The US-based GIS Certification Institute is informing GIS professionals in Australia and New Zealand of changes to the GISP-Asia Pacific (GISP-AP) credential.

The GISP-AP credential was formerly issued by the now defunct Geospatial Council of Australia (GCA) and its predecessor, the Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute (SSSI).

“GISCI and SSSI worked together to create the GISP-AP program, with SSSI essentially adopting our existing program, so existing GISP-APs have already met the GISP requirements,” said Tony Spicci, Executive Director of the GIS Certification Institute (GISCI).

“GCA and GISCI had been working together to update the program and strengthen the partnership.”

In light of the demise of the GCA, and in recognition of the strong alignment between the GISP-AP and GISCI’s GISP certification, GISCI has adopted a formal policy allowing eligible GISP-AP credential holders to transfer to the GISCI GISP credential at no cost.

The offer is open to those who earned their GISP-AP through the GCA and were in good standing as of August 2025.

There is no fee for the transfer, and, once approved, the GISP credential will be issued by GISCI.

All transferred credentials will follow GISCI’s standard three-year recertification cycle going forward.

“We (GISCI) exist and operate within the worldwide GIS professional community. We are always striving to help all GIS professionals within our community,” said Spicci.

If you wish to apply, you should first download and read the official policy and instructions, and then email a request to info@gisci.org with a subject line of ‘GISP-AP to GISCI GISP Conversion Request’.

Included should be proof of your GISP-AP credential, a form of identification matching your credential name, and your contact details.

All transfer requests must be submitted on or before 1 July 2026.

Questions can be directed to info@gisci.org.