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 One
of the first tasks you will have to undertake towards your membership
in the OPFA is to have 2 assessments done of your academic credentials.
These assessments, Comparative Education Assessment (CEA) and the
Core Subject Assessment (CSA) allow the members of the Registration
Committee to make educated decisions in regards to your qualifications
for membership.
FAQ's
- What is the difference between the Comparative
Education Assessment and the Core Subject Assessment?
The CEA is a service that investigates the
qualifications of the school that you attended and that issued
the degree/diploma you received and determines the level of education
obtained at that school compared to that of a Canadian University.
This service is provided by organizations independent of the OPFA.
(See the Links tab for the organizations that provide this assessment
service)
Once the CEA establishes your level of education in comparison
to that of a Canadian University, the OPFA Core Subject Assessment,
compares the actual courses and subjects taken and determines
if the content covered is comparable to that required for membership
in the OPFA
- How long do these assessments take?
The CES can take several months depending on the country of origin
and the co-operation of that school in releasing information to
the independent organization that is doing the assessment. In
some cases it may take longer or in the event the school has already
been assessed it may only be a matter of a few weeks. The OPFA
assessment generally takes about 3 weeks.
-
Is there a fee for these
assessments?
The first assessment you need to do is the Comparative Education
Assessment. This is provided by an independent service (see
Links tab) and their fees are approximately $100.00- $200.00.
The Core Subject Assessment is prepared by a member of the OPFA
Registration Committee. There is no fee for this assessment.
- What if my Comparative Education Assessment
does not meet OPFA standards?
Sometimes it is indicated that a degree obtained outside of Canada
is not equivalent to that of a Canadian University. In this case,
those determined to practice professional forestry in Ontario
have 3 choices:
- Register as a full time student in a B.Sc.F.
program at a CFAB approved University.
- Undertake some or all 16 OPFA exams.
- Explore Associate membership in the OPFA.
- What if my OPFA Core Subject Assessment
does not meet OPFA requirements?
The CSA may determine that some of the courses taken to earn a
degree in another country do not meet the necessary content required
to obtain membership in the OPFA. In some cases it may simply
be due to the differences in trees, soil, etc. as well as laws
and regulations. In these cases the Registration Committee will
request that you prove your competency in these subjects by either;
a) taking the OPFA exam for that subject or subjects
b) undertaking a personal interview with members of the Registration
Committee
- Am I required to take an English as a
second language course?
No, however the official language used by the OPFA is English
and the OPFA requires that applicants be able to communicate in
English so that they are easily understood. It is the responsibility
of the applicant to have an appropriate command of English before
presenting themselves for membership.
- May I use sponsors from outside of Canada?
In a case where it is determined that the work experience gained
outside of Ontario is deemed to be acceptable, the Registration
Committee may accept sponsorship or letters of reference from
foresters, supervisors, employers from the country of origin.
- Do my sponsor forms need to be in English?
The official language of the OPFA is English and all documents
should be remitted in English. The OPFA would require your sponsorship
forms to be translated at the applicant's expense
- What is the Personal Interview with the
Registration Committee?
Each application from an internationally educated and trained
professional is unique. Meeting personally with an applicant assists
the Registration Committee in fully and fairly evaluating an applicants
qualifications for OPFA membership.
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This page last modified September 14, 2005 |
