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plicant sign a code of ethics. It provides guidelines that should help GIS professionals make appropriate and ethical choices. The code also provides a basis for evaluating a professional’s work, building and preserving trust in the discipline.
The code emphasizes a positive approach rather that merely seeking to avid conflicts and issues. A few
of the guidelines that are unique to GIS include statements encouraging making data widely available, data documentation, and respect for copyright and sensitive information about individuals. It is basically the code that I learned in the sciences in graduate school and later from my first supervisors as a professional in government.
CERTIFICATION PROCESS
For most GIS professionals the process is very straight forward. It requires the applicant to document educational achievement, GIS experience, and contributions to the profession. The point system requires the applicant to accumulate at least 30 points from the attainment of a degree or certificate, courses and workshops, and conference attendance.
The applicant must accumulate at least 60 points towards professional experience, and must have at least four years of on the job work. The point system recognizes different levels of work experience (technician vs. analyst) and awards points for supervisory experience. A letter from the applicant’s supervisor is required to certify that the employment claims are true.
The applicant has to have accumulated at least eight points towards contributions to the profession. Points are awarded for GIS publications, professional association involvement, GIS conference participation, workshop instruction, conference presentation, and awards received.
There is a grandfathering provision for experienced practitioners that ends on January 1, 2009. Applicants seeking to be grandfathered are encouraged, though not required, to document their education and contributions to the profession. While grandfathered because of the number of years of GIS experience, I completed the full application so that I would fully understand the process and be able to help others.
Who is certified and what has been the reaction?
From a review of the GISCI website, it appears that senior managers are the first to become certified. Most have titles like senior analyst, director, vice president, project manager, and GIS Manager. Technicians and others, however, are also being certified. Titles of those certified in Virginia reflect the national trend. By far, most GISPs are from the US, though they are now from nine countries including Argentina and Indonesia.
According to the site, certified GIS professionals love what they do. They say that they are excited about how GIS can be applied to so many disciplines, and how they are working in a field that is in the forefront of technology. They often cite idealism for doing what they do. The most common frustration appears to be that the technology is misunderstood. They complain that many think that GIS is about making maps when it’s capable of so much more. It can model our towns, our state, and our world.
Many say that the certification boosts their self esteem and elevates GIS within their organizations. It makes the profession more visible and gives them the credentials in the eyes of management and coworkers to advance the use of GIS in their organizations.
Having GIS certified staff indicates that management demands the highest caliber of performance and supports staff training and development in order to maintain the highest quality of professional performance.
Many employers are recognizing certifications by advertising the achievement to their staff and customers. Many are paying for the cost of certification and are rewarding employees with salary increases.
RECERTIFICATION
The program requires that GIS professionals maintain their professional credentials and become recertified every five years. Recertification requires that the GISP earn a minimum number of points in educational achievement, professional experience, and contributions to the profession. All of the points, meaning achievements, experience, and contributions, must be fully documented.
Recertification helps to ensure that a GISP continues to remain accountable. It is also expected that, through active professional involvement, there will be a significant affect on the profession as a whole.
For more information visit the GISCI website at www.gisci.org. VR
For more information:
Larry Stipek
Loudoun County
GIS Coordinator
P.O. Box 7000
1 Harrison St., SE, 2nd Fl.
Leesburg, VA 20177
(703) 777-0558
LSTIPEK@loudoun.gov