Geographical information systems officer: Training

Chartered geographer status (CGeog (GIS)) is offered by the Association for Geographic Information (AGI) in conjunction with the Royal Geographical Society . Candidates must have six or more years of direct GI experience or 15 years of GI-related experience. The chartership scheme includes support to maintain continuing professional development (CPD), which is greatly encouraged as geographical information systems (GIS) undergoes continual change. A practitioner route is also available for those who have two years or less to go before they can apply for CGeog status.

The majority of training is on the job, although some large employers may provide in-house training. Software developers who introduce new programs for GIS provide training in the use of these packages.

Because the profession is multidisciplinary in its scope, further training in programming, communication and project management, or training in the knowledge of the specific sectors may be helpful.

Many people working in GIS report that they and the job have developed at the same time, so it is not so much a case of training for a specific role as being prepared to acquire whatever skills are necessary as the work develops.