GIS Certification Institute
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersDes Plaines, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
GIS Certification Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GIS Certification Institute
- Legal name
- GIS Certification Institute
- Website
- https://gisci.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GIS Certification Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Certification Services
- NAICS
- Professional and Management Development Training (611430)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Information Technology (IT) & Cybersecurity Certifications (EDAAANAA)
Keywords
Where GIS Certification Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Des Plaines
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
GIS Certification Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Certification Application Fees: One-time application fees for GISP certification including portfolio review. Application fee and Portfolio fee were combined into a single payment of $100 each ($200 total) as of July 2023.
- Examination Fees: Fees for taking the Geospatial Core Technical Knowledge Exam at Pearson VUE testing centers. Exam fee remained unchanged when application/portfolio fees were restructured.
- Recertification Fees: Ongoing fees for maintaining GISP certification through the recertification process. GISCI announced new flexible payment options to reduce hassle for recertification.
- GISP-E (Emerging Professional) Certification: Fees for the PreGISP certification program for students and emerging GIS professionals.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | GISP Certification - Combined Application and Portfolio Fee |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Geospatial Core Technical Knowledge Exam |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | GISP-E (PreGISP) Certification |
| Subscription | Annual | Recertification |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
GIS Certification Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GIS Certification Institute administers the GISP (Certified GIS Professional) credential — the internationally recognized certification for GIS practitioners — combining a portfolio review with the Geospatial Core Technical Knowledge Exam delivered through Pearson VUE testing centers. It also offers the entry-level GISP-E (Emerging GIS Professional) certification, the GISP-R (Retired) designation, and an Endorsing Employer program that enables organizations to formally endorse GISP certification for their staff.
Product overview
GIS Certification Institute operates a certification ecosystem centered on the GISP (Certified GIS Professional) designation, the primary credential for GIS professionals worldwide. The organization offers a multi-tiered portfolio approach including the full GISP certification for experienced professionals, the GISP-E (Emerging GIS Professional) program for students and new entrants, and the GISP-R designation for retired professionals. The certification process combines a portfolio review component with the Geospatial Core Technical Knowledge Exam administered through Pearson VUE's global testing network. Supporting products include official study guides, practice exams, and the GISCIEye newsletter. The institute also runs complementary programs including the Endorsing Employer designation for organizations supporting GISP certification, an annual Map Contest, and an Awards Program recognizing excellence in the geospatial profession.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- GISP (Certified GIS Professional): Primary professional certification designation for GIS professionals
- GISP-E (Emerging GIS Professional)
- GISP-R (Retired)
- GISCI Endorsing Employer
- Geospatial Core Technical Knowledge Exam
- GISCI Map Contest
- GISCI Awards Program
Products and services
- GISP (Certified GIS Professional) Certification
Quantifiable outcome
- 207 professionals certified in December 2025 exam cycle
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use GIS Certification Institute
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
GIS Certification Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
GIS Certification Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Pearson VUEcoreStrategic partnership to expand GISCI testing network for the Geospatial Core Technical Exam and PreGISP exam. Expanded from 800 to 4,500 testing centers worldwide, significantly enhancing international reach for GIS certification examinations.
- American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS)coreASPRS joined GISCI's Board of Directors, representing a significant milestone in efforts to advance geospatial science, promote best practices, and support professional development within the industry.
- American Association of Geographers (AAG)coreOne of four founding member organizations of GISCI. AAG appoints representatives to the GISCI Board of Directors.
- National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC)coreOne of four founding member organizations of GISCI. NSGIC appoints representatives to the GISCI Board of Directors.
- University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS)coreOne of four founding member organizations of GISCI. UCGIS appoints representatives to the GISCI Board of Directors.
- Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA)coreOne of four founding member organizations of GISCI. URISA appoints representatives to the GISCI Board of Directors.
- The Moran CompanyminorRecruiting firm that conducted the national search for GISCI's new Executive Director in 2021.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
GIS Certification Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- URISA (Urban and Regional Information Systems Association): URISA is a founding member organization of GISCI and offers its own GIS-related certificate programs (including GIS Leadership Academy), making it a direct peer in professional GIS education and credentialing.
- ASPRS (American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing): ASPRS operates competing professional certifications in the geospatial domain (Certified Photogrammetrist, Certified Mapping Scientist, GIS/LIS) and joined the GISCI Board in 2024, making it the closest direct competitor in geospatial credentialing.
- Esri Technical Certification: Esri's ArcGIS certification program is the dominant alternative credential for GIS professionals and the most direct functional substitute for GISP, representing the principal competitive threat from a software vendor with vast industry reach.
Broad incumbents
- CompTIA: CompTIA is a broad incumbent in IT professional certification (A+, Security+, Network+) with a member-organization governance model and Pearson VUE test delivery, structurally analogous to GISCI's operations.
- ISACA: ISACA issues CISA, CISM, CRISC and other technology-adjacent professional certifications using a member-driven governance and recertification model highly comparable to GISCI's structure.
- (ISC)²: (ISC)² operates CISSP and other IT/security professional certifications through a similar nonprofit member-organization model with portfolio-based credentialing and recurring maintenance fees — comparable structural peer.
- Project Management Institute (PMI): PMI operates the PMP/PfMP/PMI-ACP certification ecosystem with a comparable member-organization structure, exam-based credentialing, and recurring recertification revenue model — a broad incumbent template for professional certification.
- IIBA (International Institute of Business Analysis): IIBA offers CBAP and other business analysis certifications via member-organization governance and Pearson VUE testing — closely parallels GISCI's nonprofit certification body model in a different professional discipline.
Others
- American Association of Geographers (AAG): AAG is one of GISCI's four founding member organizations and operates as a professional association in the same geospatial/geography domain, providing adjacent professional development and credentialing signals in geography.
- National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC): NSGIC is a GISCI founding member organization that coordinates state-level GIS policy and practice across US states, an adjacent ecosystem player reinforcing GISCI's positioning among government employers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
GIS Certification Institute social profiles
Digital presenceGIS Certification Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GIS Certification Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
GIS Certification Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GIS Certification Institute M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about GIS Certification Institute
What does GIS Certification Institute do?
GIS Certification Institute administers the GISP (Certified GIS Professional) credential — the internationally recognized certification for GIS practitioners — combining a portfolio review with the Geospatial Core Technical Knowledge Exam delivered through Pearson VUE testing centers. It also offers the entry-level GISP-E (Emerging GIS Professional) certification, the GISP-R (Retired) designation, and an Endorsing Employer program that enables organizations to formally endorse GISP certification for their staff.
Is GIS Certification Institute a public or private company?
GIS Certification Institute is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was GIS Certification Institute founded?
GIS Certification Institute was founded in 2002. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is GIS Certification Institute based?
GIS Certification Institute is headquartered in Des Plaines, United States, in the North America region.
How does GIS Certification Institute make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Certification Application Fees are the primary driver. The others are examination Fees, recertification Fees and GISP-E (Emerging Professional) Certification.
Who are GIS Certification Institute's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are URISA (Urban and Regional Information Systems Association), ASPRS (American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing) and Esri Technical Certification. Broad incumbents are CompTIA, ISACA, (ISC)², Project Management Institute (PMI) and IIBA (International Institute of Business Analysis). Others are American Association of Geographers (AAG) and National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC).
Does GIS Certification Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for GIS Certification Institute.
What industry is GIS Certification Institute in?
GIS Certification Institute's product category is Professional Certification Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAANAA, Information Technology (IT) & Cybersecurity Certifications. Its NAICS code is 611430 and its SIC code is 8200.