Home > Education > Accreditation

For Parents and Students

When you choose an accredited program, you are choosing wisely.

Accreditation assures that a program has met quality standards set by the profession.

To employers, graduate schools, and licensure, certification, and registration boards, graduation from an accredited program signifies adequate preparation for entry into the profession. Many of these groups require graduation from an accredited program as a minimum qualification. Here are some examples:
  • Many state boards of professional licensure in forestry require that applicants have graduated from an SAF-accredited program. In states where non SAF-accredited graduates are permitted to be licensed additional work experience may be required.
  • The Certified Forester® program requires an additional evaluation for educational standards for applicants who have graduated from non-SAF-accredited programs.
Be proud to choose an SAF-accredited program.

No matter which forestry option you study — forest management, forest biology, urban forestry, watershed management or another option, SAF-accreditation is an important indicator of the program's commitment to quality and may be a key to your professional future.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does SAF accredit associate, undergraduate, or graduate programs?
SAF accredits associate, undergraduate, and graduate programs. Because the accreditation program concentrates on the first professional program, currently, only a few master's programs and no doctorate programs are accredited.

Does SAF accredit distance education programs?
SAF's accreditation criteria require that accredited programs include laboratory experiences. These are difficult to achieve via remote learning environments. However, some SAF-accredited programs do offer portions of their programs remotely (i.e., online). Please contact programs individually for information about what delivery options each has to offer.

What is the difference between forestry and forest technology?
Forestry and forest technology are separate but intimately related professions. Here are some of the ways they differ:
  • Forestry undergraduate programs include more mathematics work and higher level mathematics than technology programs.
  • Forestry undergraduate programs often focus on theory, while technology programs usually focus on application.
  • Once they enter the workforce, forestry graduates typically spend their time planning, while forest technology graduates spend their time making plans work.
  • At SAF, forestry and forest technology programs are evaluated and accredited by two separate accreditation committees using two separate sets of accreditation criteria.
  • Graduates from engineering programs are called engineers, while graduates of technology programs are often called technologists.
  • Some US state boards of professional forestry licensure and the Certified Forester® program will allow only graduates of forestry programs-not forest technology programs-to become licensed. Visit www.certifiedforester.org for information regarding certification licensure requirements.

Is there a difference between a BS and a BFS?
There really is no difference between a bachelor's of forestry and a bachelor's of science in forestry. Institutions can give their degrees any name they choose. Contact the institution itself for more information about its degree titles and their distinctions.

Can SAF provide program or institution rankings?
Accreditation is not a ranking system. SAF does not rank programs in any way.

What is SAF's policy on transfer credits?
Policies on transfer credits and institution and program admissions are set by individual institutions, not by SAF. Questions related to these policies should be directed to the institution.