Wayne Community College Forestry Instructor Preston Daly has received certification with the North Carolina State Board of Registration for Foresters.
The certification allows a person to legally use the designation “forester,” “registered forester,” or any other descriptive term including the word “forester” to directly convey that they are registered with the board. It protects the public by improving the standards for the practice of professional forestry in the state.
To become a registered forester, individuals must pass a comprehensive exam and submit references to the governor-appointed board. Those with a four-year degree in forestry can receive registration within two years; others must work in forestry for six years before becoming a registered forester. Foresters must receive 10 continuing education credit hours per year to maintain the credential.
Registration with the board is an accomplishment that fewer than 2,000 people in the state have achieved.
“I am very proud of Preston for earning his certification of ‘registered forester’ in North Carolina,” said WCC Agriculture and Natural Resources Department Chair Gabe Mitchell.
“Our forestry program has a long history of training the most competent professionals in the industry. This certification helps to ensure the quality of our program and the standards that we adhere to at Wayne Community College,” Mitchell said. “We look forward to continuing the tradition of excellence that began over 60 years ago.”
Daly earned a bachelor’s degree in plant biology from North Carolina State University. He worked with the North Carolina Forest Service’s tree improvement program at Claridge Nursery for five years.
In 2023, Daly became an instructor in WCC’s Forest Management Technology program. “It was a good opportunity because I’ve always been interested in teaching and sharing my interests with others,” Daly shared.
WCC has the oldest two-year forestry program in the state. It is one of only four schools in NC to offer a forestry degree, along with Montgomery Community College, Haywood Community College, and North Carolina State University.
“We cover such a big area that our students come from all over,” Daly said. “We get a wide variety of perspectives in the program, like students who are interested in timber cruising, preserving ecosystems, or conservation work.”
Daly would encourage prospective students to consider a career in forestry, noting its tight-knit community that is part of a lucrative industry. “If you’re interested in having a career that is going to provide you with many opportunities, forestry is a good field for you,” he said.
Learn more about WCC’s Forest Management Technology program on our website.
About Wayne Community College
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves around 10,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 150 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.