1. US Citizen or a foreign citizen legally in the US.
2. Bachelor’s degree from a professional forester curriculum accredited by the Society of American Foresters, or equivalent.
3. Pass the ASBRF Registered Forester Exam.
4. Two years of professional forestry experience after graduation.
5. Professional and Registered Forester references.

Fill out the application form on this website and submit with the application fee. The form has complete instructions. The application fee is non-refundable if you are not approved for licensing due to non-qualifying reasons.

1. The professional forester applies for license approval by the Board.
2. At the next quarterly scheduled Board meeting the application is reviewed and if approved the applicant may schedule to sit for an exam (normally available in the next quarter before the next Board meeting).
3. After exam results are reviewed and approved by the Board the successful applicant may be approved for licensing subject to a completed application (including two years of forestry experience after graduation).

Yes. Your student exam application was only for exam purposes. You must submit the standard license application when you are ready to pursue your license.

You may apply for a license anytime in your second semester of your senior year and beyond.  However, you will not be qualified for licensing until you pass the exam, graduate and complete two years of forestry work experience post-graduation.

Assuming you passed the student exam and meet all qualifications but experience, apply three to four weeks before a board meeting that occurs before you achieve two years of experience. Licensing will be approved after receipt of a completed two-year experience form addendum.

1. Proof of citizenship (an Alabama Driver’s License is acceptable) or alien legal status (see the complete list of acceptable documents on this website).
2. Proof of your bachelor’s degree from a professional forester curriculum (a photocopy of your diploma from an SAF accredited professional forestry degree).
3. A recent photograph.

It is recommended that you first contact the Board administrator to review your situation before you apply.  If your curriculum is comparable to the SAF’s accredited professional curriculum requirements you may have your college transcripts sent to the Board for consideration.

No.  The Board sends and receives the reference forms directly with the applicant’s references.

You should contact your references as a courtesy and ensure that they are willing to be a reference before you list them on your application form.  Unwilling references can stall your application process.

Contact the Board Administrator to see if it is possible to get your application completed in time. Your references responses will be one of the timing issues.

If you are a resident licensed in a reciprocity state (Arkansas, Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina) you may apply for reciprocity subject to meeting Alabama’s licensing requirements. Once approved, you will practice under your state license as long as it remains valid.  If your residence is not in a reciprocity state, you will need to apply for an Alabama license and meet all of Alabama’s requirements for licensing.

1. You must be a resident of the state in which you are licensed.
2. You must meet Alabama’s education requirements.
3. You must meet Alabama’s two-year experience requirements.