One of the most prestigious routes to becoming a Chartered Quantity Surveyor is through the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Achieving chartership demonstrates professional excellence, credibility, and commitment to the highest industry standards. In this post, we’ll break down the MRICS competency requirements for the Quantity Surveying pathway, giving you a clear overview of what’s expected and how to prepare.
The RICS Submission
Your RICS submission consists of three key elements:
- CPD Log – a record of your continuous professional development.
- Competencies – broken down into mandatory, core, and optional requirements.
- Case Study – a detailed project write-up showcasing your experience and knowledge.
Here, we’ll focus specifically on MRICS competencies, which form the backbone of the submission.
Competency Levels Explained
Competencies are structured into three levels, each building on the last:
- Level 1 – Knowledge: Explain how you gained understanding, linking to CPD where relevant.
- Level 2 – Experience: Provide real-life project or process examples that demonstrate your range of experience.
- Level 3 – Advice: Show evidence of giving professional advice on real projects, with detailed examples of your role.
Mandatory Competencies
These apply to all RICS pathways and ensure a solid foundation of professional skills.
- Level 3 – Ethics, rules of conduct and professionalism
- Level 2 – Communication and negotiation
- Level 2 – Client care
- Level 2 – Health and safety
- Level 1 – Conflict avoidance, management, and dispute resolution procedures
- Level 1 – Accounting principles and procedures
- Level 1 – Business planning
- Level 1 – Diversity, inclusion and teamworking
- Level 1 – Inclusive environments
- Level 1 – Data management
- Level 1 – Sustainability
Core Competencies
These focus specifically on the quantity surveying profession and must be demonstrated to a high level.
- Level 3 – Project finance
- Level 3 – Commercial management
- Level 3 – Quantification and costing
- Level 3 – Contract practice
- Level 3 – Construction technology and environmental services
- Level 3 – Procurement and tendering
Optional Competencies
Candidates also select from optional competencies, showing additional depth of knowledge and experience.
- Level 2 – Contract administration
- Level 2 – Risk management
Final Thoughts
The RICS Quantity Surveying pathway is rigorous, but understanding the competency requirements is the first step to success. Remember:
- Level 1 = Knowledge
- Level 2 = Experience
- Level 3 = Advice
By structuring your submission around these levels and providing strong real-world examples, you’ll be well on your way to achieving chartership.
Find out how we can help you with Metroun APC Counselling
