June 18, 2010 -- The King County GIS Center’s GIS Training Program has been approved for the enrollment of veterans and dependents eligible to receive GI Bill education benefits under Title 38 and Title 10, USC.  Approval was granted by the State of Washington Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board State Approving Agency.

It is believed that the King County GIS Training Program is the first GIS technical training program anywhere approved for use of GI Bill education benefits.

Specific courses approved for GI Bill benefits include:

• ArcGIS Desktop 1
• ArcGIS Desktop 2
• ArcGIS Desktop 3
• GIS Academy

ArcGIS Desktop 1, 2 and 3 teach students how to use ESRI ArcGIS software.  These classes are taught by King County GIS Center staff members who are ESRI authorized instructors.  The GIS Academy is a week-long program of custom classes designed and taught by King County GIS Center instructors who are working GIS professionals.

GIS training classes are taught in King County’s GIS computer training center in Seattle’s Pioneer Square. For more information about KCGIS training, visit www.kingcounty.gov/gis/training; for information about GI Bill education benefits, visit www.gibill.va.gov/.

The King County GIS Center is an agency of King County government, chartered as an internal service fund to provide GIS services to county agencies and external customers. The King County GIS Center operates King County’s enterprise GIS and provides data, services, and training to help put GIS to work. Learn more at www.kingcounty.gov/gis.

For more information, contact Greg Babinski, 206-263-3753, Email Contact; or Cheryl Wilder, 206-263-5220, Email Contact.