Forestry school – Training to become a qualified forest warden (Forstwart)

The Forestry School is a federal intermediate vocational school.

Legal Basis

This forestry education programme is regulated by the Forestry Act, Federal Law Gazette No. 440/1975.

Responsibilities

The Ministry of Agriculture operates the school and therefore bears primary responsibility for the educational programme offered at this intermediate vocational school in the agricultural and forestry sector.

The Federal Ministry of Education is responsible for school-related legal and pedagogical matters, including the quality management system for Austria’s vocational school system (QIBB).

Admission Requirements

The admission requirements are:

• Physical fitness and stamina suitable for the profession

• Successful completion of the ninth year of schooling

• Completion of the 16th year of age

• Successful completion of the admission procedure

The registration deadline is the first Friday after the semester holidays.

Training Programme

Since September 2018, the programme has been organised as a two-year course and concludes with a recognised final examination.

Educational Content

The Forestry School provides:

• A solid general education (40 percent general education subjects)

• Comprehensive specialist training in forest management, covering ecology, forestry technology and business management

• Practical hunting training

• Extensive practical knowledge and skills

• Personal development and self-fulfilment

• Cooperation and communication skills

• Creativity and independence

Practical Training

The extensive practical training takes place in the workshop and, above all, in a private forestry enterprise. In addition to practical lessons, students must complete one month of work experience in a forestry business.

Living Together – Boarding Facilities

Accommodation is available in a student residence adjacent to the school. This enables many students from remote areas to access further education.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Forestry School can:

• Manage their parents’ agricultural and forestry business

• Work in larger forestry enterprises under the supervision of certified foresters, forestry engineers or civil engineers specialising in forestry

• Take over the management of forestry enterprises covering up to 1,000 hectares

Qualified forest wardens (Forstwarte) are primarily employed in operational forestry and hunting protection services, as well as in forestry advisory services.

In addition, forest wardens find employment opportunities in:

• Forest management cooperatives

• Agricultural cooperatives

• Sawmills

• Timber procurement

• The Forestry Technical Service for Torrent and Avalanche Control

• Municipal forests

• Austrian Federal Forests (Österreichische Bundesforste AG)

• Professional hunting

• Nature conservation

• National parks

They may also work as independent forestry service providers. In some federal provinces, attendance at the Forestry School is compulsory as part of professional hunting apprenticeship training to demonstrate the required forestry knowledge.

Austrian Forest Wardens’ Association

The Association of Austrian Forest Wardens:

• Represents the interests of qualified forest wardens

• Operates a job portal

• Promotes information exchange and member activities through the publication of specialist materials