Program Objectives

The aim of the Environmental and Wildlife Management program is to prepare students to practise the occupation of environmental and wildlife technician mainly in the fields of applied research, planning and education in the natural environment with a view to promoting conservation, the sustainable and rational use of natural resources as well as the sound and integrated management of natural environments and their biodiversity. The concept of natural environment, which forms one of the cornerstones of this program, is defined as the terrestrial, freshwater and saltwater ecosystems in a territory, as well as water, air, soil, plant and wildlife resources.

Environmental and wildlife technicians are employed in a variety of fields, the primary one being applied research. As part of a multidisciplinary team and under the supervision of a researcher, technicians work as assistants responsible for a variety of tasks, including taking censuses in the natural environment, organizing and managing the logistical aspects of the research, both in the field and in a lab, performing certain lab analyses as well as conducting experiments.

Research activities are aimed at the rational use of natural resources in a given territory. Such a territory may include protected areas, as well as recreational, agricultural, forest, urban and periurban areas. Environmental and wildlife technicians may be called upon to perform their duties in any or all of these areas.

Length of training

Specific (hours)Total (hours)
2 0402700

Total length of training includes general training that is common to all programs for 420 hours, general training for this program for 150 hours as well as complementary general training courses for 90 hours.


Duration of training consists of theory and lab work for courses; personal time that the student invests is excluded.

Program Content

Number or Code Statement of the Competency
043W To establish the profile of a situation using statistics.
0448 To analyze the occupation.
0449 To analyze the dynamics of the physical components of a natural environment and the organisms that inhabit it.
044A To use digital and computer technologies on the job.
044B To describe the abiotic components of a natural environment.
044C To carry out laboratory analyses.
044E To convey scientific information.
044F To analyze how microorganisms live in and adapt to their environment.
044G To analyze how fungi and plants live in and adapt to their environment.
044H To analyze how animals live in and adapt to their environment.
044J To culture and maintain organisms.
044K To plan the technical and logistical aspects of an applied research project.
044L To work in a team.
044M To use a variety of field equipment.
044N To apply health and safety measures.
044P To apply wilderness survival techniques.
044Q To describe the biotic components of a freshwater and saltwater environment.
044R To describe the biotic components of a terrestrial environment.
044S To act within the legal and ethical parameters of the field.
044T To conduct an ecosystemic analysis of a territory.
044U To apply the scientific approach to problem-solving in a natural environment.
044V To conduct experiments related to a natural environment.
044W To apply intervention measures in a natural environment.
Number of contact hours allotted to specific training: 2 040

Admission Conditions and Prerequisites

To be admitted to the program, a person must meet the general requirements for admission set out in the College Education Regulations, as well as the following special conditions, where applicable:

Must have passed the following secondary-level course(s):

• Sec. V TS or S – Secondary V Mathematics: Technical and Scientific (564506) or Science (565506) Options
• Sec. V Chemistry – Secondary V Chemistry (551504)

Educational Organizations Offering the Program

College D/E
Vanier College

Environmental and Wildlife Technician

Environmental and wildlife technicians take samples in natural environments and analyze them in laboratories using digital and computer technologies. They compile, process data and produce reports. As part of their duties, they may be required to plan out the logistics of applied research projects. This is a stimulating job that takes place in calm environments. It requires an aptitude for math, science and an interest in laboratory work and environmental issues. This career is suited to meticulous people with good manual dexterity and an analytical mind.

Related Training(s)

Laboratory Technology (Analytical Chemistry)
Biomedical Laboratory Technology
Forest Technology

Average Salary

Environmental and Wildlife Technician — $25.85

Job Titles

Fish and wildlife officer
Fish and game warden
Biological technician
Ecological technician
Biological laboratory technologist

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