RICS Routes to Membership

RICS Education and Qualification Standards

Issue date: January 2013

RICS Routes to Membership Assessment of Professional Competence (APC)

Graduate RoutesAcademic/professional

qualificationsRelevant prior experienceStructured trainingFinal assessment submissionsFinal assessment interview

Graduate 1

RICS accredited degree

Part-time and placement year students may enrol on to the APC during the final year of study or the placement year. At least 12 of the 24 months structured training must be completed after graduating. (see note)None 24 months structured training to meet competency requirements

regular meetings with supervisor/counsellor

96 hours of professional development over structured training period confirmed mandatory and technical achievement records

logbook/progress record

professional development record over last 24 months

critical analysis (3,000 words) 60 minute interview including 10 minute presentation on critical analysis testing on professional practice/ethics

Graduate 2

RICS accredited degree

The 12 months structured training must be completed after graduating. (see note)At least 5 years relevant experience before starting APC. Pre-degree experience can count 12 months structured training

regular meetings with supervisor/counsellor

48 hours professional development over the structured training period confirmed mandatory and technical achievement records

logbook/progress record

professional development record over last 12 months

critical analysis (3,000 words)

Graduate 3

RICS accredited degreeAt least 10 years relevant experience before starting APC. Pre-degree experience can countnot required confirmed mandatory and technical achievement records

professional development record for the previous 12 months, consistent with the RICS Rules of Conduct

critical analysis (3,000 words)

record detailing the relevant technical and mandatory skills required by the APC pathway (submitted to RICS at application)

Note: Those undertaking an accredited postgraduate degree part-time may enrol on to the APC and complete the structured training concurrently. They must have graduated from their degree course before being eligible to take final assessment.Professional Experience RouteAcademic/professional qualificationsRelevant prior experiencePreliminary assessment

submissionsFinal assessment interview

Minimum of

Bachelors degree

Minimum of

5 years experience post-qualification Summary of experience against pathway competencies (2,000 words)

Case study (2,000 words) professional development record (12 months completed + 12 months planned organisation chart 60 minute interview including 10 minute presentation on one case study

testing on professional practice/ethics

OR

RICS-approved professional body membership

Academic Route Academic/professional qualificationsRelevant prior experienceFinal assessment submissionFinal assessment interview

RICS accredited degreeundertaken academic activities relevant to the profession over a 3 year period. (The three years can be a total, not necessarily continuous, i.e. in one block) four items to be evidenced from the list of options below (see note). At least one must be from each of the three lists and at least one of the four must be to level 3 in a core competency from the chosen APC pathway

Teaching options at least one from this list

Post graduate teaching qualification

Successful mentoring of research students

Course leadership and development

Research options at least one from this list

Peer group refereed research paper / report

Book

Book chapter

Conference paper

Patent

Consultancy report

External Engagement at least one from this list Engagement with employers

Consultancy activities

Engagement with professional organisation

3,000 word statement that documents the relevance of the portfolio to the profession and how this has been applied to the chosen APC pathway.

professional development records for the previous 12 months, consistent with the RICS Rules of Conduct60 minute interview based on portfolio of evidence with a 10 minute presentation on one item to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the mandatory, core and optional competencies of the chosen APC pathway in the context of teaching and research, as well as of professional practice, research ethics and professional ethics

OR

Relevant higher degreeundertaken academic activities relevant to the profession over a 3 year period on a course that is now accredited. (The three years can be a total, not necessarily continuous, i.e. in one block)

Note: All published work presented must have been published/completed within the three years and prior to final assessment interview. It must be of a quality that is recognised nationally in terms of its originality, significance, rigour and contribution to research and/or policy agendas.

Senior Professional RouteAcademic / professional qualifications and experience Management / Specialised Expertise competenciesFinal assessment submissionFinal assessment interview

10 years relevant experience, and now in a senior industry position, either in terms of management responsibility or acknowledged expert specialist status

Managers must demonstrate attainment in additional mandatory competencies in leadership, managing people and managing resourcesExpert Specialists must demonstrate the extent of specialist knowledge rsum providing evidence of meeting the relevant technical and mandatory skills required by the chosen APC pathway

professional development records for the previous 12 months, consistent with the RICS rules of conduct

3 case studies (500 words each) demonstrating competence one should include demonstration of management and leadership skills OR specialist expertise depending on the case (with the option to substitute a maximum of two of the case studies with published articles or presentations taken from the last three years) 60 minute interview including 10 minute personal introduction based on rsum

testing on professional practice/ethics and leadership and management skill/specialist expertise

With an undergraduate degree OR equivalent professional qualification AND a relevant post-graduate degree (masters level or higher) the experience requirement is reduced to five years

Notes for senior professional academics

Experience and seniority the required surveying experience is interpreted as undertaking academic activities relevant to the profession

Final assessment submission in the case studies, evidence of consultancy work should be provided

Adaptation Route

Academic/professional qualificationsRelevant prior experienceFinal assessment submissionFinal assessment interview

Adaptation 1

RICS-approved professional body membership OR relevant degreeAND

450 study hours from an RICS accredited degree either at postgraduate level or final year of an undergraduate programme or from an approved training provider (see note)At least 10 years relevant experience before starting APC. Pre-degree experience can count confirmed mandatory and technical achievement records

professional development records for the previous 12 months, consistent with the RICS rules of conduct

critical analysis (3,000 words)

record detailing the relevant technical and mandatory skills required by the APC pathway (submitted to RICS at application) 60 minute interview including 10 minute presentation on critical analysis testing on professional practice/ethics

Adaptation 2For EU applications covered by EU DirectiveThere is an EU Directive that ensures mutual recognition of professional qualification. RICS is a designated body under EU law for deciding whether or not qualifications from other EU countries would permit an individual to practise as a chartered surveyor in the UK.

Candidates for RICS membership under the Directive must be members of a relevant professional body in their country of residence. RICS will assess whether or not the requirements of any candidates professional body are equivalent to those of RICS. If there is a shortfall, RICS will identify the training and experience and/or assessment of competence needed before the candidate can be admitted to membership.

Note: The 450 study hours must be undertaken specifically for the purpose of pursuing RICS membership. Applicants can commence their study after nine years experience, provided they have completed 10 years experience before final assessment.

THERE IS NO AGE RESTRICTION FOR ANY ROUTE