Tell me more ×
Geographic Information Systems Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for cartographers, geographers and GIS professionals. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 3 down vote favorite

(Correct me if this belongs in meta) For undergraduate students considering a career using GIS but who will not be graduating with a degree in it, is it a worthwhile investment of time to pursue a GIS certificate/certification? If so, what criteria are important to consider when selecting a test/program?

share|improve this question
1  
GIS certificate issued by what entity? What do they cover? – Ragi Yaser Burhum Nov 22 '11 at 4:34

1 Answer

up vote 1 down vote accepted

A GIS certificate may help refine your GIS skills, however there is more to selling yourself then just certificates.

  1. Employers want to know how have you contributed to the GIS discipline, or what project wise experience do you have leveraging GIS.

  2. Surround yourself with GIS professionals (network). Join a local user group, or present at a conference.

These are very important to consider when competing against the pool of new grads. For certificate programs, search for a program that fits your goals. Some programs go over the basic user functions of GIS. Others are more focused on development and programming.

share|improve this answer

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.