Comments on: GIS Certification: Is It Worth It?

By: K.Zocco

K.Zocco — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 13:10:18 +0000

In reply to Yaroslav Zaitsev. VERY insightful and helpful in my decision whether to pursue this cert. Thank you for your honest insight.

By: Scott Wolfskill, GISP

Scott Wolfskill, GISP — Sun, 25 Jun 2023 19:32:53 +0000

The GISP is a differentiator in the field of GIS. GISP holders are recognized as expert, full-time GIS practitioners rather than a part time dabblers or those whose primary discipline is geology, engineering, CAD, etc and use GIS intermittently in support of their work. A GISP can be expected to be competent in handling all aspects of GIS work, cartography, data management, team management, project management, BD, webGIS, enterprise GIS, scope and budget development, etc.

A new GISP will have successfully completed a portfolio review, which requires 4-5 years of professional experience and passed an exam. The exam is no joke, it is a difficult, software agnostic test that approaches the subject academically and covers a diverse range of topics relevant to the science and practice of GIS. It is not as in-depth as the PE or PG exams, but the level of difficulty has significantly increased the perception of the GISP as a certification of an individual’s abilities as a GIS professional. If GIS is your career choice, then a GISP is a necessity.

By: Rudymar Cahapay

Rudymar Cahapay — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 03:26:59 +0000

I am a graduate of BS Information Technology in 2014 and started working on the May 2015. In January 2016, I was designated as GIS Personnel doing GIS related task. From there, My knowledge and skill in GIS grew, but my IT related skills and knowledge were not. Now I realized that I was on a different path from the course where I graduated. Now I decided to pursue this path and grew more on this field for a good cause. And now I am finding and selecting cautiously the resources to use for me to advance since I have limited time and money. I hope someone would guide me..

By: Joe

Joe — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 08:42:27 +0000

I recently finished a Graduate Certificate in Geospatial Intelligence Analytics (GEOINT) and I couldn’t have been more disappointed with the program, content quality, instructors and university. I already had a graduate level educational background and wanted to improve GIS skills so I understand what good education is and isn’t. Little to no teaching involved in an attempt to “automate” classes online. Weeks went by with no grading or feedback on assignments. Most workflows can be YouTubed, and I have taken free Coursera course with quality much higher. Pay thousands and thousands of dollars for it. Sure, I got another great looking certificate/piece of paper. Says a lot about the state of the US educational system. I would not recommend GEOINT or anything related to the USGIF.

By: Naziru

Naziru — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 21:06:15 +0000

Indeed certification in GIS is good but mostly in the private sector.

By: Ben

Ben — Sun, 21 Feb 2021 20:45:33 +0000

Unless the industry you’re pitching for uses QGIS, which is rare in the US, go with the ESRI certification GISP exists just for the money they collect. ESRI is $250, very reasonable on-time only fee and it’s ESRI, what else can I say. Go for it.

By: Gary

Gary — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 04:18:20 +0000

A GISP is useful mostly in the private sector to make yourself stand out. I’ve only seen a few jobs mention it as recommended, and almost none require it. Even most government RFP’S rarely mention it unless the client is knowledgeable about GIS in general. While there are some Government employees that have it, the incentive isn’t there to the same degree since they usually have job security if they stay in one place.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 25 Jun 2020 13:27:46 +0000

I was a GISP for 8 years, until they changed the pricing model. My employer used my GISP when bidding on jobs, so I think it is worth it if your company pays for it. Otherwise, not so sure. As long as you are competent in your interview, and keeping up on any free courses you can take on your own, you will be fine. I do agree with the guy above who said the industry doesn’t pay correctly anyway. I worked from 2002-2015 in GIS. I managed groups and everything. The most I got paid was 60k, and that was after I asked for a raise, didn’t get it, left and came back when clients were asking where I went and said the subsequent service they got was bad. If employers paid more for your certification/expertise, sure. Instead I self taught myself Python and SQL, did that for a couple years and now I am a full time DBA. My point is, the GISP won’t help you get ahead on it’s own. If you are gonna put energy into something, learn development or some other special skill that will put you ahead of other GIS Techs.

By: Joe Marine

Joe Marine — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 13:32:57 +0000

I’ve been in the industry for over 20 years, mostly as an imagery interpreter. I remember the merger of the Defense Mapping Agency (DMA) and the National Photographic Intelligence Center (NPIC) into the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) then evolve into the National Geospatial Agency (NGA). I hold several certifications in geographic intelligence (GEOINT), a bachelors of science in GIS and currently working on my graduate degree, created countless produces in support of real-time combat operations and exercise support throughout the world. I have had the pleasure of serving with my sister services at joint and allied commands. Now I have to prove to a potential employer that I know my job by having a GISP after my name. I AM a GISP. I’ve volunteered 21 years of my life to the protection of this nation as a GEOINT professional and have an extensive body of work and numerous accolades both as military member and civilian contractor. In short what can I GISP me beyond a hand shake and a cup of coffee?

By: Aminu

Aminu — Tue, 31 Dec 2019 07:11:58 +0000

Please where do I get past questions and answers for GISP exams to help prepare,thank u