Using Esri Technical Certification to Validate Student Workforce Readiness
Excited to be presenting at the 2026 Esri Education Summit! I'm looking forward to networking with fellow educators and GIS professionals from around the world! Especially since the Education Summit registration includes access to all scheduled summit events, sessions, and networking opportunities -- and admission to the first two days of the Esri User Conference!
A Few Things I’m Excited About
One of my favorite parts of any conference is the time before it actually starts. I always look forward to exploring the agenda and preparing for the event. This year, my journey began with a visit to the conference main overview page, where I watched the UC Preview Video and began building my schedule and marking my calendar for the dates below.
- Launch of the Esri Events App -- June 11, 2026
- Attend the Esri Attendee Orientation -- June 23, 2026
- Engage with the new Digital Job Board
- Reviewing the Training Services Guide to Esri UC 2026
- Presenting at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina -- Ballroom Salon 8 -- July 12, 2026
What I’ll Be Sharing
This session focus on how Esri Technical Certification provides validation of student's skills on industry-standard workflows using ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Pro. Learn how the GIS Fundamentals Foundation exam measures students’ ability to apply ArcGIS skills gained through coursework, labs, project-based learning, and internships. The exam provides industry‑recognized evidence of entry‑level competencies in mapping and visualization, editing, data management, analysis, and sharing — helping faculty demonstrate career readiness and applied learning without major curriculum changes.
Key topics covered within the session...
- How certification validates real-world ArcGIS skills
- What the GIS Fundamentals Foundation exam measures
- How certification supports career readiness without major curriculum changes
- Ways to integrate certification into existing academic programs
After the session...
I’ll share the presentation slides after the session—looking forward to connecting in person if you’re attending.
See you at the conference.
