To take the examination to become a Certified Urban Forester, each applicant must meet the qualifications detailed in each of the following areas:
Education and Experience
One of the following:
b. An Associates Degree in an Urban Forestry-related discipline from an accredited college or university and have 9 years of verifiable experience working in an Urban Forestry-related position.
c. A Bachelors Degree in an Urban Forestry-related discipline from an accredited college or university and have 5 years of verifiable experience working in an Urban Forestry-related position.
d. An Advanced Degree (Master's or Doctor's) in an Urban Forestry-related discipline from an accredited college or university and have 3 years of experience working in an Urban Forestry-related position.
*Urban Forestry-related disciplines include Urban Forestry, Forestry, Horticulture, Arboriculture, Natural Resource Management, Landscape Architecture, Environmental Sciences, Environmental Studies, Urban Planning, Land-Use Planning, or other areas approved on a case by case basis.
**Two of the years of experience required above must be at the supervisory level (managing a program and/or supervising personnel).
Licensure
The applicant must currently hold one of the professional licenses or certifications listed below (or other licenses or certifications as approved on a case by case basis):
- CA Registered Professional Forester
- CA Licensed Landscape Contractor
- CA Licensed Landscape Architect
- CA Licensed Architect
- ISA Certified Arborist
- ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist
- CANGC Advanced Certified Nursery Professional
- AICP Certified Planner
For questions regarding qualifying experience, please contact Test Manager Fred Roth at (909) 869-2172 or froth@csupomona.edu.
Certification Fees
Application Fee- a nonrefundable processing fee of $75 is required from each applicant who is a member of CaUFC and $100 from each nonmember at the time of application.
*This fee covers the cost of reviewing an applicant's qualifications to determine eligibility to test.
Examination Fee- a nonrefundable test fee of $150 will be required from each applicant who is a member of CaUFC and $200 from each nonmember, at the time of application.
*This fee covers the cost of generating, proctoring, and scoring examinations.
Total Cost for Initial Applicant: Member $225 Non-Member $300
Re-Testing Fee- a nonrefundable test fee for applicants who have previously taken and not passed an exam or sections of an exam. Initially unsuccessful applicants may retake the exam or required portions of the exam a single time for FREE. If any additional exam attempts are required, a retake fee of $100 will be required from each applicant who is a member of CaUFC and $150 from each nonmember.
For a Re-Testing Application, click here
*To qualify as a member of CaUFC for this program, an individual must have been a member of CaUFC for at least one full year prior to application.
Exam Content
Each exam includes 150 multiple-choice questions. About two-thirds of the questions are of a general nature pertinent to the advanced practice of urban forestry anywhere in the United States, and one-third are specific to issues and laws in California.
While all of the exam questions address knowledge expected to have been gained mid-to-late in one’s urban forestry career, most of the exam content can be found in publications readily available to the professional. However, approximately 10% of the questions will be based in experience rather than published facts.
Tests are comprised of four unique sections, testing some 11 urban forestry disciplines. Individuals will have to pass each individual domain with a passing score of at least 75%. When retesting, individuals must only retake domains not previously passed.
| Plant Science | Infrastructure | Environment | Management |
| Arboriculture | Landscape Architecture & Engineering | Urban Ecology & Wildlife Biology | Community Relations & Partnership |
| Horticulture | Land-Use Planning | Water Management | Volunteer Management |
| Forest Health | Inventory & GIS | Wildfire Management | Public Administration & Funding |
| Utility Forestry & Public Works | Biomass Re-utilization | Risk Management |
Three (3) hours will be allotted to take the exam.
Exams are closed book. No printed material of any kind, computers or calculators will be allowed in the testing area during an exam. All exam takers also must present two forms of identification; one of which is a photo ID (Passport, Driver's License, etc.)
Exam results will be mailed within six (6) weeks of the exam date.
Click here to download a quick guide highlighting some of the content you will be expected to know for the exam.
For an Exam Application, click here. Exams are scheduled at a time and location convenient to the applicant once an Exam Application has been approved.
