The American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) Evaluation for Certification Committee has recently updated the ASPRS Recertification requirements and revised the related Certification Guidelines. These changes were made as a result of the Committee’s ongoing interaction with the Council of Engineering & Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB) as ASPRS moves toward accreditation of the ASPRS Certification Program by CESB. One of the key recommendations CESB made was for  ASPRS to base its recertification requirements on standardized Professional Development Hours (PDH) or Continuing Education Units (CEUs), rather than the internally designed point system ASPRS had been using.  

Mike Renslow, chair of the ASPRS Evaluation for Certification Committee, explained, “Basing recertification on Professional Development Hours clarifies the types and levels of activities that applicants must document, and provides a standardized framework for evaluation by the review committees. This improvement strengthens the ASPRS Certification Program and implements a process used by many other scientific/technical certifying bodies.”  As a result of these recommendations, ASPRS began the process in 2011 of moving to a PDH format with input from industry, academia, and the public sector.

The updated guidelines are posted on the ASPRS website: http://www.asprs.org/Certification-Program/Certification-and-Recertification-Guidelines.html.  The recertification PDH requirements are outlined in a table on the website, together with a list explaining specific activities and the number of PDHs that may qualify for recertification. The applicant may also earn “ASPRS PDH Credits” for selected additional activities that count toward recertification. The most significant difference with the newly revised requirements is that additional documentation is required when PDHs or CEUs are earned.

Applicants seeking ASPRS Recertification may begin using the new PDH-based system immediately, and will be required to use it starting January 1, 2013. The ASPRS Certification Program continues to evolve and maintain its leadership position in the geospatial sciences. The Program is currently in the final evaluation phase of the accreditation process by CESB, the results of which will be announced soon.