Section 333-70-4 - Pathways to forester licensure1. Lawful forestry experience as a licensed intern foresterA. An applicant must have obtained lawful forestry experience under one of the following methods: (1) An applicant with a bachelor's degree or higher and 24 months of forestry experience as a licensed intern forester (including forestry experience of up to 12 months earned as an unlicensed person under the supervision of a forester registered with the board obtained after the applicant's junior year of the degree program and prior to graduation), and who passes Part 1 of the forester examination, may qualify for a forester license. The examination may be taken prior to completion of the internship.(2) An applicant with an associate's degree and 48 months of forestry experience as a licensed intern forester (including forestry experience of up to 12 months earned as an unlicensed person under the supervision of a forester registered with the board obtained after the applicant's first year of the degree program and prior to graduation), and who passes Part 1 of the forester examination, may qualify for a forester license. The examination may be taken prior to completion of the internship.(3) An applicant who obtained an intern forester license through the variance pathway and earned 48 months of experience as a licensed intern forester, and who passes Parts 1 and 2 of the examination, may qualify for a forester license. Completion of the 48 months of experience as an intern forester is a prerequisite to qualifying for the examination.B.Full-time equivalencyThe forestry internship is expected to be a full-time experience. Part-time experience is acceptable, but must accumulate to the full-time equivalent of the 48-month or 24-month internship required by 32 MRS §5515(3)(A) or (B), as the case may be. Full-time equivalency shall also apply to those applicants in a degree program who earn forestry experience toward the internship requirement prior to the issuance of an intern forester license pursuant to 32 MRS §5515(3)(A)(1) and (B)(1).
C.LogThe intern forester shall maintain a log during the course of the internship. The log shall record the dates, employer, location, duties and subject area with respect to each assignment performed by the intern forester. The intern forester shall produce the log to the Board for inspection at any time. The log requirement shall also apply to those applicants in a degree program who earn forestry experience toward the internship requirement prior to the issuance of an intern forester license pursuant to 32 MRS § 5515(3)(A)(1) and (B)(1).
D.Completion of internshipUpon completion of the internship and payment of the applicable fee, the intern forester may apply for licensure as a forester on forms provided by the Board.
E.Sponsors(1)GuidanceAll forestry work performed by an intern forester must be performed under the guidance of a forester who has agreed to sponsor the intern forester. Such guidance need not be day-to-day, direct personal supervision. However, the sponsor must have sufficiently detailed, current knowledge of the intern forester's work to enable the sponsor to:
(a) Adequately evaluate the intern forester's performance on an ongoing basis; and(b) Submit the reference at the conclusion of the internship required by 32 MRS §5515(4).(2)Replacement sponsorIf a forester ceases to serve as sponsor without arranging for a replacement, an intern forester working under the guidance of that forester must arrange for a replacement within 30 days of the sponsor's resignation or unavailability. No work performed by an intern forester after 30 days following the resignation or unavailability of the sponsor will be recognized as part of the internship unless and until a replacement sponsor is obtained. The intern must immediately notify the board of the name and address of the replacement sponsor.
Notwithstanding anything in this subsection to the contrary, the intern forester may not endorse plans, maps and reports unless the document has been actually reviewed by the sponsor of the intern forester prior to endorsement.
2. Lawful forestry experience in another jurisdictionA. An applicant with a bachelor's degree or higher and 24 months of lawful forestry experience in another jurisdiction within 6 years preceding the date of application may qualify for a forester license. The applicant is required to pass Part 1 of the examination.B. An applicant with an associate's degree and 48 months of lawful forestry experience in another jurisdiction within 6 years of the date of application may qualify for a forester license. The applicant is required to pass Part 1 of the examination.C. An applicant with 60 hours of supplemental forestry education, 4 years of lawful forestry experience within 10 years preceding the date of application, and 24 months of lawful forestry experience in another jurisdiction within the 6 year period preceding the date of application, may qualify for a forester license. The applicant is required to pass Parts 1 and 2 of the examination. Completion of the forestry experience is a prerequisite to qualifying for the examination.3. Lawful forestry experience as an employee of the federal governmentA. An applicant with a bachelor's degree or higher and 24 months of lawful forestry experience as an employee of the federal government within 6 years preceding the date of application may qualify for a forester license. The applicant is required to pass Part 1 of the examination.B. An applicant with an associate's degree and 48 months of lawful forestry experience as an employee of the federal government within 6 years of the date of application may qualify for a forester license. The applicant is required to pass Part 1 of the examination.C. An applicant with 60 hours of supplemental forestry education, 4 years of lawful forestry experience within 10 years preceding the date of application, and 24 months of lawful forestry experience as an employee of the federal government within the 6 year period preceding the date of application, may qualify for a forester license. The applicant is required to pass Parts 1 and 2 of the examination. Completion of the forestry experience is a prerequisite to qualifying for the examination.4.Licensed in another jurisdictionAn applicant licensed in good standing in another jurisdiction is exempted from the education and forestry experience qualifications set forth in this chapter. The applicant is required to pass Part 1 of the examination.
02-333 C.M.R. ch. 70, § 4