Legislative Background:
The Building Control Act 2007 has provided for the registration of the use of the title of 'Quantity Surveyor' and also 'Building Surveyor'. On May 1st 2008, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, John Gormley announced this date as the implementation date of the sections of the Act relating to QS and BS registration of title.  The Society of Chartered Surveyors (SCS) is named in the Act as the registration body in this regard.
In order for the SCS Registration Body to establish and carry out its functions, the appointment of eight Boards is necessary.

The Boards to be established for both Quantity and Building Surveyors are as follows:

• An Admissions Board - to include a legally qualified chairperson appointed by the Minister, three surveyors (Quantity or Building as appropriate to the Board) to be nominated by the registration body and four person who are not of the surveying profession to be nominated for such appointment by the Minister.

• A Technical Assessment Board - to include a legally qualified chairperson appointed by the Minister, three surveyors (Quantity or Building as appropriate to the Board) to be nominated by the registration body and four person who are not of the surveying profession to be nominated for such appointment by the Minister.

• A Professional Conduct Committee - to include a legally qualified chairperson appointed by the Minister, five surveyors (Quantity or Building as appropriate to the Board) to be nominated by the registration body and six persons who are not of the surveying profession, five of whom to be nominated for such appointment by the Minister and one of whom to be nominated by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment.

• An Appeals Board - to include a legally qualified chairperson appointed by the Minister, two surveyors (Quantity or Building as appropriate to the Board) to be nominated by the registration body and three persons who are not of the surveying profession, two of whom to be nominated for such appointment by the Minister and one of whom to be nominated by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment.

The Society has yet to receive the Minister's nominees in order to proceed with the appointment of the Boards. Upon receipt of the Minister's nominees, the Society will proceed to establish each of the Boards and initiate the process of registration of Quantity and Building Surveyors. The Society has already consulted with the other surveying bodies to nominate members of the profession for consideration for appointment by the registration body. The Society has likewise invited members of the SCS to put their names forward for consideration.

How Do I Register?
It is envisaged that the application process to register will be conducted online via a dedicated page on the SCS website. There are seventeen different routes for Quantity Surveying and fifteen for Building surveying, and each route has its own form of application. Upon the appointment of the Boards, it is expected that advertisements will be placed in the national newspapers seeking applications from Quantity Surveyors/Building Surveyors who wish to use the title. Members of the Society of Chartered Surveyors will also be notified via email.

What is the Registration Fee?
Section 62(3) of the Act provides that any fees payable to the registration body shall not be specified without the approval of the Minister. The Society is in the process of seeking a meeting with the Minister in this regard and will be in a position to advise members of the registration fee in due course.

Do All Quantity and Building Surveyors in the Practice Need to Register?
Legal opinion was sought from Senior Counsel as to who is subject to the requirement to register and more particularly if every person practicing as a Quantity or Building Surveyor or working as a qualified Quantity or Building Surveyor or in a Quantity or Building Surveyor practice whether or not working as a Quantity or Building Surveyor is obliged to register?

In summary the advice to the Society is that it is to be expected that most persons qualified to describe themselves as a Quantity or Building Surveyor would register and that furthermore, it would not be advisable for any such person not to register in particular if they are working in a firm of Quantity or Building Surveyors. As such, the Society of Chartered Surveyors is recommending that all such persons should register.

Any further queries in relation to the registration of title process for Quantity and Building Surveyors should from hereon in be referred for the attention of the Registrar to emolloy@scs.ie