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| GeoCommunity Mailing List |
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| Subject: | [gislist] A Surveyors Perspective on GIS Certification |
| Date: |
06/11/2004 09:25:01 AM |
| From: |
Landon Blake |
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GIS Users,
I am an LSIT in the State of California, and I thought I might offer =
some comments on this discussion about GIS certification. As an =
individual who has obtained his LSIT and is working towards his LS, I =
thought I might be able to offer a unique perspective, although there =
may be other surveyors that subscribe to this list.
My first comment involves the education requirements of the =
certification. I am concerned that if more states require this =
certification, and thus the education requirements, that it may deter =
more young people from entering the field. Higher education costs are =
sky-rocketing and young people are often faced with difficult decisions =
about both the focus and the length of their education. I know in fewer =
and fewer people are entering the Land Surveying profession, and it is =
very hard to find surveyors in their early twenties. Will the =
compensation/salaries in a GIS profession that requires long stints at a =
university be able to compete with the salaries of other professions =
that do so, like doctors, engineers, and lawyers? I am not against =
education in any way, and I believe it is important for a professional. =
I am concerned, however, about the amount of education required. There =
is a heated debate in many parts of the US over whether or not to =
require a 4-year degree for Land Surveyors. As an individual that =
graduated from an excellent 2-year Land Surveying program, I am against =
this. I know of an excellent 2-year GIS program at the American River =
College in Sacramento. Would this type of certification lessen the value =
of these excellent 2-year programs, which as a general rule, are more =
affordable and have the benefit of more personal attention to the =
student? Just some thoughts. I would hate to see the requirements of a =
"certification" turn away valuable young minds from the GIS profession =
as it often has from the Land Surveying profession.
I must also caution the GIS community about the role of the "boards", =
"commissions", and "organizations" that oversee this certification =
process, especially if it becomes a legal requirement. Often these =
boards wield extensive power over the certification process and hence =
the profession. What type of individuals will be holding this power? How =
will their authority be limited and regulated? If a certification is =
required by law, should not these issues also be regulated by law? I =
would hate to see the future of a profession as diverse as GIS decided =
by just a few individuals. I would encourage those both for and against =
certification to take an active role in determining how this process =
develops. It may develop into an aloof body of rulemakers disconnected =
from the everyday GIS user, if neglected and left to its own ends. With =
careful attention, guidance, and perhaps justified opposition, it may =
evolve into something that may benefit the profession in one way or =
another. I know there are individuals in the Land Surveying community, =
including myself, that often desire a more active and positive =
relationship with the state boards and the NCEES that wield this power =
over our profession.=20
Respectfully,
Landon Blake
P.S. - Might the ruling in Oregon be challenged legally at some point? =
That would be an interesting turn of events.
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