Sixty (60) hours of continuing forestry education are required in a three-year period for recertification as an SAF Certified Forester®.

Revised guidelines, approved by the SAF Council 6/11/2000 require a minimum of 30 hours of continuing forestry education in Category 1; the balance of 30 hours may be distributed between Categories 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 as indicated below.

Category 1 - Organized course work or activities in forestry or forestry-related subject matters such as silviculture, mensuration, forest pest management, habitat management, urban forestry, or forest policy. Included are seminars, short courses, and workshops conducted or sponsored by public or private organizations, as well as technical sessions of SAF meetings, or conferences. Credit accrues at the rate of one hour for each hour of actual contact. Unless otherwise warranted, three hours of tour or field session equal one contact hour. (30 hours minimum per three-year period required for SAF’s Certified Forester Program.)

Up to thirty hours maximum of other continuing education/professional development activities described below may be used to complete the 60 contact hour requirement.

Category 2 - Other organized course work or activities not specifically in forestry or forestry-related subject matter, but which are professionally enriching or directly benefit the individual in his or her present position. Examples include general sessions of professional meetings and course work in areas such as real estate, computer science, managerial and leadership skills, public speaking, or vertebrate zoology. Credit accrues at the same rate as for Category 1. (Not to exceed 30 hours for recertification in a three-year period.)

Category 3 - The development, preparation, and presentation of coursework or activities such as described in Categories 1 and 2 that require effort beyond the general scope of the individual's normal duties or job description. Credit accrues at the rate of two contact hours for each hour of presentation. (Not to exceed 10 hours for recertification in a three-year period.)

Category 4 - The preparation, writing, and publication of forestry or forestry-related subject matter that requires effort beyond the general scope of the individual's normal duties or job description. Credit accrues at the rate of fifteen hours for each publication requiring technical review or five hours for an article or a series of articles of a substantial nature in magazines, newspapers, or similar publications. (Not to exceed 10 hours for recertification in a three-year period.)

Category 6 - Holding elected or appointed office or active committee assignment in the SAF or allied professional organizations such as The Wildlife Society, Society for Range Management, or Association of Consulting Foresters. Credit accrues at the rate of 5 hours per year for holding office or chairing an assignment or 2 hours for active committee membership. (Not to exceed 5 hours for recertification in a three-year period.)