The Program

The Forest Service Continuing Education (CE-BPR) Program role is supporting agency natural resource professionals as they work to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations

The CE-BPR Program goal is enhancing productivity and effectiveness of professionals whose work involves or relates to management of rare plants, wildlife, fish habitats and watersheds. CE-BPR serves the people who care for the land. By design, the program meets natural resource professionals' training career needs. All resource areas are invited.

Who is eligible?

The BPR Continuing Education program has two levels in the program.

Level I: Technical Leadership

It is aimed at GS 5-11 and those new to the Forest Service, but it is not exclusive. Technical Leadership includes such workshops as 'Endangered Species Act', 'Water Resource Management for Line & Staff', or 'Designing for Aquatic Organism Passage at Road-Stream Crossings'.

Level II: Program Leadership

Primarily a focus of four workshops; 'Leadership', 'Communications', 'Natural Resource Policy, Values and Economics', and 'Program Management'. Because workshops will always be changing in Level I, there is no graduation from that level. You are welcome to repeat any of the workshops over your career as the content will always be updated. In addition to the workshops, however, a completed project is necessary to graduate from Level II. A project can be either the Program Plan developed in Program Management or a couple other options. Work with the National Coordinator in developing your project.

Dropping from the Workshop

Once registered, a participant needing to drop must find a substitute or pay fixed cost. Check with us first, just in case we have a waiting list. Tuition is low cost for these workshops, consequently we do not have much leeway on letting people drop. The budgets have been set and spent based on your current confirmation. Thank you for your understanding and consideration.

Distance Learning

We will be providing as many topics in an online learning format as possible. If you have topic suggestions, please contact the National CE-BPR Coordinator.

For more information on the Continuing Education Program contact your Regional Coordinator, or Shelly Witt, National Continuing Education Program Leader, Biological and Physical Resources, USDA Forest Service, PO Box 15429, Seattle, WA 98115. Phone: 435-881-4203

For specific workshop information, please contact the professor in charge.

Persons of any race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, or with any disability are welcome to use and enjoy all facilities, programs, and services of the USDA. Discrimination in any form is strictly against agency policy and should be reported to the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250.