Background

The Mississippi Professional Logging Manager program (MS PLM) started in 1996 to provide initial training and continuing education for loggers in Mississippi to meet the requirements of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). Originally housed at Mississippi State University Extension, it was moved to the Mississippi Forestry Association in 2022. PLM provides initial training and some continuing education opportunities for loggers to earn and maintain their qualifications to work with SFI certified organizations to enable them to meet the requirements of their certification through their exclusive use of qualified contractors.

Loggers earn qualification through the completion of training programs. The basic curriculum is composed of four different modules taught in two classes: the Core Class and Business Management. The Core Class includes three modules. The first, Introduction to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (Intro), outlines SFI certification and the importance of meeting those objectives. The second, Best Management Practices (BMPs), provides an overview of Mississippi's efforts to address non-point source pollution resulting from forestry practices. The third, Logging and Transportation Safety (Safety), provides information on Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines for logging. Finally, the Business Management class outlines several different strategies that a logging business can implement to make the business more efficient, profitable, and legal.

Logging companies are qualified through the qualification of the owner and foremen. Each crew must have a qualified logger onsite during operations. Therefore, companies with multiple crews need to have all of their foremen take these classes as well.

Continuing Education

To maintain a logger's qualified status, the logger must earn 12 hours of continuing education credits every two years, starting on December 1st of even years. There are two ways to earn continuing education credits:

Category 1 - minimum 6 hours
These are formal educational opportunities directly related to logging and forest operations, forestry, business, and safety. Each contact hour of course work will earn one hour of continuing education credit. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:

MSU PLM programs
Continuing Logger Education (CLE) programs offered in other states
MSU Extension Forestry programs
Any course or program with Continuing Forestry Education (CFE) hours*
Forestry educational programs offered by public or private entities*
Other formal safety, environmental, or professional training programs*
Adult education programs offered by community colleges, universities, or other educational institutions*
Technical presentations or published technical articles*
Attending presentations at a Mississippi Loggers Association (MLA), Mississippi Forestry Association (MFA), County Forestry Association (CFA), Forest Resources Association (FRA), or similar meetings**

Category 2
These credits are earned for participation in professional organizations, self-improvement, and community awareness. One credit is earned for every two hours of participation. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:

Participation in MLA, MFA, or CFA business meetings (without a formal presentation)
Non-Category I classes taken in pursuit of a degree (i.e. GED, BS, MS, and Ph.D.)*
Attendance at professional events (i.e. logging shows, forestry field days, Log-a-Load for Kids)
Leadership roles in professional or community service organizations at the local, state, or national level*
1 credit per year for MLA membership
1 credit per year for MFA membership
1 credit per year for CFA membership

* To be submitted to Mississippi PLM Coordinator for credit determination. Credit hours will be assigned for each event/position based on the above guidelines for Category I and Category II.
** Some of these organizations charge a registration fee for meetings; others do not. Please see information below about these organizations.

Record Keeping

Each participant should maintain a record of the continuing education programs that they have attended. Documentation can include certificates of participation, program outlines or syllabus, and some form of attendance documentation such as the CLE credit for that is attached.

In addition, a continuing education log form is also available. Each program participant should complete and return this form to ensure that continuing education credits have been awarded appropriately. Approximately 5 percent of these forms will be audited to ensure that participants are following the intent of the continuing education program as set forth by the SFI Implementation Committee.

Determining Credit

Participants in programs with CFE credit already assigned will be given the same number of credits for the purposes of Continuing Education for Loggers. CFE or CLE Credits assigned by another state will be honored. Programs that do not have continuing credits assigned should be sent to the PLM Program Coordinator for evaluation. Credits will be assigned based on the above guidelines for Category I and Category II.

Failure to Maintain Qualified Status

If a participant does not maintain his or her hours, they will be deleted from the database when they are two cycles behind. A person removed from the database will have to retake all four core classes to regain qualified status. Qualification follows the individual. No one can take classes for a participant. If a company does not have at least one qualified individual, that company will not be allowed to deliver wood to SFI Certified Forest Products Companies.

FAQ

The company I deliver to wants me to attend a training program they are conducting. Can I receive credit?

Yes, but it is best if the company contacts the PLM office ahead of time so you know exactly how many credits the program will be worth. Chances are you are not the only person who needs credit!

Do I have to have 6 Category I credits and 6 Category II credits?

No. You can have all 12 credits in Category I and meet the intent of the policy.

Do credits carry over to the next qualification period?

No. All credits earned during one qualification period expire at the end of that period.