Forestry Techniques
The only program of its kind in Ontario, this intensive, two-semester certificate will give you the sought-after technical skills needed to launch a successful career in the forestry sector.
Program Information
Start Date
September 08, 2026
Domestic Availability
Accepting Applications
International Availability
Closed
CIP Code
03.0511
Program Code
FTQ
Delivery
In Person
Credential
Ontario College Certificate
Academic School
Location
Program Contact
Domestic Tuition
per semester*
International Tuition
per semester*
*Domestic tuition amounts shown are from the 2025-2026 academic year and are subject to change.
*International tuition amounts shown are from the 2025-2026 academic year and are subject to change.
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Canadian StudentsView Curriculum
Highly hands-on, this intensive ‘boots on the ground’ program will prepare you for direct entry into the workforce or provide you with a pathway to further education. Two semesters and delivered in-person, the program focuses on the applied and technical skills necessary to conduct field work and support forest management operations in the Great Lakes St. Lawrence and Boreal Forest regions.
Fleming College is renowned for producing highly-skilled and qualified graduates in Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences. Major employers seek to hire our grads because of our reputation in the forestry industry.
With our existing cluster of forestry related programs, we have a number of unique strengths related to supporting students studying in these programs at Fleming. This includes:
- Dedicated lab spaces for chemistry, soil sciences, forest pathology, entomology, dendrology, and fire science
- Biodiversity Commons, a space that provides students access to equipment (clinometers, prisms, GPS units, hip chains, etc.), study samples and specimens, computers and microscopes
- An arboretum with both native and non-native tree species
This program provides entry-level, job-specific technical skills that are required in today’s forestry sector. Your courses will focus on hands-on, field-based skills such as:
- Plant and wildlife identification
- Forest navigation
- Data collection and tree inventory
- Using tools and small power equipment
There are career opportunities for graduates of this program anywhere there is a forest – across Canada, around the world, or right in your own community.
Along with careers in the forestry industry itself (woodlands, sawmills, pulp mills), you could find yourself working for hydroelectric companies, conservation authorities, municipalities, government agencies, forest nurseries, federal/provincial forestry-related ministries, or private contractors.
For information on the variety of careers in forestry and the growing need for skilled forestry employees, visit: http://thegreenestworkforce.ca
- Use the appropriate tools to measure and quantify ecosystem components for forest inventories.
- Identify living and non-living ecosystem components to implement the appropriate silvicultural standards.
- Collect, transcribe, and tabulate forestry-related data following prescribed methods and standards.
- Operate and maintain tools and small equipment used in the forestry sector according to industry standards and safety practices.
- Navigate natural environments using industry standard tools including maps, compass, and GPS and standard safety practices to perform data collection.
- Identify skills, tasks, levels of responsibility and limits of practice to plan for and pursue jobs in the forestry sector.
Students applying to Forestry Techniques must meet the following requirements:
- OSSD (or equivalent mature student status OSSD)
Transfer Agreements
You may be able to use credits obtained at Fleming College to continue your postsecondary education in pursuit of a degree. The articulation and credit transfer agreements with our partner institutions are summarized here.
Bachelor of Arts
Requirement
- Minimum 75% cumulative program average.
Transfer Credit
- 3.5 out of a 20-credit degree (Cohort: Fall 2023 - Present).
- Refer to ONTransfer.ca for further details.
To apply please see the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC) website.
For more information
Visit the Trent University website for further articulation and program information.
Visit the ONTransfer.ca website for agreement information.
See the official articulation agreement.
Bachelor of Science
Requirement
- Minimum 75% cumulative program average.
Transfer Credit
- 3.5 out of a 20-credit degree (Cohort: Fall 2023 - Present).
- Refer to ONTransfer.ca for further details.
To apply please see the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC) website.
For more information
Visit the Trent University website for further articulation and program information.
Visit the ONTransfer.ca website for agreement information.
See the official articulation agreement.
Watch our Webinar Wednesday Recording
In The News: Forestry Techniques
Last week, we hosted a Webinar Wednesday session highlighting our Forestry Technician – Adaptive Practices (Co-op) and Forestry Techniques programs. If you couldn’t join us live, don’t worry. Below are some key highlights from the session, along with the full recording to watch at your convenience.
Fleming College’s forestry programs, within the School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, are known for their hands-on learning, strong industry connections, and immersive outdoor experiences. Prospective students joined Brooke Lynch from Student Recruitment and Dr. Benjamin Walters, Program Coordinator, to learn more about what to expect from these career-focused programs and the opportunities available in the forestry sector.
WHY FORESTRY AT FLEMING?
Fleming’s forestry programs are designed to prepare students for real-world careers in a dynamic and essential industry. With a strong focus on applied learning, students develop practical skills in areas like forest measurement, conservation, geographic information systems (GIS), and forestry operations. From field camps to equipment training, the program blends classroom knowledge with hands-on experience, helping students graduate with the confidence and skills needed to succeed in a wide range of forestry careers.
THREE KEY TAKEAWAYS
1. Explore a wide range of career opportunities in a growing industry
Forestry is a diverse and in-demand field with career paths ranging from wildfire management and urban forestry to conservation, GIS, and logging operations. Students graduate with skills that can lead to roles in both fieldwork and office-based environments, with opportunities to grow into leadership or specialized positions over time. The breadth of the industry means graduates can tailor their careers to match their interests.
2. Learn by doing through hands-on, real-world experiences
A major highlight of the program is its strong emphasis on applied learning. Students gain experience by using industry equipment like chainsaws and forestry simulators, participating in greenhouse growing projects, and completing immersive field camps in locations like Algonquin Park. One standout course simulates a real workplace, where students create maps, collect field data, analyze results, and present findings, closely mirroring what they’ll do in their careers. Students also can contribute to applied research projects like the Kirtland’s Warbler habitat restoration, gaining hands-on experience while supporting real-world environmental conservation efforts.
3. Flexible pathways with opportunities for advancement
Students can choose between a one-year Forestry Techniques certificate or a two-year Forestry Technician diploma, with the ability to transition between programs as their goals evolve. The diploma program includes a co-op term, giving students valuable industry experience before they graduate. It also opens doors to professional designations and university pathways, with many students continuing their education or advancing quickly within the workforce.
CHECK OUT THE FULL WEBINAR:
HAVE QUESTIONS OR WANT TO LEARN MORE?
If this session sparked your interest or you’re considering a future as a future in forestry, we’d love to connect with you. Our Student Recruitment. team and program representatives are here to answer questions, help you explore admission pathways, or guide you toward the right next step. Be sure to check out our upcoming Webinar Wednesday sessions online. We’re hosting new topics in the months ahead and it’s a great way to learn more about programs that excite you.
CAN’T?MAKE A LIVE WEBINAR WEDNESDAY EVENT??
No problem! We’ll save video recordings on Fleming’s official YouTube channel. And?don’t?worry, Program Coordinators are always available to answer your questions!???
For more information about Webinar Wednesdays, please contact Student Recruitment.?
Lindsay, ON (October 15, 2025) – Fleming College will host the Women in Wood 10th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, October 18, at its Frost Campus in Lindsay, Ontario. The event will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm. with workshops and presentations, followed by a cocktail reception, networking, and door prize draws in the evening.
There will be eight exciting workshops and presentations to choose from, including:
Seed Basics: Collecting and Handling Native Tree Seeds: Kerry McLaven, Forester in Training and CEO of the Forest Gene Conservation Association, will guide a workshop on identification, handling, and storage with practical conservation methods.
How to Survive and Thrive as a Woman in Wood in the Forest Sector: Andree Morneault and Liz Cobb will guide an interactive workshop on connection, career planning, wellness, and navigating challenges in forestry.
Crafting and Indigenous Knowledge: Hunter Corbiere (a Fleming College Forestry program graduate) will lead a hands-on session highlighting Indigenous Knowledge, creative practices, and cultural connections to the forest.
Founded by Jess Kaknevicius and Lacey Rose in 2015, Women in Wood is a networking group that brings together women who work in, with, and for the woods. With a growing community of over 3,700, the network offers opportunities to find mentors, seek career advice, and meet other women passionate about the woods.
Fleming’s scenic Lindsay Campus is home to several woods-related programs, including Arboriculture, Forestry Technician – Adaptive Practices, and Forestry Techniques, making it the perfect location to host this milestone event.
Registration to attend is free, with tickets available at bit.ly/WIW10
Any media wishing to attend, please contact:
Elise Moore, Communications Officer at Fleming College at communications@flemingcollege.ca.
About Fleming College?
Fleming College respectfully acknowledges that we are situated on Michi Saagiig Anishinaabeg lands and territory. Located in the heart of Central Ontario, Fleming College has campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton. Named for famous Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, the college features more than 85 full-time programs in Arts and Heritage, Business, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, General Arts and Sciences, Health and Wellness, Justice and Community Development, Skilled Trades and Technology, and Continuing Education. Fleming College has more than 8,500 full-time and 445 part-time students, and 95,000 alumni.
Peterborough, ON – (August 14, 2025) – A new pathway program at Fleming College is opening doors for Indigenous learners interested in pursuing careers in environmental and natural resource sciences.
Launching on September 15, 2025, the Indigenous Environmental Sciences (IES) Pathway offers a supportive and accessible transition into college, with no high school diploma required for admission and no tuition costs for Indigenous students. Delivered through a combination of online and in-person classes at Fleming’s Sutherland campus in Peterborough, the pathway provides a supportive, small-class learning environment designed to help students succeed.
This program reflects the college’s commitment to reconciliation and education by creating an inclusive space where Indigenous learners can thrive and explore meaningful careers in environmental stewardship.
Upon successful completion, students will be eligible to enter a range of diploma and certificate programs within Fleming’s School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences (SENRS), including:
In addition to gaining up to five transfer credits, graduates of the IES Pathway program will be well-prepared academically and supported holistically through services offered by Indigenous Student Services and Fleming’s academic departments.
Applications are now open, and spaces are limited. To learn more or to apply, visit:
https://flemingcollege.ca/indigenous-environmental-sciences-pathway or contact IES@flemingcollege.ca
About Fleming College
Fleming College respectfully acknowledges that we are situated on Michi Saagiig Anishinaabeg lands and territory. Located in the heart of Central Ontario, Fleming College has campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton. Named for famous Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, the college features more than 85 full-time programs in Arts and Heritage, Business, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, General Arts and Sciences, Health and Wellness, Justice and Community Development, Skilled Trades and Technology, and Continuing Education. Fleming College has more than 8,500 full-time and 445 part-time students, and 95,000 alumni.
For more information, please contact:
IES@flemingcollege.ca
For media inquiries, please contact:
Elise Moore
Communications Officer
Elise.moore@flemingcollege.ca
Find us online:
Web: flemingcollege.ca
Facebook: facebook.com/flemingcollege
X: @FlemingCollege on Twitter
Instagram: @flemingcollege on Instagram
TikTok: @flemingcollege on TikTok
Lindsay, ON (March 11, 2024) - Two new and unique Forestry programs at Fleming College are preparing students for rewarding careers in a growing industry.
Fleming’s new Forestry Equipment Operator certificate is the only one of its kind offered in Ontario. This 15-week course provides students with introductory training in heavy forestry equipment operation, forestry principles and proper safety techniques.
Providing students with hands-on learning opportunities, the course also focuses on preventive maintenance, minor repairs, forest fire preparedness, forestry operations and harvest systems.
Applied learning is a big part of Fleming’s Forestry Techniques program. This two-semester course teaches students the skills they need to conduct field work and forest management operations in the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence and Boreal Forest regions. Students graduate ready to move directly into the workforce.
Fleming has also reworked its Forestry Technician-Adaptive Practices program. The new curriculum exceeds provincial standards, teaching traditional forestry skills and studying the technical functions of creating, managing, conserving, and restoring sustainable forests in public and private operations. There is also a focus on environmental, social and economic changes within the forestry industry.
This program also includes a paid co-op, providing students with networking opportunities as they meet and work alongside professionals within the forestry industry.
All three programs are located at Fleming’s Frost Campus in Lindsay, ON.
Fleming College is a leading educator in the forestry sector. For more than five decades industry leaders have tapped into Fleming’s forestry graduates for new hiring opportunities, due to Fleming’s reputation for producing competent and skilled graduates. Fleming’s “boots-on-the-ground” approach to its Forestry programs ensures graduates are well-prepared to succeed in rewarding careers.
About Fleming College
Fleming College respectfully acknowledges that we are situated on Michi Saagiig Anishinaabeg lands and territory. Located in the heart of Central Ontario, Fleming College has campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton. Named for famous Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, the college features more than 100 full-time programs in Arts and Heritage, Business, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, General Arts and Sciences, Health and Wellness, Justice and Community Development, Skilled Trades and Technology, and Continuing Education. Fleming College has more than 6,800 full-time and 10,000 part-time students, and 80,000 alumni.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Sarah Deeth
Communications Officer
sarah.deeth@flemingcollege.ca
705-749-5530 ext. 1161
Web: flemingcollege.ca
Facebook: facebook.com/flemingcollege
Twitter: @FlemingCollege on Twitter
Instagram: @flemingcollege on Instagram