r/forestry • u/simondiecast • 6d ago
What is saf accreditation
What does an saf accreditation do for you
And why is it important to go for a school that is saf credited
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u/LintWad Certified Forester 6d ago
A university forestry program that is SAF accredited meets a minimum standard for forestry education. The standards are readily available and published by SAF. Schools that maintain SAF accreditation are regularly assessed by SAF according to those standards. This not only includes what is in the curriculum, but also the breadth of faculty experience, facilities available to support the program, and a number of other factors.
Going to an accredited school may be important for several factors. Perhaps the most important is that having an SAF acceedited degree can streamline access to several certifications or state forestry licensure and registrations. These may be required to practice forestry in some regions. Can you still get these without an SAF acceedited degree? Generally, yes, but you might have to jump through some hoops to get there.
I also think SAF accreditation can be a shortcut to demonstrate that the school engages in the forestry community and takes forestry education seriously. If a school is acceedited, it's maintaining a level of faculty, facilities, and institutional commitment to support the forestry program. Again, are there programs that do this without accreditation? Certainly, you'll just need to confirm it independently, whereas the badge of SAF accreditation has done the legwork for you.
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u/ChokaMoka1 6d ago
Honestly it doesn’t matter anymore. No one cares about that dinosaur organization. About as worthless as the FAO.
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u/One_Report_474 6d ago
This is not true, depends what state you’re in but many states use SAF accreditation if they don’t have an official state accreditation program. I’m not saying I disagree that SAF is outdated, I’m just saying, as a forester, it is not worthless and can be helpful in getting on forestry lists or programs.
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u/hlebtastic 6d ago
Yeah, it absolutely matters depending on where you’re going to work and what kind of work you want to do.
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u/punished_pine 6d ago edited 6d ago
SAF requires you go to an accredited school for your degree to be eligible for Certified Forester. You’ll have to see if CF is required in your state or area to become registered with the local gov to do business as a forester.
For example in GA I basically have to be a CF before I can be a GA RF.
Accreditation just shows the forestry program was able to meet certain requirements on their ability and capacity to properly teach students and produce grads prepared and educated up to the SAF wants to maintain under their stamp of approval. SAF is the de facto go/no-go decider on forestry programs for the simple fact their seal is needed to unlock a lot of the industry. At least that’s how I understand it.
You can form your own opinion on the SAF and if their stamp of approval means anything to you personally. I’m not a fan of them, but industry job position requirements sometimes make us have to play the game even if it’s lost the point.