Being a Chartered Surveyor is a mark of excellence – one that combines academic achievement with internationally recognised professional standards.

There are four routes to becoming a Chartered Surveyor:

• Graduate- The Graduate route is for surveyors with an SCS/RICS-accredited qualification, who are engaged in relevant employment. This route requires no previous experience. It is a 24-month period of structured on-the-job training and experience, and culminates in the Final Assessment process of submission of documentation and a 1-hour competency based interview.

• Experience- The Experience route is for surveyors with an SCS/RICS-accredited qualification, who are engaged in relevant employment, and have at least ten years’ relevant surveying experience. Candidates must be approved for this route before commencing the APC. The Experience route through the APC is a 12-month period of structured on-the-job training and experience, and culminates in the Final Assessment process of submission of documentation and a 1-hour competency based interview.

• Research- The Research route is for surveyors specialising in the area of industry research and analysis, who are engaged in relevant employment. Candidates must be approved for this route before commencing the APC. The Research route through the APC is a 24-month period of structured on-the-job training and experience, and culminates in the Final Assessment process of submission of documentation and a 1-hour competency based interview.

• Academic- The Academic route is for surveyors working in the academic sector, who are engaged in relevant employment. Candidates must be approved for this route before commencing the APC, and you are advised to contact the Education for further details regarding this route.

Each of the Society’s seven divisions has set out different pathways through the APC based on a surveyor’s area of work and expertise.

The APC is comprised of a set list of skills – or competencies – set out by each of the Society’s divisions. In order to become Chartered within one of these divisions, a candidate must attain these competencies to the required level.

The competencies are a mix of interpersonal, business and technical skills.

Over the course of the APC, a candidate must record their experience against each of the competencies in a logbook. They are also obliged to attain a set amount of structured learning (through reading and research, attendance at CPD lectures, in-house training courses, etc).

A candidate’s APC is overseen by a Chartered Surveyor from within their division. The Chartered Surveyor – who is trained by the Society for this role - acts as counsellor, mentoring the candidate throughout the course of their APC, assisting them to achieve the competencies to the required levels and assessing their performance.

The APC culminates in the Final Assessment – a two part process comprising submission of documentation and the sitting of a one-hour interview. Documentation comprises the logbook and structured learning record, as well as a 3,000 word project. The 60-minute interview is an assessment of the candidate’s attainment of the competencies, based on the project and documentation.

Successful completion of the APC at Final Assessment results in a candidate being elected by the Society Council as a Professional Member of the Society of Chartered Surveyors (MSCS), a Chartered Surveyor.

For more detailed information regarding the Assessment of Professional Competence, take a look at the three APC guides:

• Candidate’s Guide
• Guide for Supervisors, Counsellors and Employers
• Requirements and Competencies Guide

Alternatively contact the Education Office at education@scs.ie / 01 6765500.

“Enrolling on to the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) enabled me to concentrate on the experience I gained in my daily working life and to push myself professionally in order to gain the practical training and experience required for each level of competency. The Final Assessment, submission and interview, represented a fair approach and environment for me to communicate that training and experience.
Successfully completing the APC and becoming an Associate of the Society of Chartered Surveyors has provided me with a fantastic stepping stone to advance my career and has given my employers confidence in my ability to perform complex valuations and advise clients, particularly during these difficult economic times”.
Deirdre Bonus, MSCS- Chartered Valuation Surveyor