And why should I be Certified?
Eric Bohard, GISP
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ASPRS - Certified GIS/LIS Technologist
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ASPRS - Certified Mapping Scientist
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Approx. 70
SSSI - GIS Professional (Asia/Pacific)
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Approx. 10
Approx. 90
GISCI – GIS Professional
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Approx. 5,300
(there is some double counting with individuals being certified in multiple
programs)
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This year will be celebrating 10 years in
existence
GISCI is a member based organization made of
representatives from geospatial professional
organizations:
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Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA)
Geographic Information & Technology Association (GITA)
University Consortium for Geographic Information Science
(UCGIS)
Association of American Geographers (AAG)
National States Geographic Information Council (MSGIC)
Geographic and Land Information Society (GLIS)
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To establish GIS as a profession
To provide a means for attaining recognition
by allied professions and colleagues that the
GIS professional has demonstrated
professional competence and integrity in the
field
To encourage long-term professional
development that will help existing
professionals maintain currency in GIS
technology and methods
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To ensure ethical behavior by members of the
profession and provide a basis for judging the
validity of allegations or complaints against
GIS practitioners
To assist prospective employers assess and hire
GIS professionals
To ensure that those who produce geographic
information have a core competency of
knowledge
To assist aspiring GIS professionals choose
their educational opportunities wisely
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Certificate – An award given to an individual
recognizing completion of an academic or
training program.
Certification – A process, often voluntary, by
which individuals who have demonstrated a
level of expertise in the profession are
identified to the public and other stakeholders
by a third party.
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Licensure – The granting of a license to practice
or be titled a profession. Often regulated by
states and indoctrinated in legislation.
Designed to protect the public’s health, safety,
and guard against incompetence
Accreditation – The process of evaluating the
academic qualifications or standards of an
institution or program of study in accordance
with pre-established criteria
GISP is a certified Geographic Information
Systems (GIS) Professional who has met the
minimum standards for ethical conduct,
educational achievement, and professional
practice by making contributions to the
profession as established by the GIS
Certification Institute (GISCI)
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Recognition of accomplishment from employer
Recognition of competency from other
professions
Professional standing among peers
Agree to abide by a Code of Ethics
Compared to other certifications, GISP
affordable
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is a professional recognition program for GIS
Professionals who have at least 48 months of
experience
is attained by the application scrutinized by an
independent group of GIS professionals (peers)
is awarded to individuals who can document
achievements for:
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Education
Experience
Contributions to the Profession
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www.gisci.org
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Build a Portfolio
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Step by Step Guide
Application Forms
Documentation of Education
Documentation of Work Experience
Documentation of Contributions
It’s all about points – need 150
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30 points for Education
60 points for Experience
8 points for Contributions
52 points can be counted in any of the above
Adds up to 150 which is the minimum
No benefits to claiming more points
Remember, you need to document everything
so save yourself some time by submitting
enough points to become certified
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Once application is complete with
documentation, mail with $250 fee
Checked for completeness
Randomly assigned to peer reviewers
Deficiencies identified, if any, and applicant
given opportunity to explain/amend
Part of the process is agreeing to a statement of
ethics
Process takes about 2 months
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Initial certification is good for 5 years
Need to renew every 5 years. ($125)
Based on points from education, experience,
and contributions to the profession
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10 points for education
10 points for contributions
No minimum for experience
20 additional points to be earned from a combination
of education, experience, and contributions
40 points needed
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Is GISCI Certification tax deductible?
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Do I have to be a member of one of the GISCI
member organizations?
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No
No
Should I get this certification if I use GIS in my
job as a _______ (planner, landscape architect,
engineer, forester, etc)?
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Not really
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Should I pursue the certification if I am a
frequent user of GIS in my job as a _______
(planner, landscape architect, engineer,
forester, etc)?
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Not really
I am a professional ________ (planner,
landscape architect, engineer, forester, etc) and
I spend most of my time doing GIS analysis,
programming, managing, designing, and
assisting others using GIS. Should I seek a
GISP?
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Yes – this is what is necessary to become a GISP
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Exam
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Due to be implemented first quarter of 2015
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GISP will be a combination of passing the exam and
completion of the existing points portfolio
requirement
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Evolution of the certification process
Standing with other professions
Strengthens the value of a GISP
Advances the GIS profession
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The exam is based on the Geospatial Technical
Competency Model (GTCM) tier 4, Geospatial
Core Technical Competencies
Because the GTCM more of an illustration of
what skills are required, in order to develop the
detail needed as a foundation for an exam,
GISCI is basing its exam development on job
analysis
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Job Analysis – finished
Core technical tasks and knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA’s) for
GIS professionals are identified through focus groups of GIS
Professional Subject Matter Experts (SME’s or job incumbents). SME’s
are from a full range of GIS jobs and sectors. The process also
includes consideration of the Geographic Information Science &
Technology Body of Knowledge. SME’s rate the tasks and KSA’s.
The tasks and KSA’s are linked together.
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Exam Blueprint Development - finished
The exam blueprint will be derived from the Job Analysis results and
will lay out the content of the exam. It will indicate the task-related
knowledges that will be included on the exam and the extent to which
they will be covered.
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Item Writing - underway
A team of SME’s will be trained in item writing by professional test
developers and will write the exam questions in a workshop setting.
Each question goes through several iterations of review and rewriting
before becoming part of the item bank.
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Exam Construction
The specific exam(s) will be constructed for the item bank, according
to the blueprint
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Pilot Exam
A large group of SME’s will take the exam
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Standard Setting
Standard setting or “pass score” determination will be developed by a
group of senior SME’s working as a team. They will follow
procedures standard to the professional certification and exam
development industry
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Will certification via the exam carry more
weight and prestige than the current portfolio
method?
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Can I still get my GISP the current portfolio
method?
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No – A GISP is a GISP no matter how earned
Yes – if you don’t like taking exams and have the points to earn
your GISP now, why not? After the exam starts, need to do
both.
When will costs, exam preparation materials,
exam locations, etc. be announced?
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August 2014
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I am currently a GISP. Can I take the exam to
prove I have the skills?
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Can non-GISP’s take the exam any time
without respect to the submittal of your
portfolio?
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No
Yes – recent graduates or students might find this
beneficial.
Will passing the exam without submitting your
portfolio confer any certification designation or
status?
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No. At this time, the only certification is a full GISP
www.gisci.org