The powerful visualizations and analytics that come from a Geographic Information System (GIS) have become highly sought-after skills. People of all ages and educational backgrounds now view GIS as an excellent opportunity to upskill and map virtually any data for any project. If you’re curious about these tools and the industry, you can begin with a free GIS course. From there, you might explore the value of a GIS certificate to help you land the jobs you want. If you are looking into altering your career path with GIS, then earning a certificate can complement the skills you have already acquired. To get started, check out these learning platforms that offer free GIS courses—your first step toward earning a top GIS salary.
1. ESRI
This is a list of free GIS courses that teach you how to make beautiful maps using ArcGIS Pro. It is offered by ESRI’s Massive Online Open Courses (MOOC) Program. ESRI is the leading international supplier of GIS software that most people and companies use. Their courses are highly authoritative and applicable. The course provides you free access to ArcGIS Online for the duration of the course. You can also get a personal use license for $100/year, which would allow you to take a handful of free software tutorials. This is a great place to take free GIS courses on how the #1 GIS software in the world works!
2. Bootcamp GIS
If you’re looking to break into the GIS industry, Bootcamp GIS is one of the best ways to get started! They offer a free career consultation call, where they will match your interests to courses that will teach you applicable GIS skills. Their career advisors will also build you a program outline and give you access to free introductory GIS prerequisite courses. The courses use real-world issues that provide invaluable insights on how GIS is truly used by professionals.
3. QGIS
QGIS is an open source GIS website, which offers a series of free GIS tutorials and tips. Their courses include a range of basic to advanced operations. The courses offered have 20+ languages available for students across the globe. The best thing about QGIS is that you can download the software for free and practice what you’ve learned on your own! QGIS is used around the world at organizations big and small, and is a great starting place that you can grow from.
4. Coursera
This free GIS course is offered by Penn State, which is a nice introduction to GIS for those completely new to the industry! It will go over some basic terms and concepts of GIS. Together with mapping assignments and quizzes, you can build up your basic knowledge. The course covers geodesign, which uses information systems to combat problems with geographically specific, adaptive, and resilient strategies. If you want to get a primary GIS understanding, this course is a solid choice for you.
5. OSGEO
OSGEO is another great free site catered to teaching users how to program their own applications with open source tools and data. Their list of free GIS courses and developer projects give you a head start and can help you develop your own OS application. They offer periodic classes hosted by an expert contributor seeking to promote free GIS education resources for everyone!
Start your GIS journey with our selected courses!
If you are thinking of a strategic way to upskill your resume, gaining GIS skills is a great choice. Start with a free GIS course and then determine if you want to invest more time in a professional certificate. Check out this list of the Top 10 GIS Certificate programs rated according to industry needs. Ultimately, the purpose of this article is to show students an efficient and affordable path to becoming a GIS professional. Now you know how to get started, so get to it!
