GOLDSBORO, N.C. — A Wayne Community College instructor has achieved a significant professional milestone, earning certification from the North Carolina State Board of Registration for Foresters.
Preston Daly, a forestry instructor at Wayne Community College, is now officially recognized as a registered forester—an accomplishment held by fewer than 2,000 individuals across the state.
The certification allows professionals to legally use the title “forester” or “registered forester,” signifying they meet the state’s standards for professional forestry practice. The designation is intended to protect the public by ensuring high levels of competency and ethical standards within the field.
To earn the credential, candidates must pass a comprehensive examination and submit professional references to the governor-appointed board. Those with a four-year forestry degree can qualify within two years, while others must accumulate at least six years of field experience. Registered foresters are also required to complete 10 hours of continuing education annually to maintain their certification.
“I am very proud of Preston for earning his certification of ‘registered forester’ in North Carolina,” said Gabe Mitchell, chair of Wayne Community College’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Department. “Our forestry program has a long history of training the most competent professionals in the industry. This certification helps to ensure the quality of our program and the standards that we adhere to.”
Daly holds a bachelor’s degree in plant biology from North Carolina State University and previously spent five years working with the North Carolina Forest Service’s tree improvement program at Claridge Nursery.
He joined Wayne Community College in 2023 as an instructor in the Forest Management Technology program, a role he said aligns with his passion for sharing knowledge.
“It was a good opportunity because I’ve always been interested in teaching and sharing my interests with others,” Daly said.
Wayne Community College is home to the oldest two-year forestry program in North Carolina and is one of only four institutions in the state offering a forestry degree, alongside Montgomery Community College, Haywood Community College, and North Carolina State University.
Daly said the program draws students from across the region, offering diverse career paths within the forestry field.
“We cover such a big area that our students come from all over,” he said. “We get a wide variety of perspectives in the program, like students who are interested in timber cruising, preserving ecosystems, or conservation work.”
He encourages prospective students to consider forestry as a career, highlighting both its opportunities and sense of community.
“If you’re interested in having a career that is going to provide you with many opportunities, forestry is a good field for you,” Daly said.
