This article provides you with a quick look at key information unique to the GIS Fundamentals Foundation exam. Per the key exam preparation resources article, exam selection and preparation begin with Esri Academy. Here you'll find exam details and have access to the corresponding Learning Plan and a link to Esri Community for the Exam Information Guide (EIG) and this exam comparison article. Here is an article to help you select the exam that’s right for you: A Personalized Approach to Exam Selection.
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New Version: GIS Fundamentals Foundation 2026
In Development, to be published 26 October 2026
The 2026 exam version is a foundation level exam. The GIS Fundamentals exam is designed for candidates with 150 hours of GIS coursework or 3-6 months of GIS workplace experience.
- Exam Details Page in Esri Academy (Access exam learning plan, buy exam vouchers)
- Exam Information Guide (EIG) in Esri Community (view detailed exam information, access exam preparation resources)
- Exam Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Previous Version: GIS Fundamentals Foundation 2024
Pending Retirement 31 December 2026
The 2024 exam version is a foundation level exam. The GIS Fundamentals exam is designed for candidates with 150 hours of GIS coursework or 3-6 months of GIS workplace experience.
- Exam Details Page in Esri Academy Catalog (Access exam learning plan, buy exam vouchers)
- Exam Information Guide in Esri Community (view detailed exam information, access exam preparation resources)
- Exam Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Learn more about exam retirement here.
Exam Version Comparison – 2026 vs 2024
Key Differences
- Exam Blueprint: The exam blueprint is the information outlined in the Exam Information Guide (EIG). This is created as a result of exam development efforts in collaboration with ArcGIS users like yourself.
- The 2024 exam version was aligned with software versions:
- ArcGIS Online (workflows as of October 2023)
- ArcGIS Pro (3.x)
- Living Atlas
- The 2026 exam version was re-organized to align with current software versions:
- ArcGIS Online (workflows as of February 2026)
- ArcGIS Pro Basic (Version 3.6)
- ArcGIS Living Atlas
Exam Information Guide (EIG) – Skills Measured Comparison
2026 Exam Version – In Development | 2024 Exam Version – Pending Retirement 31 December 2026 |
Data Discovery - 37% | Data Discovery - 35% |
Identify steps to add and remove data | Identify steps to add data |
Identify data types | Identify data types |
Identify coordinate systems | Identify coordinate systems |
Define fundamental GIS concepts | Define fundamental GIS concepts |
Discover content in ArcGIS Online | Discover content in ArcGIS Online |
Describe how to use map navigation tools | Describe how to use map navigation tools |
Processing and Analysis - 21% | Processing and Analysis - 22% |
Describe how to use attribute tables | Describe how to use attribute tables |
Recall how to perform analysis | Recall how to perform analysis |
Recall how to edit local data in ArcGIS Pro | Recall how to edit local data in ArcGIS Pro |
Mapping and Visualization - 25% | Mapping and Visualization - 25% |
Identify steps to change basemaps | Identify steps to change Basemaps |
Recognize how to represent and style data | Recognize how to represent and style data |
Identify steps to generate labels | Identify steps to generate labels |
Identify layer properties | Identify layer properties in ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online |
Managing and Sharing Content - 17% | Managing and Sharing Content - 18% |
Describe how to validate content for sharing from ArcGIS Pro | Describe how to validate a map for sharing content from ArcGIS Pro |
Organize and manage content in ArcGIS Online | Organize content in ArcGIS Online |
Identify elements of ArcGIS Online | Identify elements of ArcGIS Online |
We hope you will engage with us during the next exam update process
Exams are updated every 18-24 months, and we welcome ArcGIS users and Subject Matter Experts to help shape the validity of our exam content. Your participation is critical to the success of our program, and your feedback is key to ensuring that the exam enhancements meet the needs of our GIS Industry. To learn more about exam development, visit our Esri Certification Exam Development blog.
How you can participate:
- View upcoming exam participation opportunities and RSVP to events that interest you on our Exam Development Participation board.
- Subscribe to the event board to receive notifications when new exam development events are added.
