Commercial/residential surveyor : Training

Commercial/residential surveyors aim for chartered status by completing the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) offered by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) . In order to do this, a minimum of two years work experience must be evidenced. An industrial training year that has been completed as part of an accredited degree, can count towards this period.

Graduates with non-accredited degrees may take a postgraduate conversion course before taking up employment and then undertake the APC training programme in the same way as graduates with accredited degrees.

The APC provides the practical training and experience to go alongside academic qualifications. It involves a final assessment interview, and once passed, the APC allows surveyors to use the letters MRICS after their name.

In order to maintain current professional knowledge and stay up to date with new developments, RICS members are required to undertake continuing professional development (CPD) every year and online study programmes are available. At more senior levels, there is a growing need for surveyors to understand business and management skills.