These days, many people are considering a career change. If you’re one of these people, you may be tired of working indoors at an office, retail, or factory job. The great outdoors may be calling your name, and you can answer that call by becoming a forest ranger.

First, you must understand what a forest ranger’s duties are. As a forest ranger, you will be required to patrol the forests daily, making sure that no damage is being done to the protected areas. You may also be required to act as a first responder to medical emergencies or forest fires.

In order to become a forest ranger, you will need a certain level of education. After high school, you should pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in environmental science. Some examples are forestry and range management. In some states, an Associate’s Degree may qualify you for a forest ranger position, so be sure to check the requirements in your state or the state you wish to work in. You will also need to take and pass a gun safety course, as you will be required to carry a gun as a forest ranger. In addition to these education requirements, you may need to pass a civil and or physical test, depending again on your individual state.

You must also be physically fit even if you are not required to pass a physical test for state purposes. Since the vast majority of a forest ranger’s work is done outdoors, you must be capable of walking long distances, climbing, and withstanding temperature extremes.

Forest rangers often work in remote areas with very little contact with other people. Even forest rangers in parks that are relatively close to populated areas will do most of their work on their own. If you’re a person that does not like to work or be alone, you may not be very well suited to becoming a forest ranger. But if you enjoy solitude and peace and quiet, you may make a perfect one. You will need to love being in rural areas to be happy in this profession. If you are more of a city dweller, you will most likely not be comfortable as a forest ranger.

Once you have determined that you do want to become a forest ranger, and have all the educational and testing requirements completed, you are ready to apply for the job. You can apply at the state level if you’re interested in remaining in your state to work. If you prefer to relocate or do not mind relocating, you can apply with the US Forestry Service or the Bureau of Land Management, a branch of the US Department of the Interior. You may apply online for many forest ranger jobs.

If you love the outdoors, animals, and taking care of nature, becoming a forest ranger can be a perfect job for you. You can make a career out of doing the things you love. This is just as important if not more so than the monetary compensation of any job.