WHAT IS CHANGING IN GIS CERTIFICATION

And why should I be Certified?

Eric Bohard, GISP

What’s Out There? ASPRS - Certified GIS/LIS Technologist

Approx. 10 ASPRS - Certified Mapping Scientist

Approx. 70 SSSI - GIS Professional (Asia/Pacific)

Approx. 90 GISCI – GIS Professional

Approx. 5,300

(there is some double counting with individuals being certified in multiple programs)

GIS Certification Institute (GISCI)

This year will be celebrating 10 years in existence

GISCI is a member based organization made of representatives from geospatial professional organizations: 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)

Why Was A Certification Program Created?

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

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

What is Certification? 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.

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

What is a GISP?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)

Why Become GISP Certified

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

GISCI Certification 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: Education Experience Contributions to the Profession

GISP Process www.gisci.org

Step by Step Guide Application Forms

Build a Portfolio Documentation of Education Documentation of Work Experience Documentation of Contributions

It’s all about points – need 150

Points 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

Process 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

Renewal 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 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

Other Stuff Is GISCI Certification tax deductible?

No Do I have to be a member of one of the

GISCI member organizations? No

Should I get this certification if I use GIS in my job as a _______ (planner, landscape architect, engineer, forester, etc)? Not really

Should I pursue the certification if I am a frequent user of GIS in my job as a _______ (planner, landscape architect, engineer, forester, etc)? 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? Yes – this is what is necessary to become a

GISP

What is Changing? Exam

Due to be implemented first quarter of 2015

GISP will be a combination of passing the exam and completion of the existing points portfolio requirement

Why an Exam? Evolution of the certification process Standing with other professions Strengthens the value of a GISP Advances the GIS profession

How will the Exam be Constructed

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

Exam Development Process

Job Analysis – finishedCore 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.

Exam Blueprint Development - finishedThe 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.

Item Writing - underwayA 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.

Exam ConstructionThe specific exam(s) will be constructed for the item

bank, according to the blueprint Pilot Exam

A large group of SME’s will take the exam 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

Exam Particulars Will certification via the exam carry more

weight and prestige than the current portfolio method? No – A GISP is a GISP no matter how earned

Can I still get my GISP the current portfolio method? 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? August 2014

I am currently a GISP. Can I take the exam to prove I have the skills? No

Can non-GISP’s take the exam any time without respect to the submittal of your portfolio? Yes – recent graduates or students might find

this beneficial. Will passing the exam without submitting

your portfolio confer any certification designation or status? No. At this time, the only certification is a full

GISP

For More Information

www.gisci.org