What is the RICS APC? A Complete Guide for Graduates
Everything you need to know about the RICS Assessment of Professional Competence — the qualification that turns a quantity surveying graduate into a chartered surveyor.
The letters MRICS after your name are the gold standard in the surveying profession. They signal to clients, employers and peers that you have reached a defined level of professional competence assessed by independent experts. The route to those letters is the RICS APC — the Assessment of Professional Competence.
If you are a graduate quantity surveyor, the APC is the most important professional milestone of your early career. This guide explains exactly what it is, how it works, and what you need to do to pass.
What is the RICS APC?
The RICS APC is a structured training and assessment programme that leads to full membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. It is the primary route to becoming a Chartered Quantity Surveyor in the UK and internationally.
The APC is not an exam in the traditional sense. It is a practical assessment of your ability to apply professional knowledge and skills in a real work environment. You are assessed on your competencies — defined areas of knowledge and skill — which you develop and evidence through your day-to-day work over a minimum training period.
The assessment culminates in a final assessment interview with a panel of RICS assessors who review your submission and question you on your experience, knowledge and professional judgement.
Who Can Do the RICS APC?
To follow the APC route to MRICS you need to meet one of these entry requirements:
Graduate route — An RICS-accredited degree in quantity surveying, commercial management or a related discipline. This is the most common entry route and typically takes a minimum of two years of structured training after graduation.
Senior Professional route — For experienced professionals who do not hold an accredited degree but have significant relevant experience. Assessment is based on a detailed case study and interview rather than a structured training diary.
Academic route — For those with relevant academic qualifications at postgraduate level combined with professional experience.
Specialist route — For professionals working in a defined specialist area who wish to gain chartered status in that specialism.
Most quantity surveying graduates follow the graduate route and this guide focuses primarily on that pathway.
How Long Does the RICS APC Take?
The minimum training period for the graduate route is:
- Two years for graduates with an RICS-accredited degree
- Three years for graduates with a non-accredited degree or related qualification
In practice, most candidates take between two and three years from starting structured training to sitting their final assessment. The timeline depends on:
- The quality and variety of experience available in your role
- The support provided by your employer and supervisor
- The time you invest in recording and reflecting on your experience
- Your readiness for the final assessment as judged by your counsellor
There is no upper time limit — you can take as long as you need. However, most employers and candidates aim to complete the APC within three years of graduation.
The APC Structure
The RICS APC for Quantity Surveyors is structured around three types of competency:
Mandatory Competencies These apply to all RICS candidates regardless of pathway. They cover the professional, ethical and business skills expected of every chartered surveyor. The mandatory competencies are:
- Conduct rules, ethics and professional practice
- Client care
- Communication and negotiation
- Health and safety
- Accounting principles and procedures
- Business planning
- Conflict avoidance, management and dispute resolution procedures
- Data management
- Diversity, inclusion and teamworking
- Inclusive environments
- Sustainability
Each mandatory competency must be achieved to a defined level — typically Level 1 (knowledge and understanding) or Level 2 (application of knowledge).
Core Competencies These are the technical competencies specific to the Quantity Surveying and Construction pathway. They represent the core knowledge and skills of the QS profession. Core competencies include:
- Quantity surveying and estimating — required to Level 3
- Contract practice — required to Level 3
- Commercial management of construction — required to Level 3
- Construction technology and environmental services — required to Level 2
- Procurement and tendering — required to Level 2
- Programming and planning — required to Level 2
- Project financial control and reporting — required to Level 2
- Conflict avoidance, management and dispute resolution — required to Level 2
Optional Competencies Candidates select a defined number of optional competencies from a list relevant to their experience and specialism. Optional competencies allow you to demonstrate expertise in areas beyond the core requirements — for example, building information modelling, due diligence, or development appraisals.
The Three Competency Levels
All competencies are assessed at one of three levels:
Level 1 — Knowledge and Understanding You can demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the competency area. You know what it is, why it matters and the key principles involved.
Level 2 — Application of Knowledge You can demonstrate that you have applied your knowledge in practice. You have done it, not just read about it.
Level 3 — Reasoned Advice and Depth of Knowledge You can provide reasoned advice to clients and others based on your knowledge and experience. You can justify your decisions, identify alternatives and exercise professional judgement.
The jump from Level 2 to Level 3 is the most significant. It is the difference between a technician and a professional adviser. RICS assessors look carefully at how candidates demonstrate Level 3 competencies in their submission and interview.
The Structured Training Period
During your training period you must:
Record your experience — You maintain a structured training record documenting the work you have done against each competency. Most candidates use the RICS online APC system to record their experience.
Complete CPD — You must complete a minimum of 48 hours of CPD per year during your training period, of which at least 50% must be formal learning.
Have a supervisor and counsellor — Your supervisor is typically your line manager who oversees your day-to-day work. Your counsellor is a chartered surveyor who guides your APC journey and signs off your submission. In many firms the supervisor and counsellor are the same person.
Complete mandatory competency days — RICS requires candidates to complete structured training days covering the mandatory competencies. Many employers run internal APC training programmes. Others use external providers.
Submit regular reviews — Every three to six months you submit a structured review of your progress against your competencies. These reviews are reviewed and signed off by your counsellor.
The Final Assessment Submission
When you and your counsellor agree you are ready, you submit your final assessment. The submission consists of:
Summary of Experience — A structured document of up to 3,000 words summarising your experience against each competency you are claiming. This is one of the most important documents in your APC — it must be precise, evidence-based and clearly demonstrate the required competency levels.
Case Study — A detailed account of a real project or professional situation that demonstrates your competence across multiple areas. Typically 3,000 words. The case study should be complex enough to allow you to demonstrate Level 3 competencies and professional judgement.
CPD Record — A record of all CPD completed during your training period, with a minimum of 48 hours per year.
Referee References — References from your supervisor and counsellor confirming your experience and readiness for assessment.
The Final Assessment Interview
The final assessment interview is the culmination of the APC. It typically lasts one hour and is conducted by a panel of two RICS assessors — experienced chartered surveyors who have been trained as APC assessors.
The interview follows a structured format:
Presentation — Most pathways require a short presentation, typically five minutes, on your case study or a defined topic. The assessors will question you on your presentation.
Competency questioning — The assessors will question you on each of the competencies you have claimed, working through your summary of experience. They will probe for depth of knowledge, application and professional judgement.
Professional ethics — Every APC interview includes questions on the RICS Rules of Conduct and professional ethics. These questions can be scenario-based and require you to demonstrate ethical judgement, not just knowledge of the rules.
Questions on current issues — Assessors frequently ask about current issues in the profession — recent changes to legislation, RICS guidance notes, market conditions or industry developments.
Common Reasons for Referral
Understanding why candidates are referred — asked to resubmit — is one of the most valuable things a graduate can know. Common reasons include:
Insufficient depth at Level 3 — The most common reason. Candidates describe what they did but fail to demonstrate reasoned professional advice and judgement. The fix is to reframe your experience around the advice you gave and the decisions you made, not just the tasks you completed.
Weak case study — A case study that is too simple, too descriptive or insufficiently linked to competencies. Choose a project that was complex, involved challenges and required you to exercise professional judgement.
Poor knowledge of ethics — Many candidates underestimate the ethics component. RICS takes its Rules of Conduct very seriously. Know them thoroughly and be ready to apply them to realistic scenarios.
Inadequate CPD — Insufficient hours, or CPD that is not reflective. RICS wants to see that you have engaged with your CPD actively and can explain what you learned and how you applied it.
Nerves in the interview — Some candidates know their material but struggle to articulate it under pressure. Mock interviews are the single best preparation tool available.
Tips for APC Success
Start recording from day one — The biggest mistake graduates make is leaving their diary entries until the end of the training period. Record your experience as you go — it is far easier to write up a project while it is fresh than six months later.
Choose your case study early — Start thinking about your case study project in your first year. Look for projects that are complex, multi-disciplinary and that will generate interesting challenges to write about.
Do mock interviews — Find a chartered surveyor who will conduct a mock interview with you before your final assessment. There is no better preparation. One mock interview is worth ten hours of reading.
Know your submission inside out — Assessors will question you on everything in your submission. If you wrote it, be ready to talk about it in depth. Never include anything you cannot explain and defend.
Read the RICS Rules of Conduct — Read them. Understand them. Be able to apply them to scenarios. Ethics questions are not optional — they are in every interview.
Stay current — Read the RICS monthly journals, follow construction industry news and be aware of recent changes to guidance notes and legislation. Assessors appreciate candidates who demonstrate professional curiosity.
What Happens After You Pass?
On passing your final assessment you are admitted as a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and are entitled to use the designation MRICS after your name.
You will also be able to describe yourself as a Chartered Quantity Surveyor — one of the most recognised professional titles in the built environment.
After qualification your RICS obligations continue:
- CPD — A minimum of 20 hours per year, at least 10 of which must be formal
- Rules of Conduct — You are bound by the RICS Rules of Conduct for Members
- Continuing membership — Annual membership subscription and compliance with RICS requirements
Many chartered surveyors go on to pursue Fellowship of the RICS — FRICS — which recognises sustained contribution to the profession at the highest level.
How QS Support Can Help
QS Support is building a dedicated APC resource section for members. Coming soon:
- RICS APC Competency Guides — detailed guidance on each core and mandatory competency with examples of evidence at each level
- APC Case Study Templates — structured templates to help you write a compelling case study
- Mock APC Interview Questions — topic-by-topic question banks with model answers
- APC Diary Templates — structured templates for recording your experience against each competency
- CPD resources — accredited webinars and courses counting towards your APC CPD requirement
