1. (a) Experience in the practice of forestry shall be of a grade and character that indicates that the applicant is competent to practice as a forester. If experience is claimed under this section, an affidavit stating the dates of said employment, the types of work performed, and the names and address of employers shall be provided.

2. (b) Experience shall be determined as follows:

   1. (1) Applicants possessing a 4-year forestry degree shall have 2 years experience pursuant to Fors 302.02 which is equivalent to 4,000 hours within not less than 24 months and not more than 60 months of the date of application;
   2. (2) Applicants possessing a 2-year forestry degree shall have 4 years experience pursuant to Fors 302.02 which is equivalent to 8,000 hours within not less than 48 months and not more than 72 months of date of application;
   3. (3) Applicants possessing a 4-year degree in a related field shall have 4 years experience pursuant to Fors 302.02 which is equivalent to 8,000 hours within not less than 48 months and not more than 72 months of the date of application;
   4. (4) Applicants possessing a 2-year degree in a related field shall have 6 years experience pursuant to Fors 302.02 which is equivalent to 12,000 hours within not less than 72 months and not more than 120 months preceding the date of application; or
   5. (5) Applicants possessing no degree in forestry or in a related field shall have 8 years experience pursuant to Fors 302.02 which is equivalent to16,000 hours within the 10-year period preceding the date of application.
3. (c) Experience shall be gained under the supervision of a licensed forester or if not, written explanation shall be included with the “Universal Application for Initial Licensure” describing why the experience should be considered satisfactory to the board.

4. (d) Experience not gained under the direction of a licensed forester shall be considered satisfactory if:

   1. (1) Experience in the practice of forestry was earned in accordance with Fors 302.02(e)(1), (2), and (3);
   2. (2) Experience in the practice of forestry was earned without violating Fors 501.03; and
   3. (3) The candidate committed no misconduct pursuant to RSA 310-A:112.

5. (e) Experience in the practice of forestry shall be determined pursuant to RSA 310-A:104 as follows:

   1. (1) A minimum of 50% of required experience shall demonstrate competency in all of the following core areas:

      1. a. Preparation of comprehensive forest management plans;
      2. b. Land use and forest type mapping;
      3. c. Development and implementation of silvicultural prescriptions which means a planned series of treatments designed to change current stand structure to one that meets management goals;
      4. d. Timber cruise and inventory;
      5. e. Boundary line location and maintenance;
      6. f. Timber harvesting supervision;
      7. g. Marketing of timber products;
      8. h. Timber sale administration;
      9. i. Road and harvest layout; and
      10. j. Knowledge of New Hampshire forestry laws;

   2. (2) In addition to experience in core areas required per Fors 302.02(f)(1), satisfactory experience shall be in one or more of the following areas:

      1. a. Land surveying;
      2. b. Wildlife management;
      3. c. Natural resource research or education;
      4. d. Timber stand improvement;
      5. e. Logging;
      6. f. Timber law enforcement;
      7. g. Log scaling;
      8. h. Saw milling;
      9. i. Forest fire control;
      10. j. Soil science;
      11. k. Arboriculture;
      12. l. Urban forestry;
      13. m. Land use planning;
      14. n. Conservation biology;
      15. o. Wetland delineation; or
      16. p. Wood procurement; or

   3. (3) Applicants who do not meet the experience required pursuant to Fors 302.02(f)(1) and (2) shall demonstrate experience and competency in specialty areas such as:

      1. a. Timberland appraisal;
      2. b. Teaching of forestry at a college or university level;
      3. c. Teaching natural resource science at a college or university level;
      4. d. Public extension forestry and natural resource education work; or
      5. e. Forest policy in a governmental or management position.
6. (f) Experience shall be in accordance with the rules of professional conduct set forth in Fors 501. Conduct prohibited by the rules of professional conduct, when performed by an unlicensed person or during a prior period of licensure, shall result in denying a license application or issuing a restricted license.

Source. #5222, eff 9-11-91; EXPIRED 9-11-97 New. #6597, INTERIM, eff 10-8-97, EXPIRED: 2-5-98 New. #6876, eff 10-28-98; amd by #7575, eff 10-13-01; ss by #8710, eff 8-25-06; ss by #10544, eff 3-13-14; ss by #14085, eff 11-24-24