Do you want to become a BC Parks ranger?

This is an updated blog based off of our popular How to Become a Park Ranger post from 2016.  

Being a BC Parks ranger is a very rewarding experience, especially if you love being outdoors and having a positive impact on conservation and park visitors’ experiences. 

BC Parks rangers have a wide range of responsibilities including maintaining facilities, overseeing a variety of conservation and community engagement projects, and managing, monitoring and reporting on recreation initiatives.   

Rangers are also the field contact for park visitors and contractors. They are dedicated to protecting British Columbia’s natural and cultural resources and park visitors, as well as enforcing compliance with the Park Act and other statutes and rules. 

To become a BC Parks ranger, you need some key skills, education and experience. Here’s a list to refer to: 

Educational and Training Requirements 

• Completed related degree or 2-year diploma in an Outdoor Recreation Management or a Natural Resource Management related field (related field may include: biology, geology, geography, recreational planning, outdoor recreation, forestry, fisheries, anthropology) or 
• Secondary school graduation (or equivalent) and 2 years’ related experience (related experience may include: park system (operations), conservation, outdoor recreation, forestry, any earth sciences, recreation planning, public safety/enforcement) 
• Current and WorkSafeBC recognized Occupational First Aid Level 1, 2 or 3 Certificate 
• Valid B.C. Class 5 Driver’s Licence (or equivalent from another Canadian province; a B.C. Class 7L/7N, or other learner’s permit, are not considered equivalent) 

• Completion of BC Parks Law and Its Administration (BCIT PRKS 1010 or 0010 course) 
• Maintains a current Firearms Possession and Acquisition Licence 
• Possesses a Pleasure Craft Operator Card issued by Transport Canada 
• Upon receiving job offer, a condition of employment will be completing an Enhanced Security Screening process 

Note: requirements vary on a region-by-region basis. 

Related skills and experience – these are not mandatory, but do impact the success of your application: 

• Public relations and communication experience 
• Safety and enforcement experience 
• Resource management experience 
• Contract and permit administration experience 

• Backcountry travel experience 
• Facility management experience 
• Equipment operation and maintenance experience or certification 
• Leadership and teamwork experience 
• SVOP, Small domestic vessel basic safety [SDV-BS] or advanced Boating Safety certificates 

• Advanced Wilderness/Survival training 
• Swift Water Rescue training 
• FS100 (firefighting) training 
• Advanced boat operation and navigation training and certification 
• ATV Safety training 

• Avalanche Safety Training [AST 1/2] 
• Bear Awareness training 
• Chainsaw Safety training 
• Wildlife/Danger Tree Assessment training 
• Dangerous Wildlife Assessment training 

We encourage you to plan ahead and complete the educational and training requirements before job postings go up in December for our seasonal ranger opportunities.  

If you are interested in becoming a BC Parks ranger, check out the Employment, Training & Volunteer Opportunities page https://bcparks.ca/employment/  for more information.