North River Geographic Systems Inc

Geospatial Problem Solving

Certification

NRGS and QGIS Certification

Certification? Yeah. Just calm down and let me explain.

I’m a fan and not a fan of certification. At some point I was a GISP. At some point I was ESRI Desktop Certified. There’s been talk of how to have QGIS Certification for a while. I’ve not been part of the conversation. The other day I found out it was a thing now. Usually I would go “Pfffbbbbt” and ignore it….BUT….here’s what hooked me.

In short (read up here)  – all the talk centered around QGIS certification boiled down to two camps: You had your GISP Approach where your portfolio speaks for it’s self. You have a test (IT Certifications) that certify you on an exam. QGIS isn’t an org that can really do either – so they went with option 3 – the community decides who can and can’t be certified. I submitted my class for review and it passed.

So what does that mean? I have an 8 hour class that you take. At the end I submit your name and 20 Euros back to QGIS and you get an ID that can be checked to see if you took the class. Will you win jobs and make your fortune based off this certification? No. You’re supporting the community by taking it though. You can still buy a book and read all your want and do awesome things with QGIS. You can download it for your platform of choice and use it with no certification. It’s made me think about giving the students a test at the end of the class.  Haven’t decided on that one. So we’ll see what happens. I want to “do this right” in my head for the community. I did decide that the classes I teach at Conferences that are compressed down to 4 hours aren’t going to qualify. You’ll have to sit with me with 8 hours.

To be mentioned in this group -  that’s pretty cool at least for me.

This gives me a way to donate back and not feel like I’m just leeching off the good work of other people. I still have other plans for financial support – but I’m getting to that one.

We will see what happens. I’ve got to start scheduling some classes. Want a class? Looking at breaking out of your commercial loop of software changes and portals and what not? Give QGIS a try.

 

 

GIS Certification Survey

First off – I have 0 personal interest in this survey whether anyone fills this out or not…but I think it does serve some good.

I’ve had this back and forth with being a GISP. I was a huge proponent at one point…now I’ve gotten to the point where I think it’s past it’s prime. When GIS was a niche thing and you had to spell out to everyone why, who, and what…..I could understand having one. Now that GIS is mainstream….mostly everyone has one or knows about it, I question the relevance of this certification. Even with the upcoming test…I still that is a bit too little too late to pull this back into a useful state. Everyone is in a rush to beat the test……and I think that speaks volumes to the state of the certification. For my part – make it retroactive (HA).

Anyway – enough of my grouchiness.

Take the Survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/13ehP1jfyFK2Mg_IDLbeWE_ZVo3mRKUp_aeLz6qjp3h0/viewform

Results will probably be posted online and will be shown at GISPro.

Ga URISA Luncheon June 2014

Date: June 10, 2014

Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Location and Directions: City of Roswell Adult Recreation Center

830 Grimes Bridge Rd

Roswell GA 30075

Demystifying the GISP Certification

Are you working to get your GISP certification but are confused about the application or worried about the exam? This presentation will demystify the points system, provide tips and tricks for submitting a successful application, and will discuss the current status of the GISP Exam. In addition, talk about the relationship between the GISP and other GIS certifications such as Esri’s Technical Certifications.

Speakers

Tripp Corbin

Tripp Corbin, MCP, CFM, GISP, eGIS Associates, Atlanta, GA. Tripp Corbin is the Chief Executive Officer and Lead Instructor for eGIS Associates. He is an award winning Esri Certified Trainer with over twenty years of experience orchestrating and managing surveying, mapping and GIS projects. He is recognized as an industry expert with a variety of geospatial software packages including Esri, Autodesk and Trimble products. Tripp was the primary author of several popular GIS courses including: Using AutoCAD data in ArcGIS, Performing GIS Analysis with ArcGIS, and ArcGIS Desktop Associate Exam Prep. He created the online GIS Analyst Certificate program offered by the University of North Alabama Continuing Studies Center as well as teaching classes for the Institute for Transportation Research and Education (ITRE) at North Carolina State University.

Tripp is a member of the Board of Directors for URISA International and the GITA Southeast Chapter. He holds many certifications including Certified GIS Professional (GISP), ArcGIS Desktop Associate, Esri Certified Trainer, CompTIA Certified Technical Trainer, Microsoft Certified Professional, URISA Workshop Instructor and Certified Floodplain Manager.

Register and read more:

http://www.gaurisa.org

ESRI Desktop Certification.

So I’ve been doing a lot of thinking as of late about all things GIS. One of those things happened to show up in the mail.

Candidates who achieved an ArcGIS Desktop Associate or ArcGIS Desktop Professional certification at version 10.0 will be granted certification at the same level for version 10.1 if they choose.

I always wondered what the point of the desktop certification was – and really it’s two fold:

  1. An employer can look at you and go “Hey – you know what buttons to push in ESRI Software”
  2. Revenue stream for ESRI.

I had to get my associates certification to teach – when ESRI announced they were ending the CTP program I was a bit annoyed. I jumped through a lot of hoops to keep it. Now one of the hoops I get to keep for a bit longer in the form of 10.1 certification. Of course I did come out of this as a CTT (Certified Technical Trainer) so I can’t say something good didn’t come out of the process.

The certification test was a test. That’s about the best thing I can say about it. Out of 90 something questions two dealt with practical GIS problems – the rest were what button to push when. I remember coming out of the test somewhat irritated. Of course I’ve been irritated a lot lately. Even the GISP has me questioning it’s usefulness because of some of the GISPs I’ve worked around in the last 6 months. It’s been a lot to chew on as of late.

…and I decided tonight not to move the certification. There’s no point – I’m self employed. Anyone I hire is going to have to pass my BS test as opposed to this test. Since dropping my ESRI BP Agreement – there’s even less incentive. So I’ll file away the letter…and maybe in a few days I’ll have a change of heart and move it – who knows….but for now it’s not quite worth the effort. My advice to people wanting to take the test has been to spend the money on python books at OReilly and learn something useful. That still stands. If an employer needs for you to take the test – then take it. If the don’t – I wouldn’t give it a second thought.