How to become a chartered surveyor: train while you do your graduate job

When you join an organisation as a quantity or building surveyor, passing the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) to achieve your professional qualification is an important milestone in your career. It demonstrates proof of professional integrity and shows that your work is regulated by a professional organisation – the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

The APC helps you achieve all the skills you need to be a chartered surveyor, and when you pass you can use MRICS (Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) after your name. This confirms that you meet the minimum academic standards for chartership and have demonstrated your dedication to lifelong learning, professional practice, accountability and ethics.

To enrol for the APC you will need to have completed a RICS approved degree, although if you’re doing a conversion course you can do your APC at the same time.

Developing competences

‘The APC is a structured on-the-job training scheme ending in a final assessment and interview,’ explains Suzanne Roberts of RICS. ‘All candidates learn a variety of skills through studying core and optional competences,’ she adds. ‘You will work towards developing a variety of technical skills and you’ll also focus on key competences including professional practice, interpersonal, business and management skills.’

With the guidance and support of both a supervisor and a counsellor from your employer organisation, you’ll work to gain the experience and competences you need to meet the APC requirement, documenting these in an experience record. You will also keep a diary and log book of your work. Quarterly meetings with your counsellor will keep you on track.

The role of your employer

The support and encouragement of your employer will be essential in achieving your chartership goal, so it’s worth doing your research to find out as much as possible about the training offered by employers you are applying to. In the UK there are over 2,000 employer organisations with structured training schemes approved by RICS. You can find these on the RICS website .

When you attend interviews be sure to ask what training and support are on offer. It will show your interest in professional development and also give you an idea of the support you will get within a particular organisation.

Once you’ve started on the path to full RICS membership there are things you can do to help yourself along the way. ‘If you’re not getting the required experience in a certain area, make this known to your line manager. They will provide the support you need as they will want you to pass first time,’ advises Suzanne. ‘What’s more, if after two years you’re not quite ready to go forward for professional assessment, there is the option to defer so don’t put yourself under undue pressure.’

What does the APC involve?

• A minimum of 24 months’ training – during which you will record the experience you have gained.
• A final assessment interview.

Ongoing assessment

It is recommended that you review your experience and progress every three months with your supervisor and counsellor.

Final assessment

This comprises two main components:

• A written submission prepared in advance. In addition to your diary, log book and record of achievement, you will need to submit a critical analysis. This is a 3,000 word report on a project (or projects) in which you have been personally involved. The report should cover key issues associated with the project; courses of action taken; reasons behind the adopted and rejected courses of action; and analysis of your experience.
• A one-hour interview. This will include a ten-minute presentation on your critical analysis, followed by questions from a panel of three assessors. In the remainder of the interview time, the panel will ask you questions that will encourage you to demonstrate that you have an acceptable perception of the role and responsibilities of a chartered surveyor, as well as having the required level of competence in your area of practice.