Chartered Surveyor

Regulators
  • Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Nations
United Kingdom
Sectors
  • Surveying

Regulatory or professional bodies

Chartered body

Address

12 Great George Street (Parliament Square)
London
SW1P 3AD

Email address
contactrics@rics.org
Phone number
+44 (0)2476 868 555

Regulation

Regulation summary

As a globally recognised professional body, everything we do is designed to effect positive change in the built and natural environments.

Through our respected global standards, leading professional progression and our trusted data and insight, we promote and enforce the highest professional standards in the development and management of land, real estate, construction and infrastructure. Our work with others provides a foundation for confident markets, pioneers better places to live and work and is a force for positive social impact.

With over 134,000 highly qualified trainees and professionals, and offices in every significant financial market, we are ideally placed to influence policy and embed our standards within local marketplaces in order to protect consumers and businesses. In doing so, we can innovate and progress the development of spaces and places so they are fit for future generations, in addition to the challenges faced in the present.

There are two main types of RICS qualification – Associate (AssocRICS) and Chartered (MRICS):

• Associate is the entry-level RICS qualification and offers the chance to progress to full chartered status

• Chartered is the most common way to qualify as most people already have surveying-related qualifications and work experience.

Our development and enforcement of leading international standards, protects consumers and businesses by ensuring the utmost level of professionalism is employed across the built and natural environment.
Our standards documents lay out the ethical-, conduct- and competence-related standards for the profession. By working to our standards, professional members and RICS regulated firms deliver confidence and transparency. RICS ensures these standards are upheld by the profession through our system of independently led regulation.

The profession operates within our published regulatory framework, governed by an independently led board. Disciplinary decisions are made through a defined, independent process.

The Standards and Regulation Board has exclusive responsibility for strategy, policy and operational oversight of RICS' professional standards, entry and admission to the profession, education and qualification standards and regulatory functions of RICS.

The Board is comprised of non-members (independent) and members of RICS, and reports to Governing Council.

Regulation type

Accreditation

Reserved activities

None - restrictions apply to use of title only

Protected titles

Chartered Surveyor is a professional title which may be awarded only by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Holders of this title are entitled to use the designatory letters MRICS (Member of the RICS).

Being an RICS Fellow (FRICS) is a further mark of distinction and demonstrates individual professional achievements.

RICS-qualified professionals can undertake additional specialist qualifications to become chartered in their field. These qualifications are referred to as Chartered Alternative Designations (CADs).


Qualifications and experience

New professionals

Routes to qualification

To qualify as an Associate or Chartered member, you will have to pass a series of assessments.

We offer different flexible ways through the assessment process, and will support you throughout your journey to qualifying as a member.

Associate (AssocRICS)
Associate Member is available on completion of the associate qualification. You can enrol at any time in your career but must meet one of the following before applying for assessment:

1 year of relevant experience and a relevant bachelor’s degree
2 years of relevant experience and a relevant higher/advanced/foundation qualification
4 years of relevant experience (no qualifications required).

Chartered (MRICS)
Chartered Member is available on completion of the chartered qualification. You can enrol at any time in your career but must meet one of the following before applying for assessment:

Relevant experience and an RICS-accredited degree
5 years of relevant experience and any bachelor’s degree
10 years of relevant experience operating at an advanced level by seniority, specialisation, or in academia.

Direct entry to RICS membership
If you have professional qualifications, or you’re a member of another professional body, you may be eligible to join the RICS via the Direct Entry route.

More about qualification
http://www.rics.org/join

Professionals from outside the UK

Recognition for professionals outside the UK
All - there are routes to recognition for professionals from all countries
Summary of routes

As above - our entry routes apply globally and RICS operates assessments in many countries (www.rics.org/whereweare)

More about recognition for professionals outside the UK
https://www.rics.org/uk/surveying-profession/join-rics/direct-entry-to-rics-membership/

Registration

Registration requirements

When you are ready to enrol, you will need to create an online account via www.rics.org/join to register.
Fees while you are a candidate
These are made up of a one-off enrolment fee and ongoing candidate subscription fees.
Enrolment fee (UK*): £663 (+ £97 for preliminary review)
The enrolment fee covers your candidate registration, online ethics course and final assessment.
Fees once you have qualified
These are made up of a one-off election fee and ongoing subscription fees.
Election fee: £670* (reduced rate of £485 for 24-month structured training candidates)
The election fee covers your member registration and award pack and includes your first-year annual subscription fee that provides access to all RICS professional services.
Any candidate subscription fee paid (see above) for the same calendar year will be deducted from the election fee.
Subscription fee:
RICS subscription is due every year on 01 January
*Fees vary outside the UK and you should contact your local RICS office for further advice.
NOTE:
When enrolment takes place before 1 October you will pay the current year’s subscription in full and you will then be required to pay the following year’s subscription when this becomes due, on 1st January.
When enrolment takes place after 1 October, your subscription fee will cover the period from October to December of the current year and all of the following year.


Legislation

Title of relevant act or charter

RICS Royal Charter 1881

Website link to legislation
https://www.rics.org/royalcharter

Licence Finder

You may need licences and permits to carry out certain activities in the UK. These are called authorisations. Use the licence finder to find what you need.