919) 515-3184, fax (919) 515-6883,
homepage: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/nreos/forest/feop

N.C. Division of Forest Resources - A list of Division training sessions is available to non-DFR foresters on the Division's web page at http://www.dfr.state.nc.us

Forest Landowners Association - Stephen Whitfield, North Carolina Coordinator, PO Box 31024, Raleigh, NC 27622, phone (919) 787-1220, email: StephenWhitfield@mindspring.com

N.C. Forestry Association - Roger Pyle, 1600 Glenwood Avenue; Raleigh, NC 27608 1-877-4PROLGR (877-477-6547) rpyle@ncforestry.org

NC. Chapter of the Association of Consulting Foresters, Allen Plaster, President, PO Box 18742, Raleigh, NC 27619, phone (919) 782-7022

Duke University, Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences - Courses for Working Professionals http://www.env.duke.edu/edprograms/prof-courses.html

Adjoining States

South Carolina - Steve Muzal, Continuing Forestry Education Coordinator
Department of Forest Resources, Clemson University, 272 Lehotsky Hall, Clemson, SC 29634-0331 phone: (864) 656-4842, fax: (864) 656-4786
email: sjmzl@clemson.edu homepage: http://www.clemson.edu/extfor

Virginia - David Waterman, Assistant Director for Program Development Division of Continuing Education, Virginia Tech
820 University City Blvd., Mail Code 0364, Blacksburg, BA 24061,
phone: (540) 231-5486, fax: (540) 231-9886 email: dmwater@vt.edu homepage: http://www.conted.vt.edu/forestry/index.htm

Georgia - Susan King, The University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education and Warnell School of Forest Resources, Athens, GA 30602
Send mail to: Georgia Center for Continuing Education, phone (706) 542-6640, fax: (706) 542-6465 email: Susan_King@gactr.uga.edu
webpage: http://www.georgiacenter.org/conferences/forestry

Tennessee - Wayne Clatterbuck, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries
University of Tennessee, PO Box 1071, Knoxville, TN 37901-1071
phone: (423) 974-7126, fax (423) 974-4714
email: wclatterbuck@utk.edu homepage: No active site maintained - forestry school site is: http://fwf.ag.utk.edu/

Others

Society of American Foresters Education Calendar: Continuing Education Opportunities
http://www.safnet.org/education/conedcalendar.cfm

Alabama - Chris Issacson, Preceda Education & Training
PO Box 370, Wetumpa, AL 36092
Phone: (334)514-3000, fax (334) 514-3011
email: info@preceda.com, homepage: http://www.preceda.com
Preceda is a private firm currently contracting with Auburn University to conduct courses in Alabama. This firm also performs continuing education programs around the south, including North Carolina, in an unaffiliated fashion.

Arkansas - Frank Roth, Southwest Research & Education Center
Hope, AR 71801
phone: (870) 777-9702, Ext. 106, fax: (870) 777-8441
email:froth@uaex.edu homepage: No forestry calendar is maintained, the forestry school web address is http://www.afrc.uamont.edu/sfr/index.htm

Kentucky - Jeffrey Stringer, Hardwood Silviculturist, Department of Forestry, University of Kentucky,
205 Thomas P. Cooper Bldg., Lexington, KY 40546-0073
phone: (859) 257-5994, (859) 323-1031
email: jstringe@ca.uky.edu homepage: No official forestry calendar- forestry school site is http://www.uky.edu/Agriculture/Forestry/forestry.html