Forestry Licenses - Applicant Qualifications - Alterations, the official text

WES MOORE, Governor                                   Ch. 275

Chapter 275

                   (House Bill 342)

AN ACT concerning

             Forestry Licenses – Applicant Qualifications – Alterations

FOR the purpose of requiring that an institution from which an applicant for a forestry
         license graduates on completion of a certain curriculum has certain approval and
         accreditation; authorizing an applicant to qualify for a forestry license if the State
         Board of Foresters determines the applicant’s education is substantially equivalent
         to certain requirements; repealing a certain experience requirement for applicants
         for a forestry license; and generally relating to requirements for forestry licenses.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
         Article – Business Occupations and Professions
         Section 7–304
         Annotated Code of Maryland
         (2018 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement)

         SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

             Article – Business Occupations and Professions

7–304.

         (a) To qualify for a license, an applicant shall be an individual who meets the
requirements of this section.

        (b) (1) An SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION PARAGRAPH
(2) OF THIS SUBSECTION, AN applicant shall have graduated on completion of a 4–year
curriculum in forestry from a college or university that is:

             (1) (I) approved by the Board [or]; AND

             (2) (II) accredited by:

             (I) the Society of American Foresters;. OR

             (II) AN EQUIVALENT ACCREDITING ENTITY.

         (c) (2) The applicant shall have at least 2 years of experience in forestry that
indicates to the Board that the applicant is competent to practice forestry AN APPLICANT
MAY MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION SUBSECTION IF THE BOARD

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Ch. 275  2026 LAWS OF MARYLAND

DETERMINES THAT THE APPLICANT’S EDUCATION, INCLUDING A COMPARABLE
GRADUATE DEGREE OR INTERNATIONAL DEGREE, IS SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIVALENT
TO THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION PARAGRAPH (1)
OF THIS SUBSECTION.

         (c) The applicant shall have at least 2 years of experience in forestry that indicates
to the Board that the applicant is competent to practice forestry.

         SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 2026.

Approved by the Governor, April 28, 2026.

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