Becoming a Forest and Wildlife Conservation Technician in Missouri

Forest and conservation technicians work with foresters to protect and maintain forests and other environmental ecosystems. Prerequisites for this career choice would include a love of the outdoors and a natural aptitude for math and science.

Forest and conservation technicians work in a variety of jobs, encompassing both the private and public sectors and may be found in parks, research environments or timber harvesting operations, among many other places. Potential job duties could include surveying and mapping natural environments, patrolling wildlife areas and enforcing regulations, preventing and suppressing forest fires, issuing permits, grading lumber, providing education to the public and various industries, and assisting scientists with data collection and compilation.

Forest and Conservation Technician Regulations in Missouri

For the most part, those wishing to pursue a career as a forest and conservation technician should acquire at least an Associate of Applied Science degree. Upon completion, a candidate will be free to search for employment without needing licensure. Those who wish to complete a higher level of education may choose to apply for Certified Forester credentialing through the Society of America Foresters (SAF). Certified Forester Candidates are required to have at least a baccalaureate level degree, preferably from an SAF-certified training program. SAF certification is considered a gold standard by forest management professionals and allows for greater career advancement for those able to achieve it.

Colleges with Programs for Forest and Conservation Technicians in Missouri

Training is available in Missouri at both an associate’s degree and bachelor’s degree level for those wishing to pursue forestry careers. Programs are offered at the following schools:

• Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff offers an Associate of Science (A.S.) in Forestry as well as an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Forestry Technology with options to specialize in either Geographical Information Systems or Surveying. The A.S. The forestry program’s purpose is to allow students to transfer to the University of Missouri Columbia as a forestry major. The A.A.S. programs are designed for immediate entry into the workforce.
• University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources in Columbia offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Science and Management. Students who major in Environmental Sciences will choose an emphasis from among the following: Atmosphere, Land and Soil, Outreach and Education and Water. Student organizations include the Meteorology Club, the Mizzou Storm Chase Team, Sustain Mizzou and the Soil and Water Conservation Society. Students who choose to major in Natural Resource Science and Management will chose an emphasis from among the following: Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, Forest Resources, Human Dimensions and Terrestrial Ecosystems. Clubs and Organizations include the MU Forestry Club, The Wildlife Society, Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Society, the Student Association of Fire Ecology and Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences.

Career Growth Projections and Salaries in Missouri

2018 data from the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show the mean hourly wage for forest and conservation technicians in the state as $21.05 and the mean annual wage as $43,780.

In 2016, Missouri employed a total of 190 forest and conservation technicians, with a projected 190 to be employed in 2026 for a zero percent growth rate, compared to a national projected growth rate of 3.9 percent for this occupation. Predictions show Missouri will need to fill an average of 20 new positions per year.

Missouri Job Opportunities for Forest and Conservation Technicians

Possible employers for forest and conservation technicians in Missouri include the Department of Agriculture, Missouri Department of Conservation and the Federal Forest Service.