How to Become a Chartered Surveyor in the UK and Ireland (Quantity Surveying and the RICS APC)

What a chartered surveyor is — and quantity surveying

A chartered surveyor is a qualified professional in the land, property and construction sectors, recognised by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Surveying covers many specialisms — quantity surveying, building surveying, valuation, land and planning, and more. This guide uses quantity surveying (QS) as its main example, but the route to chartership is similar across pathways.

A quantity surveyor advises on the cost and commercial management of construction projects — estimating, procurement, contracts and cost control from inception to completion. Studying surveying and becoming a chartered surveyor are two different milestones: a degree qualifies you academically, while chartered status (MRICS) is a separate professional assessment. This guide explains both and keeps them distinct.

• RICS is the professional body for chartered surveyors
• Quantity surveying is one of several surveying pathways
• Studying surveying ≠ chartered status (MRICS) — they are separate steps

Step 1 — an RICS-accredited degree (or an accredited conversion master's)

The usual academic foundation is an RICS-accredited degree. RICS accredits both undergraduate degrees and postgraduate master's programmes in surveying subjects, and there are many accredited courses across the UK and Ireland. An accredited degree is what makes you eligible to enrol on the professional assessment.

Importantly, you do not have to do a surveying undergraduate degree from the start. If your first degree is in another subject, you can take an RICS-accredited conversion master's (often open to graduates of any discipline) that qualifies you to enter the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC). Because accreditation status and course lists change, always confirm a specific course's current RICS-accredited status on the official RICS course listings before you enrol.

• RICS accredits undergraduate and postgraduate surveying courses
• A first degree in another subject can be converted via an accredited master's
• Confirm a course's current accredited status on the official RICS listings

Step 2 — the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC)

The APC is the professional assessment that leads to chartered membership (MRICS). It is not an exam you simply sit — it is a period of structured, supervised experience during which you build and evidence a set of competencies for your chosen pathway (for example, the quantity surveying pathway), supported by an RICS-member counsellor.

Across the APC you record continuing professional development (CPD), maintain a log of your experience, and produce written submissions — a summary of experience and a case study based on a recent project — before a final assessment interview with an RICS panel. The exact competency lists, word counts, CPD hours and required period of structured training depend on your route and experience level and are set by RICS, so check the current official APC requirements for your pathway.

Step 3 — the final assessment and MRICS

The APC culminates in a final assessment interview before a panel of assessors, typically including a short presentation of your case study followed by questions on your presentation and your competencies. Passing leads to chartered membership and the designation MRICS.

The assessment is rigorous and there is no guaranteed outcome — candidates prepare thoroughly and some resit. RICS sets the format, timing and the maximum period allowed to complete the process from enrolment. Treat any figures you read elsewhere as indicative and confirm the current rules, timelines and any resit arrangements on the official RICS source.

• Final assessment: case-study presentation + panel interview
• Success leads to MRICS (Chartered Member of RICS)
• No guaranteed pass — resits exist; confirm current rules with RICS

UK vs Ireland: RICS and the SCSI

Chartered surveying is a shared qualification across the UK and Ireland, but there are jurisdictional differences to understand. In Ireland, RICS works alongside the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI); together they award the chartered qualification, and the SCSI is the statutory registration body for certain protected professional titles under Irish legislation.

This means the professional route is closely aligned, but registration bodies, protected-title rules and some processes differ between the two countries. If you plan to work in Ireland, follow the SCSI's guidance; if you plan to work in the UK, follow RICS directly. Confirm the current requirements with the relevant body for the country where you intend to practise.

• UK: RICS is the professional body
• Ireland: RICS works with the SCSI; SCSI is the statutory registration body for certain protected titles
• Follow the body for the country where you intend to practise

A realistic route, without guarantees

For an international student, a typical journey is: complete an RICS-accredited degree (or accredited conversion master's), gain structured, relevant work experience under the APC, and pass the final assessment to become MRICS. Chartered status is portable and internationally recognised, which is one reason many students pursue it.

Remember the two things this guide keeps separate: finishing a surveying degree makes you a graduate, not yet chartered; chartership comes only after the APC. Work experience needs an appropriate employer and counsellor, and, as an international graduate, your ability to work is governed by the relevant immigration rules. This is general and professional-route information, not professional-registration or immigration advice — verify the current requirements with RICS, the SCSI, and the official GOV.UK / Irish immigration sources.