The Value and Future of GIS Professional Certification

Overview • • GISP® and other GIS certifications Why obtain certification? Future directions in

GIS Certifications 2 -16 -15 Copyright © 2014 -15 Rebecca Somers and GISCI 3

GISP® Certification • GIS Professional Certification • Issued by GISCI – AAG, GITA, GLIS,

Other GIS Certifications • ASPRS—suite of certifications including: – Certified photogrammetrist (1975) – Certified

Other Credentials • Certificates – Completion of an education program • Badges and “micro-credentials”

Why Obtain Certification? 2 -16 -15 Copyright © 2014 -15 Rebecca Somers and GISCI

Why Get Certified? • • Document GIS professional achievement Professional recognition Greater earning and

2014 GIS Certification Survey • 878 Responses (88% GIS was primary job) • 62%

Most Well-known GIS Related Certifications Certification 2014 2013 GISP 89% 81% Esri Technical 82%

GIS Certification Survey • Do you believe certification benefits GIS Professionals and users? –

GIS Certification Survey • When hiring new GIS staff, does your organization consider having

Growing Preference for GISP® Certification • More than 100 recent (Oct-Nov 2014) job listings

Growing Recognition of GISP® Certification • States are endorsing the GISP® Certification, including: –

Earning Potential • 41% with GISP® certification earn more than $70, 000 per year

Future Directions in GIS Certification 2 -16 -15 Copyright © 2014 -15 Rebecca Somers

GISP® Certification Development and Status 1990 s Feasibility & Discussion 1997 2015 2004 2001

Professional Certification Development 1990 s 1997 2001 2004 2011 -12 2015 GISCI Start accred.

Professional Certification Standards • NCCA and ANSI set professional certification standards • NCCA and

Professional Certification Standards • Validated by a Job Analysis – The tasks job incumbents

Job Analysis and Certification Development Job Definition & Certification Purpose Job Analysis KSAs Tasks

Professional Certification is Based On • Job Analysis – Essential method for determining the

GISP® Certification Update • Addition of an exam to strengthen the GISP® certification •

Job Analysis • First direct job analysis for GIS professionals • Several focus groups

Exam Development Job Analysis Exam Blueprint Exam Content Pilot Cut Score Final Exam 2

Alignment of Portfolio Requirements • Validate (with respect to Job Analysis results) • Adjust

Preparation for Accreditation • • 2 -16 -15 Exam (to supplement portfolio) Process validation

Moving Forward • Not only validate GISP® certification through accreditation… • GISP® certification will

Additional/Specialty GIS Certifications • Sponsoring organization or interest group discuss with GISCI—define job/certification •

Additional/Specialty GIS Certifications “Sponsor” GISCI Relationship to GISP ® Job Definition & Certification Purpose

Additional GIS Professional Certifications Based On • Job Analysis – Essential method for determining

What it Means Now 2 -16 -15 Copyright © 2014 -15 Rebecca Somers and

What to Expect • Two-part GISP® certification process: Portfolio and Exam • Begin application

GISCI Geospatial Core Technical Knowledge Exam® Blueprint Knowledge Area Weight Conceptual Foundations Cartography and

What to Expect: Exam • Exam pilot winter 2015 • GISCI Geospatial Core Technical

What to Expect: GISP Certification • Minimal change in the portfolio component • Recertify

What to Expect: GISP Certification Changes • July 1, 2015: Changes take effect –

What to Expect: GISP Certification Changes • July 1, 2015: Changes take effect 2

GISCI Directions • More than just an exam… • Accreditation: – Alignment of GISP®

What To Think About • Which certifications are right for you? • GISP® certification:

For More Information • Rebecca Somers, GISCI Exam Development Project Manager: rsomers@somersstclaire. com •

For More Information • Rebecca Somers, “GISCI’s GISP® Certification, Evolution, and Future Directions”, URISA

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GISP® Certification • GIS Professional Certification • Issued by GISCI – AAG, GITA, GLIS, NSGIC, UCGIS, URISA – Since 2004 • Certification of GIS achievement, competency, and professionalism: – Experience – Education – Contributions • Portfolio; exam to be added in 2015 2 -16 -15 Copyright © 2014 -15 Rebecca Somers and GISCI 4

Other GIS Certifications • ASPRS—suite of certifications including: – Certified photogrammetrist (1975) – Certified mapping scientist (GIS/LIS, RS) (1991) – Certified GIS/LIS technologist • Esri Technical Certifications – Since 2010 2 -16 -15 Copyright © 2014 -15 Rebecca Somers and GISCI 5

Other Credentials • Certificates – Completion of an education program • Badges and “micro-credentials” – Indicate accomplishments • Licensure – Legal requirement 2 -16 -15 Copyright © 2014 -15 Rebecca Somers and GISCI 6

Why Get Certified? • • Document GIS professional achievement Professional recognition Greater earning and advancement potential Credentials used to prescreen Credential creep (Di. Biase, 2014) Growing preference for GIS certification Grow the GIS profession 2 -16 -15 Copyright © 2014 -15 Rebecca Somers and GISCI 8

2014 GIS Certification Survey • 878 Responses (88% GIS was primary job) • 62% had over 10 years GIS experience • Employer Type – – – – 32% Private Companies 17% City Government 17% County Government 5% Federal Government 5% Education 4% Non-profit 6% Other (mostly utilities) • Largely US (87%) Tripp Corbin, 2014 2 -16 -15 Copyright © 2014 -15 Rebecca Somers and GISCI

Most Well-known GIS Related Certifications Certification 2014 2013 GISP 89% 81% Esri Technical 82% 76% Certified GIS/LIS Technologist (ASPRS) 25% 18% CMS (ASPRS) 11% 9% CP (ASPRS) 10% 8% Other 7% 7% Never heard of one 5% 8% Tripp Corbin, 2014 2 -16 -15 Copyright © 2014 -15 Rebecca Somers and GISCI

GIS Certification Survey • Do you believe certification benefits GIS Professionals and users? – 44% say Yes – 22% say No – 34% Not sure Tripp Corbin, 2014 2 -16 -15 Copyright © 2014 -15 Rebecca Somers and GISCI

GIS Certification Survey • When hiring new GIS staff, does your organization consider having a GIS related certification as a plus over those that don't? – Yes: 30% – No: 38% – Not Sure: 32% Tripp Corbin, 2014 2 -16 -15 Copyright © 2014 -15 Rebecca Somers and GISCI

Growing Preference for GISP® Certification • More than 100 recent (Oct-Nov 2014) job listings included a preference for GISP® Certification • Public & private sectors • All types of jobs, including: – GIS manager – Geospatial analyst – GIS coordinator – GIS technician – Project planner – Department director 2 -16 -15 Copyright © 2014 -15 Rebecca Somers and GISCI 13

Growing Recognition of GISP® Certification • States are endorsing the GISP® Certification, including: – North Carolina – New Jersey – Ohio – Oregon – California – Montana 2 -16 -15 Copyright © 2014 -15 Rebecca Somers and GISCI 14

Earning Potential • 41% with GISP® certification earn more than $70, 000 per year compared to 20% without. • Average salary for GISP® is $69, 000. • Average salary without GISP® is $56, 000. Tripp Corbin, 2014 2 -16 -15 Copyright © 2014 -15 Rebecca Somers and GISCI 15

GISP® Certification Development and Status 1990 s Feasibility & Discussion 1997 2015 2004 2001 GISCI URISA Certification Committee More than 7000 GISPs Dev. of GISP® Certification Process Current GISP® Certification Process: Portfolio—experience, education, contributions 2 -16 -15 Copyright © 2014 -15 Rebecca Somers and GISCI 17

Professional Certification Development 1990 s 1997 2001 2004 2011 -12 2015 GISCI Start accred. & exam 7000 GISPs GISCI GISP® Certification Feasibility 1989 Comm. GISP® Cert. 2002 ~2005 2009 2013 NCCA/ICE (Nat. Commission for Certifying Agencies/Institute for Credentialing Excellence) NCCA/NOCA Certification Standards 2003 ICE Update 2012 ANSI/ISO 17024: Personnel Certification 2 -16 -15 Copyright © 2014 -15 Rebecca Somers and GISCI Update 18

Professional Certification Standards • NCCA and ANSI set professional certification standards • NCCA and ANSI accredit certifying organizations • GISCI plans to meet these standards and achieve accreditation for the GISP® Certification and any other certifications it may develop Certification is for protection of the public, not just advancement of the profession. 2 -16 -15 Copyright © 2014 -15 Rebecca Somers and GISCI 19

Professional Certification Standards • Validated by a Job Analysis – The tasks job incumbents perform – The knowledge, skills, and abilities they need to perform them • Independent • Accreditation – Assessment instrument—process & result – Certifying organization’s operations – Certifying organization’s governance 2 -16 -15 Copyright © 2014 -15 Rebecca Somers and GISCI 20

Job Analysis and Certification Development Job Definition & Certification Purpose Job Analysis KSAs Tasks Linkage & Validity Certification/Assessment Specification Psychometric Validation/review Assessment Instrument Resources: Lit. , References, Bo. K, Best Practices Certification 2 -16 -15 Copyright © 2014 -15 Rebecca Somers and GISCI 21

Professional Certification is Based On • Job Analysis – Essential method for determining the content of a certification assessment – Must adhere to accepted methodology – Must demonstrate and document job-relatedness – Unambiguously required by psychometric standards • Not directly derived from – Competency model or skills list (GISCI used the GTCM Tier 4, core technical competencies, as a guideline) – General Bo. K (GISCI used GIS&T Bo. K used as reference) – Best practices 2 -16 -15 Copyright © 2014 -15 Rebecca Somers and GISCI 22

Job Analysis • First direct job analysis for GIS professionals • Several focus groups of job incumbents spanning all sectors, job types, and levels of experience (more than 50) • Validation survey--more than 350 individuals spanning all sectors, job types, and experience levels • Results vary somewhat from GIS&T Bo. K and GTCM—mostly in emphasis 2 -16 -15 Copyright © 2014 -15 Rebecca Somers and GISCI 24

Preparation for Accreditation • • 2 -16 -15 Exam (to supplement portfolio) Process validation and documentation Operational adjustments Governance adjustments Copyright © 2014 -15 Rebecca Somers and GISCI 27

Moving Forward • Not only validate GISP® certification through accreditation… • GISP® certification will serve as foundation for other certifications – New GIS certifications – Linkage to related certification 2 -16 -15 Copyright © 2014 -15 Rebecca Somers and GISCI 28

Additional/Specialty GIS Certifications • Sponsoring organization or interest group discuss with GISCI—define job/certification • Determine relationship to GISP® certification • GISCI follow standard certification development process (job analysis, validation, etc. ) • SMEs, job incumbents, and resources from across industry • Certification granted and operated by GISCI • Business driver—membership/activity for sponsoring organization 2 -16 -15 Copyright © 2014 -15 Rebecca Somers and GISCI 29

Additional/Specialty GIS Certifications “Sponsor” GISCI Relationship to GISP ® Job Definition & Certification Purpose Industry-wide Job Incumbents & SMEs Job Analysis Tasks Job Description/Scope KSAs Linkage & Validity Certification/Assessment Specification Psychometric Validation/review 2 -16 -15 Assessment Instrument Guidance on Resources Certification Membership/ Services Copyright © 2014 -15 Rebecca Somers and GISCI 30

Additional GIS Professional Certifications Based On • Job Analysis – Essential method for determining the content of a certification assessment – Must adhere to accepted methodology – Must demonstrate and document job-relatedness • Not based on – Competency model or skill list, Bo. K, or best practices – These are references • Certifying organizations follow Professional Certification standards, practices, and guidelines 2 -16 -15 Copyright © 2014 -15 Rebecca Somers and GISCI 31

What to Expect • Two-part GISP® certification process: Portfolio and Exam • Begin application process at any time with either component • 6 years to complete application 2 -16 -15 Copyright © 2014 -15 Rebecca Somers and GISCI 33

GISCI Geospatial Core Technical Knowledge Exam® Blueprint Knowledge Area Weight Conceptual Foundations Cartography and Visualization GIS Design Aspects and Data Modeling GIS Analytical Methods Data Manipulation Geospatial Data 2 -16 -15 Copyright © 2014 -15 Rebecca Somers and GISCI 12% 14% 29% 17% 15% 13% 34

What to Expect: Exam • Exam pilot winter 2015 • GISCI Geospatial Core Technical Knowledge Exam® mid 2015 • All GISP® certification applicants will be required to take the exam once it starts • Initially, the exam will be offered at testing centers on specific dates • Exam availability will increase shortly thereafter 2 -16 -15 Copyright © 2014 -15 Rebecca Somers and GISCI 35

What to Expect: GISP Certification Changes • July 1, 2015: Changes take effect – 3 year certification and recertification periods – Every new applicant must take exam – New fee structure • • • Certification application fee: $100 Certification exam fee: $250 Certification portfolio review fee: $100 Annual renewal fee: $95 Recertification: every 3 years; no fee—covered by renewal fees • Until July 1, 2015: Current process remains – 5 year certification and recertification (“renewal”) periods – Current certification and recertification fees 2 -16 -15 Copyright © 2014 -15 Rebecca Somers and GISCI 37

GISCI Directions • More than just an exam… • Accreditation: – Alignment of GISP® certification and GISCI with accepted professional certification development standards and practice – Validation of GISP® certification • Stronger foundation for additional/related GIS certifications 2 -16 -15 Copyright © 2014 -15 Rebecca Somers and GISCI 39

What To Think About • Which certifications are right for you? • GISP® certification: – Get certified for what you already have achieved – Certification can help advance your career – Help grow the GIS profession 2 -16 -15 Copyright © 2014 -15 Rebecca Somers and GISCI 40

For More Information • Rebecca Somers, GISCI Exam Development Project Manager: rsomers@somersstclaire. com • www. gisci. org • Bill Hodge, GISCI Executive Director: bhodge@gisci. org 2 -16 -15 Copyright © 2014 -15 Rebecca Somers and GISCI 41

For More Information • Rebecca Somers, “GISCI’s GISP® Certification, Evolution, and Future Directions”, URISA GIS Pro 2014 Proceedings. Also available at gisci. org. • Tripp Corbin. “GIS Certification: To Certify or Not Certify”, URISA GIS Proceedings 2014. • David Di. Biase, “Credential Creep in the GIS Field —For Good or for Ill? ”, Esri blog 2014. (http: //blogs. esri. com/esri-insider/2014/11/14/credential-creep-in-the-gis-field-for-good-or-for-ill /) 2 -16 -15 Copyright © 2014 -15 Rebecca Somers and GISCI 42