GIS Certification Institute (GISCI)

Certified Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Professional (GISP)

Credential: Certified Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Professional (GISP)
Credentialing Agency: GIS Certification Institute (GISCI)

Renewal Period: 3 years

The GIS Certification Institute (GISCI), Certified Geographic Information Systems Professional (GISP) credential validates the knowledge and experience needed to successfully perform in the industry. GISPs use their knowledge and intellectual maturity to effectively approach problems and communicate solutions in an ethical manner. Candidates must meet a combination of education and experience requirements. Candidates must pass a written exam and must submit a portfolio of educational and professional achievements and contributions.

More information can be found on the certifying agency's website.

Certified Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Professional (GISP)

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Attainability:    medium

Eligibility Requirements (View Details)

  • Credential Prerequisite
  • Experience: 4 years
  • Education
  • Training
  • Membership
  • Other
  • Fee

Note: This credential may have multiple options for a Service member to meet eligibility requirements. Requirements listed here are based on the minimum degree required. To view other options, see the Eligibility tab.

Exam Requirements (View Details)

  • Exam
  • Written Exam
  • Oral Exam
  • Practical Exam
  • Performance Assessment

Exam Administration (View Details)

  • In-person exam
  • Remote proctored on-line exam
  • Third-party test vendor

RECERTIFICATION SUMMARY

Renewal Period: 3 years

  • Continuing Education
  • Exam
  • Continuing Education OR Exam
  • Fee
  • Other

AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION

GIS Certification Institute (GISCI)

701 Lee Street
Suite 680
Des Plaines, IL  60016

Phone: (847) 824-7768

Fax: (847) 824-6363
Email: info@gisci.org

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Candidate must have at least four years of equivalent full-time geospatial experience.

Candidate must submit for review a portfolio comprised of educational achievements, professional experience, and contributions to the profession. A minimum of 150 points must be documented in the above categories. A complete list of the points required can be found on the GISCI webpage.

The Certified Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Professional (GISP) credential has the following other requirements:

Written Exam

  • Conceptual Foundations (10%)
    • Understanding of datums, coordinate systems, and projections
    • Understanding of representation of discrete features and continuous phenomena in GIS
    • Knowledge of earth geometry and its approximations
    • Knowledge of basic geomatics and relationships to GIS
  • Geospatial Data Fundamentals (15%)
    • Understanding of spatial data models and their associated planar geometries
    • Understanding of spatial data relationships
    • Understanding of data quality
    • Understanding of data resolution
    • Understanding of data validation and uncertainty
    • Understanding of metadata
    • Knowledge of temporal data
    • Knowledge of spatial data standards, including ISO, FGDC, and OGC
  • Cartography and Visualization (10%)
    • Understanding of graphic representation techniques and implications
    • Understanding of map design principles and essential map elements
    • Understanding of surface interpretation and representation
    • Understanding of 2D and 3D visualization
  • Data Acquisition (11%)
    • Understanding of digitization and other manual data collection and conversion methods
    • Knowledge of field data collection
    • Knowledge of automated data collection and conversion methods
    • Knowledge of remotely sensed data sources and collection methods
    • Knowledge of acquisition, use, and limitations of crowdsourced and open source data and services
  • Data Manipulation (11%)
    • Understanding of georeferencing, data format conversion, and data transformation
    • Understanding of spatial data generalization operations and methods
    • Understanding of spatial file types and their applications and limitations
    • Understanding of data integration
  • Analytical Methods (11%)
    • Understanding of data selection queries and views
    • Understanding of techniques and implications of data classification
    • Understanding of analytical operations and methods
    • Knowledge of map algebra
    • Knowledge of descriptive and spatial statistics
  • Database Design and Management (10%)
    • Understanding of relationships among database objects
    • Understanding of database design
    • Knowledge of database management and administration
    • Awareness of basic application development methods
    • Knowledge of data security
  • Application Development (7%)
    • Knowledge of data transfer protocols
    • Knowledge of coding, scripting, and modeling basics
    • Awareness of basic application development methods
  • Systems Design and Management (7%)
    • Knowledge of systems architecture and design, including various GIS softwares, platforms, and environments
    • Knowledge of systems and application security
    • Awareness of trends in geospatial technology
  • Professional Practice (8%)
    • Understanding of appropriate interpretation of work-related policies and procedures
    • Understanding of ethics related to technical GIS work
    • Knowledge of managing, documenting, and communicating GIS work
    • Awareness of how GIS is used across other professions
    • Awareness of GIS-related professional organizations and certification

Exam Preparation Resources

There are a number of resources available to help you prepare for the Certified Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Professional (GISP) examination:

An additional resource is O'Reilly Learning Safari Books Online, a searchable digital library that provides online access to thousands of books, training videos and conference sessions. See the Educational Resources section on the Related Sites page here on COOL to learn how to get free access.

Testing Information

  • Exam Administration

    Credential exams may be administered in-person at a testing site, proctored on-line remotely, or have options for both. If an exam is administered through a test vendor, the third-party test vendor box will be checked. The following test administration options apply to the Certified Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Professional (GISP) credential where checked:

    • In-person exam
    • Remote proctored on-line exam
    • Third-party test vendor

  • For more information on the GIS Certification Institute (GISCI) testing process, visit the agency website.

RECERTIFICATION

Certified Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Professional (GISP)

Renewal Period: 3 years

The Certified Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Professional (GISP) credential has the following recertification information:

  • To recertify, a total of 24 points must be earned in each of the three categories: Education (minimum of six), Contributions to the Profession (minimum of six), Work Experience (no minimum, up to 12 points optional) additional points in any category (12 points). Additional information about recertification can be found on the GISCI website.
  • Note: Marine Corps COOL will only pay recertification fees for the current year, no arrears will be paid. Voucher requests for recertification fees must be submitted with proof of the current status of the certification (for example, a screen shot of your credentialing agency dashboard or a copy of a current fee receipt).

In Demand

This certification is considered in demand. The U.S. Department of Labor sponsored CareerOneStop's analysis indicates the certification is frequently mentioned in online job postings.

Click for external link to CareerOneStop's Credentials Center.

COOL Bucks

See your installation Education Service Officer for credential exam information and coordinating instructions.

COOL Summary

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COOL Summary

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COOL Summary

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COOL Summary

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COOL Summary

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Some

Credential is related to some tasks associated with the duties of the military occupation (at least one critical task but less than 80%)

Most

Credential is directly related to most of the major duties associated with the military occupation (at least 80%)

Other

Credential is related to this military occupation, but is more advanced or specialized and therefore will likely require additional education, training, or experience

CA Eligible

This certification is eligible for CA.

Star

Star credentials are MOS enhancing, as designated by the Proponent. MOS enhancing credentials are directly related to an MOS or ASI, are taught either partially or completely as part of a Program of Instruction (POI), and improves the MOS technical proficiency.

Skill Level

The Skill Level reflects the level, based on MOS training and/or experience, the Soldier should be the most prepared to successfully earn the credential. See the Table Legend for details about each level.

Navy Bucks

Credential voucher or reimbursement for credential exam, re-certification, or maintenance fee has been approved for payment through the Navy's Credential Program Office. To get a voucher request form, click Menu at the top of any page, then click "2 Complete Voucher and Apply" under Credentialing Steps.

CG Bucks

Current Coast Guard policy states all credentials listed on CG COOL may be reimbursed assuming the enlisted service member meets the eligibility requirements as outlined in the Coast Guard Voluntary Credentialing Program Policy (COMDTINST 1540.1(series))

Early Career

1-3 years experience; Enlisted E1 through E4

Mid Career

4-10 years experience; Enlisted E5 through E6

Late Career

10+ years experience; Enlisted E7 through E9

Early Career

1-3 years experience; Enlisted “A” School through E5

Mid Career

4-10 years experience; Enlisted E6 through E7

Late Career

10+ years experience; Enlisted E8 through E9

Early Career

1-6 years experience; Officer O1 through O2

Mid Career

6-12 years experience; Officer O3 through O5

Late Career

12+ years experience; Officer O6 and Above

GI Bill®

Reimbursement for exam fees has been approved for payment through the GI Bill.

Note: GI Bill approval data is updated quarterly. For the latest information, visit the WEAMS Licenses/Certifications Search page. Make sure to select "Both" in the LAC Category Type drop-down before searching.

Click to go to the external link for GI Bill licensing and certification information.

ANAB (ANSI)

This credential has been accredited by ANAB (ANSI).

Click to go to the external ANAB web site.

ICAC

This credential has been accredited by ICAC.

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ABSNC

This credential has been accredited by ABSNC.

Click to go to the external ABSNC web site.

NCCA

This credentialing program has been accredited by NCCA.

Click to go to the external NCCA web site.

IAS

This credential has been accredited by IAS.

Click to go to the external IAS web site.

Low

May be difficult to attain: minimum education requirement is a Bachelor's degree, and/or minimum experience is 10 or more years.

Note: In some cases “years of experience” refers to time actively on duty or while holding a certain occupation or prior certification and not always in consecutive calendar years. Additional years required for certain preliminary stages may not be included in this classification. For requirements measured in hours, 1080 hours was considered a year. For days, 365 days was considered a year. Please review all prerequisites and requirements for eligibility, and additional information for details.

Medium

Moderate ease of attainment: minimum education requirement = Associate's and/or prerequisite and/or minimum experience = more than 2 years and less than 10 years of experience.

Note: In some cases “years of experience” refers to time actively on duty or while holding a certain occupation or prior certification and not always in consecutive calendar years. Additional years required for certain preliminary stages may not be included in this classification. For requirements measured in hours, 1080 hours was considered a year. For days, 365 days was considered a year. Please review all prerequisites and requirements for eligibility, and additional information for details.

High

Highly attainable: minimum education requirement = HS or less and/or minimum experience = 2 years or less experience and no additional requirements.

Note: In some cases “years of experience” refers to time actively on duty or while holding a certain occupation or prior certification and not always in consecutive calendar years. Additional years required for certain preliminary stages may not be included in this classification. For requirements measured in hours, 1080 hours was considered a year. For days, 365 days was considered a year. Please review all prerequisites and requirements for eligibility, and additional information for details.

MOS is Military Occupational Specialty
ASI is Additional Skill Identifier
WOMOS is Warrant Officer Military Occupational Specialty
AOC is Area Of Concentration Officer
Functional Area
Branch

Army e-learning

State-of-the art Computer Based Training available for free to the Army Workforce. Click for more information.

Click here for more information.

NKO e-learning

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Bright Outlook – new job opportunities are very likely in the future for this job

Registered Apprenticeship

An apprenticeship program is registered with the U.S. Department of Labor. Go to the Apprenticeship Finder and enter career path or location to find apprenticeship opportunities.

Click here for External link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Geospatial Information Scientists and Technologists
Click here for External link to: My Next Move salary info for Geospatial Information Scientists and Technologists

Bright Outlook – new job opportunities are very likely in the future for this job

Click here for external link to: My Next Move for Veterans State Map for Geospatial Information Scientists and Technologists

This is an official U.S. Marine Corps website
Updated: October 30, 2020
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