Applicants may claim credential points equal to the value of the highest degree or certificate earned. Credential points are awarded through the successful completion of a formal degree or certificate program offered by an accredited educational institution. For example:

• An applicant who has earned an Associates degree may claim 10 points.

• An applicant who has earned a Bachelor’s degree may claim 20 points.  With dual degrees, credential points may be claimed for one while the others may only be used for Course Points (see below).

• An applicant who has earned a Masters degree or higher (e.g., M.A.,  M.S., or Ph.D.) may claim 25 points.

• An applicant who has earned no formal degrees, but who has earned a GIS Certificate, may claim 5 points.

• An Applicant who has earned degrees from non-U.S. institutions may claim points associated with the most comparable degree (justification required).

Notes:

a) Enter only the highest degree earned.

b) No accreditation program currently exists specifically for GIS-related education programs. Most higher educational institutions in the U.S. are accredited, however, by one of the regional accrediting organizations associated with the Council for Higher Education Association (http://www.chea.org)

c) Many higher education institutions confer GIS Certificates to students who complete a prescribed number of credit or non-credit courses. Requirements vary widely. Only certificates that involve a minimum of 400 hours of student activity qualify for Credential points. Points for courses completed in fulfillment of GIS certificates earned in conjunction with or in addition to a formal degree may be claimed in the Course Points section.   

Proceed to:

• The Professional Experience Point Schedule
• The Contributions to the Profession Point Schedule
• Documenting Additional Points