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Skills, Education and Experience

Skills

  • Strong written and oral communication skills
  • Project and financial management
  • Making presentations
  • Problem-solving skills
  • An aptitude for science
  • Organized
  • Detail-oriented
  • Able to work well individually and as part of a team

Education and Experience

  • A diploma or bachelor's degree in a science, resource or agricultural discipline is required
  • A master's degree or PhD in soil science may be required
  • Familiarity with Canadian soil classification types is helpful

Qualifications

The occupation Agrologist is regulated in British Columbia.

Although it is not mandatory to become certified in order to work as a soil scientist in BC,
you may choose to apply for professional status through registration with the British Columbia Institute of Agrologists (BCIA). There are two registration streams:

To become a Professional Agrologist you must have:

  • completed a four year Bachelors degree with a required number of courses related to agrology
  • completed the Articling Agrologist Program  (which involves participating in a number of events and activities and completing milestones)

To become a Technical Agrologist you must have:

  • A minimum of a diploma applied degree or degree with a science focus from an accredited post-secondary institution, with a required number of courses related to agrology
  • completed the Articling Agrologist Program

Internationally Trained Soil Scientists

If you are an internationally trained soil scientist and want to become a member of the British Columbia Institute of Agrologists
you are required to have your credentials evaluated by:

  • International Credential Evaluation Services (ICES)

Many soil scientists trained outside of Canada are still having difficulty finding jobs even with the demand in the agrology sector. The main issue is lack of hands-on experience with BC’s agriculture and resource industries.

The BC Institute of Agrologists recommends that soil scientists new to Canada first search for work in a lab with a
senior agrologist to gain experience with BC’s soil and local issues.

For more information:

Ask for the normal or basic assessment, as required by the BC Institute of Agrologists.
Learn more about qualifying to work as an agrologist