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Fishery Officer, Game Warden, Law Enforcement Officer, Natural Resource Officer, Sheriff
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.
Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.
2006 NOC
2006 NOC-S
2011 NOC
2016 NOC
2021 NOC
2023 OaSIS
Duties and responsibilities vary from one position to another. To conserve and protect wildlife resources, fish and wildlife officers enforce federal and provincial laws, regulations, rules, and orders. They:
Patrol areas to monitor the activities of hunters, anglers, trappers, commercial fishers, and industry
Investigate complaints
Apprehend violators
Prepare administrative and court documents
Issue summonses and warnings
Prepare and present evidence in court
Take accurate notes and testify as a witness for the prosecution at trial
Issue licences and permits, or provide information to licensing agents
Inspect commercial operations (for example, taxidermy shops, furriers, tanners, game bird farms, outfitters, or guides)
Fish and wildlife officers keep the public safe and property protected. They:
Investigate complaints about nuisance and problem wildlife
Take appropriate control measures
Advise landowners and industry about wildlife control measures they can use on their own
Fish and wildlife officers also regularly interact with the public for education and outreach. They:
Provide information and answer questions from hunters, anglers, trappers, commercial fishers, landowners, students, industry, and the media
Deliver public service programs such as presentations in schools and at sport club meetings
Cooperate with wildlife researchers and collect related data
They maintain government-issue equipment. They also recommend changes or amendments to legislation and regulations, hunting or fishing seasons, and methods of harvest.
Fish and wildlife officers work closely with other agencies, non-governmental organizations, and delegated administrative authorities operating on the same land base in the province. On occasion, they may be called upon to assist other local law enforcement agencies.
Fish and wildlife officers are 1 type of sheriff in Alberta. To learn about other types of sheriffs, visit the Sheriff occupational profile.
Fish and wildlife officers work in a wide variety of environments depending on:
The geographic location in which they are posted
Proximity to large urban centres
The ratio of public to private land
The presence of remote regions
The number of lakes, streams, and species of wildlife and fish in the district
Most officers live and work in rural communities. However, some work in wilderness areas that have few modern conveniences. Others may be stationed in large urban areas.
Fish and wildlife officers often work unusual hours to achieve law enforcement objectives. Hours of work include weekends and holidays. This may include working nights, split shifts, or on-call. They may need to work overtime to respond to violations or events involving serious conflict between humans and wildlife.
The work may involve strenuous physical activity and exposure to harsh environmental conditions. Travel is required, sometimes by unusual modes of transport such as canoe, snowmobile, or horseback. They may routinely need to lift items weighing up to 10 kilograms.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2023 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Many NOC groups include 1 or more related occupations. The labour market data shown is for the whole group, not for a specific occupation. For examples, see Note.
To find out how well this occupation fits your work personality types, complete the Work Personalities Quiz in Find Your Fit.
Click or tap a personality type for its description.
Find other alis occupations that match this occupation’s work personalities.
To identify or change your work personalities, complete the Work Personalities Quiz in Find Your Fit.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2023 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Many NOC groups include 1 or more related occupations. The labour market data shown is for the whole group, not for a specific occupation. For examples, see Note.
Conservation and fishery officers
2023 OaSIS: 22113.00
The graph below shows how well your scores match the overall abilities for this occupation.
The closer your ability scores are to the center, the more they match this occupation’s. The further away they are, the less they match this occupation’s.
The lower your ability scores are compared to the occupation’s, the more challenging the occupation will likely be for you. The higher your ability scores are compared to the occupation’s, the less challenging the occupation will likely be for you.
To find out how well this occupation fits your abilities, complete the Abilities Quiz in Find Your Fit.
The 49 abilities are grouped into 5 abilities sets: Critical Thinking, Numbers and Patterns, Physical Activity, Mind-Body Coordination, and Senses.
Some abilities are more relevant to an occupation than other abilities. Individual abilities that are not relevant to an occupation are greyed out.
To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Quiz in Find Your Fit.
Critical Thinking includes 9 abilities related to identifying and solving problems, thinking of ideas, and communication, such as speaking and writing.
This is how well your scores match the set of Critical Thinking abilities for this occupation:
Numbers and Patterns includes 10 abilities related to math, memorizing, and multitasking. It also includes how we perceive patterns, shapes, and distances.
This is how well your scores match the set of Numbers and Patterns abilities for this occupation:
Physical Activity includes 9 abilities related to strength, balance, flexibility, coordination, and endurance.
This is how well your scores match the set of Physical Activity abilities for this occupation:
Mind-Body Coordination includes 9 abilities related to movement control and how we react to signals. It also includes fine motor skills, such finger and hand dexterity and hand-eye coordination.
This is how well your scores match the set of Mind-Body Coordination abilities for this occupation:
Senses includes 12 abilities related to seeing, hearing, and speaking.
This is how well your scores match the set of Senses abilities for this occupation:
Fish and wildlife officers need:
Good health and physical conditioning
Tact, diplomacy, and an ability to deal effectively with difficult people and situations
Problem-solving skills
Oral and written communication skills
Computer skills
The ability to handle periods of isolation
An interest in hunting, fishing, trapping, and nature
A genuine concern for the environment
They should enjoy:
Conducting patrols
Compiling information
Gathering evidence
Working with people and wildlife
There are 2 options to become a fish and wildlife officer.
Post-secondary graduates may apply to be an entry-level fish and wildlife officer. Applicants need 1 of the following:
A conservation law enforcement degree
A natural resource management diploma and several years of directly related experience
A related bachelor of science degree
Graduates with directly related experience may apply to be a full-working fish and wildlife officer. Full-working applicants need both of the following:
Fulfillment of the educational requirements for entry-level officers
Several years of directly related experience
A 1-year conservation law enforcement certificate will be considered in place of some experience for applicants to both entry and full-working level positions.
In addition to the educational and experience requirements, fish and wildlife officer applicants must also:
Have a valid Class 5 driver’s licence
Provide a current, clean driver’s abstract
Have defensive driving certification
Have a current standard first aid certificate
Have current Level C CPR certification
Provide a current and clear criminal record check
Complete the Physical Abilities Readiness Evaluation (PARE) test in the last 4 months
Be eligible for firearms certification
Be eligible for peace officer status
Be available for and pass recruit training
Take a psychological exam (arranged in the later stages of the recruitment process)
Officers must have basic swimming skills. Applicants must be willing to accept an assignment at any district throughout the province.
Successful candidates receive 18 weeks of in-house training at the Western Conservation Law Enforcement Academy.
For more information about the recruitment process, visit the Government of Alberta website.
The following schools offer programs and courses that meet this occupation’s educational requirements. Other eligible programs and courses may be available.
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
To expand or narrow your program options, visit Post-Secondary Programs and start your search with:
Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.
There is currently no provincial legislation regulating this occupation in Alberta.
Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
In Alberta, fish and wildlife officers work for the Government of Alberta. They may work in any of the 61 districts in the province. Officers are usually transferred at least once during their first years of employment.
After 3 years of employment, fish and wildlife officers may advance to district fish and wildlife officer positions. District officers are in charge of an assigned district. They operate independently.
This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Conservation and fishery officers
2016 NOC: 2224
85.3% of people in this occupational group work in:
Many NOC groups include 1 or more related occupations. The labour market data shown is for the whole group, not for a specific occupation. For examples, see Note.
This section shows the Alberta job market condition, or short-term demand forecast, for this occupation over a 3-year period. It also shows the number of people employed in the occupation.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Source: 2024-2026 Alberta Short-Term Employment Forecast
Many NOC groups include 1 or more related occupations. The labour market data shown is for the whole group, not for a specific occupation. For examples, see Note.
To see data for all occupations, visit Occupations in Demand.
This section shows the employment outlook for this occupation in Alberta over a 5-year period.
Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Annual growth is from 2021 to 2025. New positions created each year are in addition to job openings created by employment turnover.
Many NOC groups include 1 or more related occupations. The labour market data shown is for the whole group, not for a specific occupation. For examples, see Note.
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
Entry-level fish and wildlife officer salaries in the Government of Alberta range from $48,802 to $60,645 (Source: Government of Alberta, 2023 estimates).
Full-working fish and wildlife officer salaries in the Government of Alberta range from $57,397 to $72,978 (Source: Government of Alberta, 2023 estimates).
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Many NOC groups include 1 or more related occupations. The labour market data shown is for the whole group, not for a specific occupation. For examples, see Note.
Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.
All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.
To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.
Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources to supplement this data. Examples of wage sources may include but are not limited to associations, government, schools, or unions. Not all sources may be available for every occupation.
High Reliability, represents a CV of less than or equal to 6.00% and 30 survey observations and/or represents 50% or more of all estimated employment for the occupation.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $30.45 | $39.52 | $33.15 | $30.45 |
| Overall | $30.45 | $51.04 | $39.44 | $38.72 |
| Top | $37.50 | $51.04 | $41.94 | $38.72 |
Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.
* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
Pay brackets for hourly wages
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $75,006 |
|---|---|
| Public Administration | $75,339 |
Government of Alberta Fish and Wildlife Officers website: www.alberta.ca/fish-wildlife-officer
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated Mar 31, 2026. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.
