The
Role of the GISCI
There is no licensing procedure to become a GISP. Instead, there is the GIS
Certification Institute (GISCI), a body created for the purpose of defining and
certifying those elements that meet the standards for professionalism in the
field of GIS.
The need to certify professionals working in the new and rapidly exploding
field of GIS was recognized very early on. Several ideas were floated in the
early and mid-1990s when the question of who was going to own the GIS was a
source of considerable controversy.
Several state licensing boards looked into the
issue, but all of them rejected the idea for a variety of reasons. So it fell
to the largest GIS-user organization, the Urban and Regional Information Systems
Association (URISA), to devise a plan for certification. In 2004, URISA formed
GISCI as a separate organization. Originally managed by URISA, the institute is
now operated by four member organizations: URISA, Association of American
Geographers (AAG), the National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC),
and the University Consortium of Geographic Information Science (UCGIS).
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1. The professional experience component is weighted by the level of
participation in three sub-tiers. |
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No
Exam Required
The GISCI differs from licensing bodies in several ways. One part of the GISCI
approach that generates some controversy is the absence of a written
examination, which is primarily because there is nothing “state specific” in
the makeup of most GIS work.
Following is the GISCI policy statement regarding licensure:
Licensure is the granting of a license to practice a profession after meeting
minimum competency requirements. Licensure is used to guard against
incompetence or when consumers value a reduction in downside risk more than the
benefits of a positive outcome. GISCI feel the downside risks of negligent and
unethical GIS practice do not warrant the intense regulation and restriction
brought on by mandatory licensure. GISPs are expected to work within
jurisdictional law and the GISCI Code of Ethics and Rules of Conduct.
A Points-Based System
In lieu of a formal written examination, the URISA Certification Committee
eventually developed a tiered point system. The committee spent four years
obtaining information and opinions from its membership and related
organizations. The result was a points-based self-documented certification
process.
There are three component parts (tiers) to GISCI certification:
• Educational achievements
(minimum score 30)
• Professional experience
(minimum score 60)
• Contributions to the
profession (minimum score 8)
The total minimum number of points required is 150 in any combination. The educational achievement component can be satisfied
with degrees, certificates and coursework in any combination; no specific GIS
degree is needed. The only requirement is that “subject matter must relate
directly to geospatial science or related technology, and applications.” Yes,
that would include a degree in surveying. And documentation is required.
Prior to Dec. 31, 2008, there was a grandfathering provision that allowed GIS
users with many years of experience to waive the education achievement in whole
or in part. Now, however, anyone seeking to become certified must fulfill the
education requirements.
The professional experience
component is a bit trickier. The requirement is for four years of “GIS
application or data development. (Or equivalent).” The key word in this rather
prosaically innocuous requisition is development. The more deeply the applicant is involved in
the development of systems and data, the higher the point value of the
experience.
Experience is weighted by the level of participation in three sub-tiers (see
Figure 1). The Programmer or Similar level (Tier 1), which includes the
development, construction and management of GIS systems, earns 25 points for
each year. Tier 2, Technician, Educator or Similar, earns 15 points per year.
Tier 3, GIS User, which can include elements of Tiers 1 and 2 without the
formal title, earns 10 points for each year of experience.
One interesting difference between GIS certification and surveying licensure is
the hierarchy of the map. To file a map, a land surveyor must first be
licensed. To be certified as a GIS professional, one must have demonstrated
some skill in map creation on his or her résumé.
The contributions to the profession
component is perhaps the most interesting of the tiers. Included in this
category is participation in industry conferences and events--specifically:
“Modest involvement with publications, professional associations, conference
participation, workshop instruction, awards, etc.” I often participate in
brainstorming sessions at conferences. A question that comes up nearly every
time is, Why is it that those who most need to attend these conferences rarely,
if ever, show up?
The contributions requirement for certification reinforces the need to be
active in the professional community. There are several ways to satisfy this
requirement. Points are awarded for membership in local, state and national
geospatial organizations. Points can also be earned by attending conferences, presenting
workshops, authoring publications and receiving awards.
One of the concepts I found most interesting was the certification committee’s
approach to scoring applications. As the committee coordinator noted,
“Flexibility was, and will continue to be, the guiding principle.” This
statement underscores the committee’s determination to reach out to all sectors
of the geospatial community. Some members of the original certification
committee were concerned that a tiered approach would establish a GIS
hierarchy. This hierarchy could limit the opportunity for advancement and
develop an industrywide sense of elitism. Clearly, they did not want to create
that type of culture but rather leave the door open to a broader group of
applicants--and, of course, new ideas.
Recertification
There are also differences in the processes and procedures involved in keeping
and maintaining certification compared to licensing. From the Recertification
Manual:
As the GIS Code of Ethics is expected to prescribe, the GIS Professional has an
obligation to not only be qualified for the tasks accepted, but also to keep
current in the field through readings and professional development.
To keep land surveying licenses current, some states require continuing
education units (CEUs) or professional development hours (PDHs), and others
don’t. There is no review or oversight.
To maintain a GISP certification after a term expires, GIS professionals must
submit an updated résumé indicating both continuing education and qualifying
professional work was performed. Documentation is required.
Opportunities for Surveyors in GIS
One of the most common and vexing questions asked by the survey community is,
Where do surveyors fit in the GIS hierarchy? The correct answer is, Wherever
they want. But, more precisely, most of the opportunities for surveyors in GIS
are located in what I call “the lag”--the gap between the very advanced
technologies employed in GIS and the value and currency of the datasets.
At one point, the available technology could not keep pace with the “data
tsunami.” However, that is no longer the case. Storage and bandwidth capabilities
are now far out in front of data collection and conversion.
Surveyors clearly are geospatial professionals. We are no longer confined to
the narrow constraints of our historic role as guardians of the cadastre. Our
expertise is valuable currency in the world of land information systems. There
is still plenty of room for surveyors under the GIS umbrella.
It’s also worth considering, however, that some of the concepts and approaches
used in the practice of GIS are equally useful to the survey community.
For more information about the
GISCI, including GISP certification requirements and the code of conduct, visit
www.gisci.org.
* time flies
Author’s note: Portions of
this article are based on “The History of the GISCI Certification Program” by
Scott Grams, online at www.gisci.org.
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