The Geographic Information Systems Professional (GISP) certification from the GIS Certification Institute (GISCI) is widely recognized as a benchmark of excellence in the geospatial profession. It allows GIS practitioners to showcase their expertise, knowledge, and dedication to the field of GIS.
To earn this certification, candidates must pass a comprehensive exam and submit a portfolio that highlights their educational achievements, professional experience, contributions to the GIS community, and any relevant extracurricular activities. Participation in a professional organization can enhance a GISP candidate’s portfolio, according to GISCI.
The Esri Young Professionals Network (YPN) offers three ways to earn contribution points toward gaining a GISP certification: becoming a YPN Ambassador, a YPN Content Ambassador, or a YPN Event Ambassador.
YPN Ambassador
YPN Ambassadors are active participants in Esri YPN. They interact with contributed blog posts on Esri Community, introduce themselves to their peers, engage with YPN on social media platforms, and promote their own YPN memberships.
To become a YPN Ambassador, GIS practitioners need to join Esri YPN, follow Esri YPN on X (if applicable), join the YPN LinkedIn Group, and subscribe to the Esri Young Professionals Network on Esri Community. From there, they need to interact in several ways with other YPN members and content on these platforms.
Once all the requirements have been completed, participants can apply to receive a YPN Ambassador badge and certificate. This serves as proof of being an active member of an organization and earns participants one to three contribution points in GISCI’s Other GIS Contributions category.
YPN Content Ambassador
Another way to gain contribution points toward earning a GISP certification is to publish articles. Esri YPN allows participants to do this by becoming a YPN Content Ambassador.
Anyone who wants to be a YPN Content Ambassador must follow the same initial steps of becoming a YPN Ambassador, and then publish and promote a blog post on the Esri Young Professionals Network Blog on Esri Community. Once a person publishes their post and promotes it via the YPN LinkedIn Group—and posts to another space on Esri Community—they can apply to get their YPN Content Ambassador badge and certificate as proof of completion.
YPN Event Ambassador
GISP candidates can also earn points in the Other GIS Contributions category by becoming a YPN Event Ambassador. After following the first few steps for becoming a YPN Ambassador, aspiring YPN Event Ambassadors must attend a virtual or in-person event hosted by Esri YPN, and either host their own event where Esri YPN is included as a talking point or speak at a YPN event.
When a person has completed the criteria to become a YPN Event Ambassador, they can apply to get a badge and certificate as proof of completion to earn GISP certification points.
Make an Impact in the GIS Field
A bonus of becoming a YPN Ambassador, YPN Content Ambassador, and/or YPN Event Ambassador is that, in addition to enhancing their GISP portfolios, participants get to expand their professional networks and deepen their understanding of the GIS field.
For more specifics on becoming any of these three YPN ambassadors, see the list of requirements. Also, get information on GISCI’s Contributions to the Profession point schedule. Pay particular attention to Section VIII: Other GIS Contributions.
