The candidate support team are available at every stage of your journey as a candidate.
RICS published new Rules of Conduct on 11 October 2021, with an effective date of 2 February 2022. A new RICS Professionalism Module (including test) replaced the previous RICS Ethics Module on 2 February.
Complete the RICS Professionalism Module
Please read the FAQs document for candidates, assessors and counsellors for more information.
Download your candidate guides and templates to start recording your experience and preparing your submission. You can also access additional support resources; these include candidate community groups, free drop-in sessions with RICS assessment staff, and sample submissions.
We updated the submission templates on 31 January 2022 to align with the updated assessment process (view a summary of the changes). Please use the new templates in the sections below. We will continue to accept 2021 submission templates but recommend you use the 2022 templates for the best experience.
Associate assessment candidate guide
Download Associate assessment candidate guide
The candidate guide provides all the information you need to prepare your submission for assessment.
Associate assessment submission template
Download Associate assessment submission template
This template can be used by all Associate candidates. The template includes the case study section.
You will also need to download the pathway guide for your chosen area of practice.
APC candidate guide
The candidate guide provides all the information you need to prepare your submission for assessment and prepare for the final assessment interview.
APC diary template
Download the APC diary template
This template is primarily for use by APC structured training candidates who need to record a minimum of 200 days experience for each year of structured training. It may also be useful for all APC candidates as a record of how you have developed your competencies and therefore support the writing of your summary of experience.
APC 2018 pathways submission template
Download APC 2018 pathways template
This template can be used for APC interview assessments and APC preliminary review (written assessment) for those candidates on the newest pathways (from August 2018). The template includes the case study section.
APC pre-2018 pathways submission template
Download APC pre-2018 pathways template
This template can be used for APC interview assessments and APC preliminary review (written assessment) for those candidates on the older pathways (before August 2018). The template includes the case study section.
You will also need to download the pathway guide for your chosen area of practice.
Senior professional applicant guide
Download senior professional applicant guide
The applicant guide provides all the information you need to prepare your submission for assessment and prepare for the final assessment interview.
Senior professional submission template
Download Senior professional submission template
This template can be used by all senior professional assessment candidates. You only need one template to apply for assessment.
You will also need to download the pathway guide for your chosen area of practice.
Specialist applicant guide
Download Specialist applicant guide
The applicant guide provides all the information you need to prepare your submission for assessment and prepare for the final assessment interview.
Specialist submission template
Download Specialist submission template
This template can be used by all specialist assessment candidates. You only need one template to apply for assessment.
You will also need to download the pathway guide for your chosen area of practice.
You are currently viewing the information for UK candidates. If you are being assessed outside the UK please follow the link for your location:
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There are two submission windows every year to be accepted for final assessment.
Assessment/Pathways |
Submission dates |
Assessment dates |
APC Land and Property |
28 February – 7 March 2022 |
10 May – 01 July (see below for specific dates for each UK nation and pathway) |
Autumn dates to be confirmed |
Dates between October and December to be confirmed |
|
APC Built Environment |
24 - 31 March 2022 |
07 June – 22 July (see below for specific dates for each UK nation and pathway) |
Autumn dates to be confirmed |
Dates between October and December to be confirmed |
|
SPA/Specialist All pathways |
14 February – 21 February 2022 |
26 – 29 April |
|
|
The following dates apply to APC candidates only.
Pathways |
Assessment dates |
All Land and Property pathways |
10 May 28 June – 01 July |
All Built Environment Pathways | 23 June 19 – 22 July |
Pathways |
Assessment dates |
All Land and Property pathways |
11 – 12 May 28 June – 01 July |
All Built Environment Pathways | 21 – 22 June 19 – 22 July |
Pathways |
Assessment dates |
Building Control (including pre-July 2018) |
24 June 19 – 22 July |
Building Surveying (including pre-July 2018) | 14 – 17 June 19 – 22 July |
Commercial Real Estate (including Commercial Property pre-July 2018) |
17 – 20 May |
Corporate Real Estate | 13 May 28 June – 01 July |
Environmental Surveying (including Environment pre-July 2018) | 13 May 28 June – 01 July |
Facilities Management (including pre-July 2018) | 13 May 28 June – 01 July |
Geomatics (including pre-July 2018) | 13 May 28 June – 01 July |
Infrastructure (including pre-July 2018) | 24 June 19 – 22 July |
Land and Resources | 13 May 28 June – 01 July |
Management Consultancy (including pre-July 2018) | 13 May 28 June – 01 July |
Minerals and Waste Management (including pre-July 2018) | 13 May 28 June – 01 July |
Personal Property / Arts & Antiques (including Arts & Antiques pre-July 2018) | 13 May 28 June – 01 July |
Planning & Development (including pre-July 2018) | 24 – 27 May 14 – 17 June 28 June – 01 July |
Project Management (including pre-July 2018) | 12 – 15 July 19 – 22 July |
Property Finance and Investment (including pre-July 2018) | 13 May 28 June – 01 July |
Quantity Surveying & Construction (including pre-July 2018) | 07 – 10 June 28 – 01 July 19 – 22 July |
Research (Built Environment only) | 24 June 19 – 22 July |
Research (Land and Property only) | 13 May 28 June – 01 July |
Residential (including pre-July 2018) | 24 – 27 May 14 – 17 June 28 June – 01 July |
Rural (including pre-July 2018) | 24 – 27 May 14 – 17 June 28 June – 01 July |
Taxation Allowances (including pre-July 2018) | 24 June 19 – 22 July |
Valuation (including pre-July 2018) | 17 – 20 May 21 – 24 June 28 June – 01 July |
Valuation of Businesses and Intangible Assets (including pre-July 2018) | 13 May 28 June – 01 July |
We run two preliminary review sessions each year, approximately 5 months before the submission deadlines for the interview sessions above.
Pathways |
Submission dates |
Preliminary review result dates |
Land and Property |
15 - 22 March 2022 |
31 May 2022 |
Autumn dates to be confirmed |
|
|
Built Environment |
22 - 29 April 2022 |
30 June 2022 |
Autumn dates to be confirmed |
|
We run four associate assessment sessions each year.
Pathways |
Submission dates |
Assessment results due |
All pathways |
1–10 April 2022 |
31 May 2022 |
1–8 July 2022 |
31 August 2022 |
|
3–10 October 2022 |
30 November 2022 |
|
3–10 January 2023 |
28 February 2023 |
Some pathways require you to select a specialist area when you apply for final assessment. View the document for more information.
Pathways and their related specialisms
You will be required to declare your chosen specialist area in Assessment Resource Centre (ARC).
Confirmation of your interview date and time will be emailed to you 3 weeks prior to your assessment.
Once your assessment date has been set, it will not be possible to change unless there are extenuating circumstances. Sometimes due to circumstances beyond RICS' control, interview dates and times may change. If this happens you will be contacted, and we will follow the rescheduling procedure as laid out below.
We aim to ensure any previously referred candidates see a new panel at their next assessment. Sometimes, due to the chosen specialist area, assessor availability or other conflicts of interest this is not possible and therefore a referred candidate may see one member of a previous panel at a subsequent assessment.
Assessors are trained to assess each candidate as if it was their first time based on the submission and performance of the current assessment. Candidates should not be alarmed if they see a panel member who has assessed them before on entering the assessment room.
If you have submitted your application for final assessment, and then wish to defer, you must inform RICS Membership Operations by email. It is your responsibility to notify RICS if you wish to defer, RICS will not accept notification from a third party.
RICS will grant a 14 day cooling off period from the date you submit for assessment within which you can defer without charge, after this point a £275.00 deferral fee will be payable when you next apply.
A few days after your interview you will receive a questionnaire from RICS about your experience; RICS would appreciate you completing this as your feedback is important to us.
Chartered assessment: The result will be sent via email within 5 working days after your interview.
If you have not received your result by 17:00 hours on the due date, then please do get in touch on apc@rics.org.
APC Preliminary Review: The results will be available approximately 8 weeks after the end of the application period, on the last working day of the month (i.e. apply 15-31 March, result issued last working day of May)
Associate assessment: The result will be available the last working day of the month after the submission date and display on your homepage of ARC.
If you have not received your result by 17.00 on the due date please contact RICS. RICS disregard bank holidays so you will not have to wait longer for your result if there is a bank holiday close to your assessment date.
The successful candidates will have their names added to the Global Members Directory and a full pass list will be added to the Assessment Results within a few days of receiving your result.
Unsuccessful candidates will receive a referral report via email within 21 days from the date of their result.
Successful candidates will receive an Award Pack by post. This is ordered on the first day of the next month following receipt of the result and can take 6-8 weeks to be delivered.
Please note that successful candidates will be required to pay an upgrade fee and any increase in annual subscription* upon qualification and can be paid online at rics.org/renew. An email will also be sent alerting newly qualified members to this updated online invoice.
* For qualifications after October, the subscription invoice will cover the following year rather than the current year.
Candidates who are referred will be required to pay as resit fee of £275.00 for every additional assessment. This payment will be requested via ARC at the next application.
Candidates who are referred have the right to appeal.
You cannot appeal simply because you disagree with the assessors’ decision about your competence. The appeal panel does not question the merits of the assessors’ decision. It looks at the way the final assessment was conducted, and will allow the appeal only if, on the balance of probabilities, there was fault in the process.
It does not reach any conclusion about the candidate’s competence to practise: it considers only administrative or procedural matters.
Appeals are considered by an RICS appeal panel of three chartered surveyors who have no connection with you or your employer, and no previous knowledge of your final assessment interview.
The appeal panel has no powers to admit a candidate to RICS membership: if an appeal is approved, the original final assessment interview is disregarded and you will be given a fresh interview.
You have 21 days in which to appeal. This is taken from the date on which your referral report is issued.
The process takes approximately seven weeks following receipt of your appeal.
The panel decides to decline the appeal - RICS will write to you explaining the reasons for the decision.
The original decision stands along with the panel’s referral report and instructions on how to apply for re-assessment.
The appeal panel’s decision is final. There is no further right of appeal.
The panel decides to allow the appeal - RICS will write to you advising that the appeal has been allowed and that the original assessment result and referral report are now void.
You will be provided with a re-assessment by a new panel using the existing submission documents. RICS will do its best to establish a date suitable for all parties as soon as possible, and not more than three months after the outcome of the appeal. You may not submit any new documentation for the re-assessment.
The appeal fee will be held in credit.
Please note that the outcome of the appeal re-assessment is final. There is no further right of appeal following this decision.
Once you are enrolled as a candidate, there are many ways you can get support on your assessment journey or share your experiences with other professionals pursuing an RICS qualification?
The RICS Assessments LinkedIn Group is available to support you through your assessment by sharing knowledge and experiences of the assessments, ensuring a motivating and encouraging environment for all who are working towards an RICS qualification.
Ask questions. Provide your own advice. Access support materials.
Membership of the group is open to all current RICS candidates and any RICS-qualified professionals wishing to proactively support candidates in becoming qualified.
Request to join the group here
Not using LinkedIn yet? It provides a great opportunity to raise your profile, growing your network with other candidates, RICS professionals, the industry and wider LinkedIn networks.
A voluntary mentor scheme is operated by RICS for APC and Associate Assessment candidates. The main function of the scheme is to provide support for APC and Associate candidates. This includes assisting candidates in their preparation for assessment. They may also be able to provide help to referred candidates with preparation for their next assessment. Their role is to:
*Please note this does not include ‘checking’ submissions prior to them being submitted for assessment.
A mentor provides an independent voice, which can be used to assist the candidate and counsellor with the assessment process. Any advice given should be subject to approval by the candidate’s counsellor who has ultimate responsibility for assessment support.
A mentor is not a counsellor, and mentors are not expected to provide this role.
Finding a mentor
Become a mentor
We welcome any AssocRICS, MRICS, or FRICS members who would like to join the mentor scheme. Please email ukicandidatesupport@rics.org
If your are following the assessment of professional competence (APC) route towards Chartered membership, we can help you understand the APC process, equip you with the skills to demonstrate competencies and prepare you for the final assessment.
The APC Prep Day will take you step-by-step through each stage of your Assessment of Professional Competence (APC).
The APC candidate training plan is a best practice document for use by APC candidates who are required to complete structured training.
This document is produced to assist the candidate, counsellor and employer with creating a training plan for the candidate.
Training is available from RICS to help you through each stage of the assessment process.
Associate Submission example: Building Surveying (0.50MB)
Associate Submission example: Commercial Property (0.44MB)
Associate Submission example: Facilities Management (0.50MB)
Associate Submission example: Land Engineering (0.68MB)
Associate Submission example: Quantity Surveying and Construction (0.97MB)