Forester Certification

 
 According to the Forest Practices Act, a certified forester may:

• Plan or design forest practices, including but not limited to forest management plans and cutting plans.
• Represent the landowner as his or her agent in the sale of commercial forest products.
• Solicit the purchase of commercial forest products.
• Execute written or oral contracts and agreements for the purchase of commercial forest products.
• Participate in the execution of commercial forest product harvest operations.

Information for Applicants

Section 23-65h of the Connecticut General Statutes (CGS) provides that no person shall advertise, solicit, contract, or engage in commercial forest practices within Connecticut at any time without a certificate issued by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection. The only exception to this requirement is for a person who only engages in the execution of commercial forest practices under the direct on-site supervision of a person who possesses a valid, effective forest practitioner certificate issued by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection. Such persons are not required to obtain a Commercial Forest Practitioners Certificate. 

Those intending to seek a Commercial Forest Practitioner Certificate must: 

• Fully complete the Initial Application for Commercial Forest Practitioner Certification which can be found at www.elicense.ct.gov.
• Achieve a grade of 75 or greater on each section of an examination administered by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's Forestry Division. Note – Examination exemptions exist under two conditions. See “Exemptions” below.  

Certification is available in the following categories: 

Forester: Required for a commercial forest practitioner who supervises or engages in the planning and design of a forest practice, including but not limited to, commercial forest products harvest operations, or acts as a property owner's agent in the sale of commercial forest products. A certified forester may also execute contracts or agreements, written or verbal, for the purchase of commercial forest products, act on the buyer's behalf in the supervision of commercial forest product harvest operations, and engage in the execution of commercial forest product harvest operations.

Supervising Forest Products Harvester: Required for a commercial forest practitioner who executes contracts or agreements, written or verbal, for the purchase of commercial forest products or who acts on the buyer's behalf in the supervision of commercial forest product harvest operations. A Supervising Forest Products Harvester may also engage in the execution of commercial forest product harvest operations.

Forest Products Harvester: Required for a commercial forest practitioner who engages in the execution of commercial forest product harvest operations.

Currently, forest practitioner certification or licenses issued by another state are not valid in Connecticut. Once received by the Department, any fees accompanying an application will not be returned to the applicant. An applicant who is already certified but is applying for a different type of certification must submit a new application as well as a new examination fee through the eLicensing system at www.elicense.ct.gov. In the event that any of the information provided in the application changes, either during the application process or after certification has been received, the applicant shall notify the Bureau of Natural Resources/Division of Forestry of all such changes or make the appropriate changes to their eLicense account.

Exemptions

1. An applicant applying for Forest Products Harvester certification who satisfactorily demonstrates that he has engaged in commercial forest practices at least once each year between 10/1/81 through 10/1/91 does not have to take an examination and is not required to pay the examination fee. An applicant who seeks certification through such a demonstration must still complete an Initial Application, submit it through the eLicensing system, and pay the application fee. A person seeking Forest Products Harvester certification who is otherwise eligible for exemption may forgo the demonstration noted in this paragraph and elect to take the examination. Anyone electing to take the examination must submit an application, the application fee, and the examination fee. CGS Section 23-65f defines “commercial forest practices” as any forest practices performed by a person, other than the owner of the subject land, for remuneration, or which, when performed, yield commercial forest products. Upon receipt of a properly completed application, the Department will review all information provided. If the information in the Exam Exemption submission does not demonstrate that the applicant has the requisite experience, the applicant shall submit the examination fee and must pass the examination in order to qualify for certification. 
2. Applicants who are certified in another state under a law which provides substantially similar qualifications for certification or through examination by the Society of American Foresters, or a similar organization, that provides substantially similar qualifications for certification do not have to take an examination and are not required to pay the examination fee for all levels of certification, provided the applicant is applying for certification in Connecticut that is substantially similar to the applicant’s current certification. Applicants seeking this exemption must demonstrate knowledge of the forestry laws of Connecticut to the Commissioner’s satisfaction. An applicant who seeks certification through such a demonstration must still complete an Initial Application on the eLicensing system and submit it along with the application fee. Anyone electing to take the examination must submit an application, the application fee, and the examination fee.
3. State or municipal employees who engage in activities for which certification is required and who do so solely as a part of their state or municipal employment may seek exemption from payment of the application and examination fees. The exemption from payment of the application and examination fees applies only to activities wholly performed as a part of an applicant's state or municipal employment and will expire upon the termination of such person's employment. A state or municipal employee must still submit an Initial Application through eLicensing and pass the examination unless an employee seeking certification demonstrates that they are exempt from the examination requirement.

Re-examinations

Re-examinations can be scheduled through the eLicensing System. To be eligible to retake the examination, a person must request an exam reschedule through eLicensing and submit a new examination fee. No new application fee is required, provided the person is seeking the examination for the same type of certification previously sought, and the reexamination application is made within two years of submission of the original application. A separate examination fee is required each time a person retakes an examination.

Renewal Applications

Completed applications for a standard renewal of certification must be submitted to the Department no less than 60 days prior to the expiration date on the certificate. Completed applications for a late renewal of certification may be submitted to the Department no more than 60 days following the expiration date on the certificate, with the additional $100.00 late fee. Late renewals may only be granted upon request to individuals who have met all of the renewal provisions as defined in CGS Sec. 23-65h-1(l)(1).

** Certifications are legally expired on the expiration date, even if a late fee renewal has been submitted. Certification is not considered renewed until the applicant receives a copy of their renewed certification. Conduct of commercial forest practices with an expired certification may result in civil penalties pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes Section 23-65n.

**The certification regulations provide that if the statutes or regulations concerning forestry, forest practices, or wetlands have changed and such change results in a change in the conduct of forest practices, an examination for recertification shall be required. You will be notified by the Department should an examination be necessary, of where and when the exam will be given. 

In order to renew a certification, the following requirements must be met:

All annual reports must be submitted via www.elicence.ct.gov on or before June first of each year. 

The minimum number of continuing education units (CEUs) must have been submitted to the Department: 

Forest Products Harvesters: 6 CEUs 
Supervising Forest Products Harvester: 8 CEUs 
Forester: 12 CEUs 

Certification Fees

Payment of required application and examination fees must accompany each application and is non-refundable. An application will not be processed without payment of the required fees. 

New Application: $235.00 (see exemptions to this fee listed above) 
Renewal Application: $235 (submitted 60 days prior to expiration date)
Late Renewal Application: $335 (submitted no later than 60 days following expiration date)
Examination: $65 (new or re-take)

Application Process

To apply, visit www.elicense.ct.gov and register for a new account. If you have an existing license from the state of Connecticut, such as Arborist or Pesticide Application, log in with your existing account and do not make a new account. 

Once you have an account, submit your application . 

Certification Process

When your application is complete,  you will need to pass a Forest Practices Exam for the level of certification you are requesting. Notifications regarding your application and exam enrollment will be sent to the email you have registered in your eLicense account. Information about the date, time, and location of scheduled exams can be found in the DEEP Calendar of Events. 

You can access the Forest Practices Exam Study Guide at the DEEP Store.

Content last updated December 2025.