Natural Resource Professionals (NRP)

To practice professional forestry in BC, as defined by the Forest Professionals Regulation under the Professional Governance Act, you must be registered with the ABCFP.

Natural Resource Professionals (NRPs), along with other professional members of the forestry team, are responsible for looking after the forests of British Columbia.

  • The functions and responsibilities of an NRP are limited to specific activities under the Scope of Practice heading below.
  • NRPs engage in aspects of professional forestry practice involving; 
    • planning for or advising on inventory,
    • classification,
    • conservation, and
    • protection and also advising on enhancement, harvesting, valuation and rehabilitation.
  • To be a NRP requires completion of specific post-secondary programs.
  • NRPs are part of the subcategory of associate registrants under Section 5.6 (1) of ABCFP Bylaw 5. 

Become a Member

Check out the registration requirements to become a Natural Resource Professional.

NRP Scope of Practice

NRPs are authorized to engage independently only in aspects of the "practice of professional forestry", to the extent consistent with their education, training, and experience, as identified and described in sections (a) to (d) below.

a) The following activities:

  • Planning [for]: inventory, classification, conservation, and protection;
  • Advising [on]: inventory, classification, conservation, protection, enhancement, harvesting, valuation and rehabilitation;
  • Engaging [in]: inventory, classification, conservation, enhancement and protection;
  • Reporting [on]: inventory, classification, conservation, protection and enhancement.

b) The preparation, review and amendment of professional documents

*c) Assessing the impact of professional forestry activities to

(i) verify that those activities have been carried out as planned, directed or advised,

(ii) confirm that the goals, objectives or commitments that relate to those activities have been met, or

(iii) advise corrective action as required to conserve, protect, rehabilitate or enhance the forests, forest lands, forest resource or forest ecosystems; [and/or]

*d) Auditing, examining and verifying the results of activities involving the practice of professional forestry and the attainment of goals and objectives identified in or under professional documents.

*Subsections (c) to (d) are limited to activities relating to inventory, classification, conservation, protection, and enhancement.

Routes of Entry - Eligibility Requirements

Read the Registration Policy (2016), Registration Procedures, and Articling Procedures for information on membership.

There is one way to become a NRP.

ENROLL IN THE TRAINEE NATURAL RESOURCE PROFESSIONAL (TNRP) PROGRAM

Eligibility Requirements
>> Graduated from one of the following recognized programs.

Institution  Diploma Program   Graduation Year 
Thompson Rivers University  Bachelor of Natural Resource Science (BNRS)  May 1997 - present 
University of BC  BSc. in Natural Resource Conservation, Science and Management major   May 2006 - present
BSc. in Natural Resource Conservation May 1999 to May 2005
University of Northern BC BSc. in Natural Resource Management (BNRM) in Wildlife and Fisheries May 2001 - present
BSc. in Natural Resource Management (BNRM) in Outdoor Recreation and Conservation May 2008 - May 2013
BSc. in Natural Resource Management (BNRM) in Outdoor Recreation and Conservation 
(completion of specific courses required, check link)		 Post-May 2013 

The NRP designation is limited to graduates of the listed programs only.

Graduates of the listed programs are also eligible for the Allied Science Forester in Training (ASFIT) program which leads to the Registered Professional Forester (RPF) designation.

RPFs are entitled to practice within the full scope of the ‘practice of professional forestry’. Before you apply for membership, review the RPF page to determine which designation best suits your career goals.

Program not listed?

If you have completed a post-secondary diploma or degree in forestry, natural resources or a related field you may still be eligible for membership:

Once enrolled, TNRPs must complete the following registration requirements:

  1. Six Experience Areas Modules
  2. Articling Requirements

If you meet the TNRP eligibility requirements, apply for membership now.

How to Become a NRP - Apply

How to Become a NRP:

  1. Become an Enrolled Member
  2. Complete the Registration Requirements
  3. Become an Associate Member

1. APPLY TO BECOME AN ENROLLED MEMBER

The first step towards registration is to apply to enroll in the Trainee Natural Resource Professional (TNRP) program.

Before you apply:


Apply Now:

Click Here to Apply for Membership

See the Application Process Chart for an overview of the application approval process.

2. COMPLETE THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

Once your TNRP application is approved by council, you are considered an enrolled member and will be entitled to use the title 'Trainee Natural Resource Professional' and the designation 'TNRP'.

TNRPs abide by the Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Practice contained in the ABCFP Bylaws and complete the following registration requirements during their enrolment period:

Read the specific pages for detailed information and see the Roadmap to Registration which illustrates how enrolled members proceed through the 6 experience areas and articling requirements. Note: the core competency checkpoints on the Roadmap do not apply to TNRPs.

For more details on becoming an enrolled member, see the Routes of Entry webpages and read the Registration Procedures.

3. BECOME AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER (NATURAL RESOURCE PROFESSIONAL - NRP)

Once you have completed all your registration requirements, we will forward the approval of your NRP designation to Council. Upon approval:

  • You will receive the title, Natural Resource Professional, and designation, NRP.
  • You will be entitled to practice professional forestry in BC as noted in the NRP Scope of Practice section.
  • You will be required to meet the requirements for NRP membership.
  • You will be sent and official Certificate of Accreditation.
  • You will be able to order your designation stamp/seal, and/or digital signature.
  • You will be formally inducted to the ABCFP at our annual conference.

QUESTIONS?

Please contact the registration department.

 

REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

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