Logger Licensing, Training and Certification

Information on logger licensing

Information on logger training

Information on logger certification

List of Southern New England Certified Master Loggers

List of Southern New England Certified Professional Loggers

LOGGER LICENSING

Massachusetts:

Licensing of timber harvesters is required by Mass General Laws, Ch. 132, sec. 46, and it applies to any person, firm, or corporation in the business of harvesting timber or other forest products on harvests subject to the cutting practices act (MGL Ch. 132, s. 40-45).  It does not apply to companies or persons who harvest wood as land-clearers (converting land from forest to another use), or who harvest timber or firewood in small amounts not subject to the cutting practices act (under 25,000 board feet or 50 cords at any one time).

Pat Lee Dickhaut
DCR
251 Causeway St., Suite 600
Boston, MA 02114-2104
Phone: 617-626-1459
Website: http://www.mass.gov/dcr/stewardship/forestry/

Timber Harvester Licenses must be renewed annually by June 30.  DCR will mail a renewal notice to current license holders in the late spring.  To maintain the license harvesters must obtain nine continuing education credits over a three-year period.  Three of these credits must be from a program addressing the state’s Forest Cutting Practices regulations.  One credit is awarded for each hour duration of the qualifying workshop, class, or seminar.  The workshops offered by the Institute qualify for credits.

Connecticut:

The Connecticut Forest Practices Act requires forest practitioners to be certified by the Department of Environmental Protection prior to conducting any commercial forest practices in Connecticut.  This includes the designing, supervising, and participating in forest practices such as timber harvesting for logs or firewood.  The Connecticut Forest Practitioners certification has three levels – Forest Products Harvester, Supervising Forest Products Harvester, and Forester. 

The certification program is administered by the state Department of Environmental Protection.  The contact is:

Judd White or Jennifer Hockla
CT DEP – Forestry
79 Elm St.
Hartford, CT 06106-5127
Phone: 860-424-3488, or 860-424-3837
Website: http://www.dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/forestry/index.htm

To qualify for any level of certification the applicant must pay a fee and pass a test.  To maintain certification forest practitioners must meet certain continuing education requirements.  Every two years Foresters must earn 6 Continuing Education Units (CEU’s), Supervising Forest Products Harvesters must earn 4 CEU’s and Forest Products Harvesters must earn 3 CEU’s.  One CEU is awarded for every three hours of duration of qualifying workshops, courses, or seminars.  The workshops offered by the Institute qualify for credits.

Rhode Island:

Rhode Island requires that each person, firm, or corporation cutting standing trees for commercial forest products shall be registered as an operator with the state Department of Environmental Management.  There is no test or continuing education requirement.  The contact is:

Tom Abbott
RI DEM, Division of Forest Environment
260 Acadia Rd.
Hope Valley, RI 02832
Phone: 401-539-2356
Website: http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/forest/index.htm

LOGGER TRAINING

Workshops:  The Forest and Wood Products Institute offers training workshops of interest to loggers, forest landowners, and foresters.  All of our workshops are approved for continuing education credits for CT certified forest practitioners and MA licensed timber harvesters and foresters.  We usually provide a series of programs in the spring and fall each year.  Topics include logging safety, operations, business practices, environmental practices, and regulations.
Current workshops   

Custom Training: The Institute also offers custom training programs for wood products businesses.  We can cover any topic from basic English and math skills to chainsaw use or advanced machine operation.  This training can be held at a time and location convenient to you.  If you or your employees need training please contact us to find out how we can help.

Massachusetts companies that pay into the unemployment fund can receive state grants for training through the Workforce Development Training Fund.  The Forest and Wood Products Institute will assist interested companies with the application filing and manage the training for you.  The grants will cover from 50 to 100% of the training costs.  For more information contact us or visit the Mass. Workforce Training Fund website at http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=dlwdtopic&L=3&L0=Home&L1=Employers&L2=Workforce+Training+Fund+(WTF)&sid=Edwd

LOGGER CERTIFICATION

The Institute offers two logger certification programs.  Click on the links below for more information on these programs. 

The Southern New England Logger Education Program provides SFI approved certification for loggers earning 32 credits over a two-year period.
Logger Education Program  

Master Logger is a third-party independent certification based upon review and evaluation of a logging companies actual environmental, business, and safety practices.
Master Logger Certification 

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