Podcast: What You Need to Know about GISP Certification – Requirements, Benefits and Study Tips

DirectionsMag has partnered with URISA’s Vanguard Cabinet to bring you a collection of podcasts and resources to enhance your professional development.  This edition focuses on GISP certification, what’s required and shared experiences. We are joined by a panel of geospatial professionals, including Bill Hodge, Executive Director of GISCI.

You can also download or listen via iTunes.

Video

Content

00:42 – Introductions

07:55 – What’s required to get your GISP? Why bother?

15:50 – What was your experience with the exam? How did you prepare?

27:15 – What changes or benefits have you experienced since acquiring your GISP?

30:41 – How many points do you need?

34:33 – What’s recertification like?

36:14 – What’s the expense? Do employers help with the expense?

39:17 – How important is the GISP in hiring?

41:27 – Does software matter when getting our GISP?

45:40 – What was the most challenging part of getting your GISP?

Resources

GIS Certification Institute (GISCI) – https://www.gisci.org/ 

Exam:

• GIS&T Body of Knowledge  https://gistbok.ucgis.org/
• Practice exam and unofficial study guide: https://www.gisci.org/ExamInfo/ExamCandidateInformation/ExamPreparationInfo.aspx
• A similar but different unofficial study guide:   https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B6IETfQUolKuSC1SQ3BxRW54TWc
• Penn State Text: https://www.e-education.psu.edu/natureofgeoinfo/node/1672
• Most up to date information: https://www.reddit.com/r/gis/

Mentoring Programs:

• Vanguard Cabinet Mentor Program https://www.urisa.org/vanguardcabinet
• WiConnect: https://womeningis.wildapricot.org/WiConnect

Webinars & Articles:

“The GIS&T BoK: Where is it now, and where will YOU take it tomorrow?” – Diana Sinton

All You Need to Know about the New Body of Knowledge – webinar

UAV Webinars https://drones.directionsmag.com/

“10 Tips for Passing the FAA’s Part 107 Knowledge Exam” – Wing Cheung and Sean Figg

“5 Tips for Passing the FAA’s Part 107 Recurrent Knowledge Test” – Wing Cheung

Other Certifications:

Esri – https://www.esri.com/training/certification/

GEOINT –  https://usgif.org/certification