Becoming a Forest and Wildlife Conservation Technician in Oklahoma

Oklahoma is a great state in which to learn to become a forest and conservation technician. With just a two-year degree you’ll be ready to be hired as a technician, working with foresters and conservation scientists to manage the state’s forests and urban woodlands.

A forest technician is trained to do field work in forests but also to use computers and software to collect and analyze data. In this career you may split your time between outdoor work and office time. You may also supervise forest and conservation workers in tasks like removing trees, treating diseased trees or planting seedlings.

Requirements for Working as a Forest Technician

The state of Oklahoma has no set requirements for becoming a forest and conservation technician. What most employers require is that you have a post-secondary degree in a related field. Most common is an associate’s degree in forest technology. You do not need to be licensed or certified to begin working in this career.

Forest Technology Programs in Oklahoma

In order to become a forest technician it’s important to continue your education after high school. The best degree to earn is a two-year degree in forest technology, but there are some other options that will also prepare you to do forestry work:

• Eastern Oklahoma State College, Wilburton. The only forest technology associate’s degree program in the state is at Eastern Oklahoma. Surrounded by thousands of acres of forest, the Wilburton campus gives students the unique opportunity to learn in the classroom and in the field. This program will prepare you to work immediately after graduation but can also be used to pursue a four-year degree in forestry.
• Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, Miami. Northeastern offers an associate’s degree program in natural resource and ecology management. While not specifically a degree in forest technology, this program does include coursework in forestry, dendrology, field work and wildfire management. With this degree you may be able to land a job as a forest technician if you are willing to do some additional training on the job.

Job Outlook and Salaries for Forest and Conservation Technicians

The growth in forestry-related careers across the U.S. is slow. Technological advances are making some jobs obsolete, but there are still new positions added every year. The growth in forest technician jobs in Oklahoma is flat. You can still expect to find a job here, though, if you have the right qualifications. Positions are available due to workers leaving for retirement and other reasons.

In terms of salary, earning that associate’s degree will give you a bump in earnings compared to forest and conservation workers. Forest technicians in Oklahoma earn, on average, $21.96 per hour and $45,670 per year as compared to forest workers earning just $15.98 and $33,250.

Forest and Conservation Technology Jobs in Oklahoma

Most forest and conservation technicians are employed by the federal, state or municipal governments. They are needed to help manage national forests, state parks and recreation areas, and urban forests. You may also be hired as a technician to work for private companies such as logging companies or tree farms.

The work of a forest technician can be physically demanding and even dangerous. To do this job you must be comfortable being outdoors in any weather, doing physical work with heavy equipment, often alone. If you do love nature and being outside, this can be a very rewarding career.