What is a forest supervisor and how to become one

Key steps to become a forest supervisor

1. Explore forest supervisor education requirements

   Most common forest supervisor degrees

   Bachelor's

   58.3 %

   Associate

   25.0 %

   Master's

   4.2 %

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2. Start to develop specific forest supervisor skills

   Skills	Percentages
   Facility Maintenance	60.26%
   USDA	29.67%
   Direct Supervision	10.07%

3. Complete relevant forest supervisor training and internships

   Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New forest supervisors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a forest supervisor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real forest supervisor resumes.

4. Research forest supervisor duties and responsibilities

   • Mark harvest boundaries and verify critical terrain features including equipment limitations, property boundaries, and riparian buffers.
   • Utilize Woodstock and FIS to create plan.
   • Communicate with BLM and neighboring landowners in order to cost-share and efficiently plan surveys.
   • Identify landings and establish preliminary road grades need to access harvest units.

5. Apply for forest supervisor jobs

   Now it's time to start searching for a forest supervisor job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

   1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
   2. Consult your professional network
   3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
   4. Watch out for job scams