So far, a variety of forest certification systems have emerged around the world, and the certification procedures under different systems are not exactly the same, but the main steps are the same, that is, application, inspection (or audit), decision-making and Issue a certificate.

Before applying for forest certification, forest management units should conduct self-assessment to prepare for formal certification. The steps are:

Step 1: Assess the need for forest certification. The forest management unit should confirm whether it is necessary for the unit to carry out certification, that is, the certification will bring benefits to the business operation, such as certification will improve the market competitiveness of products, and the benefits of certification will exceed the cost of certification, etc.

Step 2: Select the appropriate certification certificate and certification body. The forest management unit should decide which certification system to choose according to the needs of consumers or the market for a certain certification.

Step 3: Conduct an internal assessment. Before formal certification, a forest management unit should conduct an internal preliminary assessment, including the selection of certification standards, the interpretation of the standards under local conditions, and the use of standards to evaluate business operations to determine the degree to which the unit complies with the certification requirements.

Step 4: Improve and perfect forest management to achieve good forest management. After the internal assessment, the forest management unit should make improvements to the deficiencies in forest management, such as setting clear management objectives and taking practical steps to implement them.

After these tasks are completed, the forest management unit can formally apply for certification. Usually, forest certification is carried out according to the following flow chart, and at each link, the certification body and the forest operator bear the corresponding responsibilities.