The GIS Professional Certification Program

William E. Huxhold, GISP

Wisconsin Land Information Association

2004 Annual Conference

March 3, 2004

The History Of GIS CertificationThe History Of GIS Certification

• 1990s – Many papers and articles on the GIS Profession and Educational Curricula

• 1998 – The first meeting of the URISA GIS Certification Committee (39 members)

• 1999 – Survey of URISA Members (180 responses)• 2002 – “Guestbook” (web-based comments from

the public) established (122 pages)• 2003 – Pilot Project Conducted (58 applications)• 2004 – Certification Program Initiated (Jan 1)

BenchmarkBenchmark

• EDUCATIONEDUCATION – Bachelor’s degree with some GIS courses (or equivalent)

• EXPERIENCEEXPERIENCE – Four years in GIS application or data development (or equivalent)

• CONTRIBUTIONSCONTRIBUTIONS – Annual membership and modest participation in a GIS professional association (or equivalent)

Educational AttainmentEducational Attainment

A formal education does not ensure GIS qualifications, but does develop:

• Intellectual maturityIntellectual maturity to approach problems systematically and critically, and

• Communication skillsCommunication skills for articulating capabilities, benefits, and limitations of GIS

(Those without a formal education can substitute with courses, conferences, etc.)

Professional ExperienceProfessional Experience

Job experience is the most important factor in GIS qualifications because:

• Performing in a job provides learning experiences that allow growth and expansion growth and expansion of skill setsof skill sets

• Work environment with other professionals allows transfer of knowledgetransfer of knowledge

Contributions to the Contributions to the ProfessionProfession

Documents and activities that add to the professional body of knowledge for the benefit of the professionbenefit of the profession as a whole – not just the employer and client.

Additional RequirementsAdditional Requirements

• Code of EthicsCode of Ethics

• RenewalRenewal– Every five years– Minimum points in each category and total

GIS Code of EthicsGIS Code of Ethics

Purpose

• Provide guidelines for helping GIS professionals make appropriate and ethical choices

• Provide a basis for evaluating their work from an ethical point of view

GIS Code of EthicsGIS Code of Ethics

Guidelines for GIS professionals interacting with four groups: 

• Obligations to Society

• Obligations to Employers and Funders

• Obligations to Colleagues and the Profession

• Obligations to Individuals in Society

                

www.gisci.org