The Board of Directors of the GIS Certification Institute (GISCI) has issued the GISCI position on the GIS profession in relation to other geospatial professions. The position states in part:
The GIS Certification Institute contends that state regulation of the many and varied tasks performed by GIS Professionals would be counterproductive. Instead of state regulation, we believe that voluntary certification of GIS professionals with encouragement and support from employers is the best means to promote high education standards, continuing professional development, and ethical practice in our rapidly growing and evolving field. GISCI contends that the practice of surveying should be defined narrowly, and that associated state regulations should be narrow in scope, reflecting the limited footprint of survey practice within the geospatial field.The full position statement can be found on the GISCI website at http://www.gisci.org/PDFs/GISCI_position_GIS_profession_final.pdf.
This position was approved unanimously by the Board of Directors. It was also reviewed and approved by all five of the GISCI member organizations: the Association of American Geographers (AAG), the Geospatial Information & Technology Association (GITA), the National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC), the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS), and the Urban and Regional Systems Association (URISA).
Broken link.
Wow...they must be up on that pedestal with the professional engineers.....while we sit on the bottom of the pile gathering the basic information that they need to do their job. Think I will get a job as a Walmart greeter.
From the November 30, 2011 NSPS News and Views
NSPS to engage in discussions about GISCI's GIS profession position
NSPS has learned that the Board of Directors of the GIS Certification Institute has officially issued a statement of its position on the GIS profession in relation to other geospatial professions.
The position statement says, in part, "The GIS Certification Institute contends that state regulation of the many and varied tasks performed by GIS Professionals would be counterproductive. Instead of state regulation, we believe that voluntary certification of GIS professionals — with encouragement and support from employers — is the best means to promote high education standards, continuing professional development, and ethical practice in our rapidly growing and evolving field. GISCI contends that the practice of surveying should be defined narrowly, and that associated state regulations should be narrow in scope, reflecting the limited footprint of survey practice within the geospatial field."
NSPS will engage in discussions with GISCI to determine whether this statement is intended to be in conflict with the "Inclusions and Exclusions" section of the NCEES Model Rules related to the licensure of professional surveyors. The Inclusions and Exclusions section of the Model Rules addresses which geospatial activities should be regulated through licensure. GISCI Member organizations NSGIC and URISA were involved in the development of the Inclusions and Exclusions section of the Model Rules. MORE
From the November 30, 2011 NSPS News & Views
NSPS to engage in discussions about GISCI's GIS profession position
NSPS has learned that the Board of Directors of the GIS Certification Institute has officially issued a statement of its position on the GIS profession in relation to other geospatial professions.
The position statement says, in part, "The GIS Certification Institute contends that state regulation of the many and varied tasks performed by GIS Professionals would be counterproductive. Instead of state regulation, we believe that voluntary certification of GIS professionals — with encouragement and support from employers — is the best means to promote high education standards, continuing professional development, and ethical practice in our rapidly growing and evolving field. GISCI contends that the practice of surveying should be defined narrowly, and that associated state regulations should be narrow in scope, reflecting the limited footprint of survey practice within the geospatial field."
NSPS will engage in discussions with GISCI to determine whether this statement is intended to be in conflict with the "Inclusions and Exclusions" section of the NCEES Model Rules related to the licensure of professional surveyors. The Inclusions and Exclusions section of the Model Rules addresses which geospatial activities should be regulated through licensure. GISCI Member organizations NSGIC and URISA were involved in the development of the Inclusions and Exclusions section of the Model Rules. MORE
