For most surveyors, becoming chartered means passing the RICS Assessment of Professional Competence, the APC. It is the step that turns a graduate or trainee into a Member of the RICS (MRICS), and it is the single biggest milestone in a surveying career. This guide explains how it works, how long it takes, and what to look for in an employer while you work towards it.
What the APC is
The APC checks that you can do the job, not just that you know the theory. You build up experience at work, record it against a set of competencies, and then show an assessment panel that you can apply it. Pass, and you can use the letters MRICS after your name and call yourself a chartered surveyor.
Pathways
You take the APC on the pathway that matches your work. The main ones include building surveying, quantity surveying and construction, commercial real estate, residential, valuation, rural, planning and development, project management, facilities management and geomatics. Each pathway has its own mix of competencies, so pick the one that fits the work you do day to day.
Competencies and levels
Competencies come in three groups: mandatory (things every surveyor needs, such as ethics, communication and client care), core (the heart of your pathway) and optional (areas you choose). Each is assessed at up to three levels:
- Level 1: knowledge and understanding.
- Level 2: applying that knowledge in practice.
- Level 3: giving reasoned advice to clients.
How long it takes
Most graduates follow a period of structured training of around two years while working, logging experience as they go. People with more experience can often take a shorter route. The RICS sets out the current routes and requirements, so check the latest guidance before you start.
What you submit
A typical submission includes a summary of your experience against each competency, a case study on a project you worked on, a record of your continuing professional development, and the RICS ethics module. Your counsellor, an experienced chartered surveyor, signs it off when you are ready.
The final assessment
The final step is an interview with a panel of assessors. You present your case study, then answer questions on it, on your competencies and on ethics. Plenty of mock interviews beforehand make a real difference.
Finding an employer who will support you
Good APC support can save months. When you read a job advert, look for:
- a named supervisor and counsellor, so someone is guiding your training;
- fees paid for your APC and RICS membership;
- study time, training sessions and mock interviews;
- a spread of work that covers your pathway's competencies, not just one task.
On SURVEYINGJOBS.COM, adverts that mention APC support carry an APC support badge. See jobs that mention the APC, or get them in your inbox with the Weekly.
After you qualify
Chartered status usually brings a step up in pay and responsibility. See our salary guide for typical pay at each level, and surveying job titles explained for what comes next.