The APC (Assessment of Professional Competence) is primarily competency-based. It requires you, the candidate, to demonstrate that you have the skills and abilities needed to perform specific tasks or functions. The competencies are based on attitudes and behaviours as well as skills and knowledge.
The specific competencies you must demonstrate depend on the APC pathway you follow. Your choice of pathway will be determined by your employment as you can only demonstrate competence on the basis of actual work experience. Your sponsor, who is the chartered surveyor you have selected to assist your through the APC, will advise you on your choice of pathway. The detailed requirements for each pathway are set out in the APC/ATC requirements and competencies guide, July 2006.
Getting Started
After you have enrolled onto the APC you can start recording your experience against the competencies of your APC pathway. You, and your sponsor must read all the guidance notes available; Graduate Route 3 guidance, Adaptation Route 1 guidance.
The next step will be to record your experience:
- All APC candidates in the UK need to switch to the new version (December 2008) of the APC Templates.
- Candidates will need to download the template for their specific pathway and save it to their computer.
- Candidates should read the 'Getting Started Guide' contained in the templates to familiarise themselves with the templates and what information is required.
- These new APC Templates should be used throughout a candidate's structured training, and should be updated on a regular basis and used at all meetings with your Sponsor.
- Any existing records on the old templates (Word version) should be 'cut and paste' to the new templates wherever possible.
RICS also recommends you look at:
Final Assessment
You will not be able to apply for the final assessment interview until your sponsor certifies that, in their opinion, you have achieved the minimum levels of competence required by your APC pathway and you have fulfilled the RICS life long learning requirements.
Please note there is no structured training period required for a Graduate Route 3 candidate. However, you must achieve the competency levels required by your APC pathway, and must address any 'gaps' in your competence as required. For an Adaptation Route 1 candidate 450 study hours from an RICS accredited degree/diploma must be completed before coming forward for final assessment. Once you have met these criteria you should:
Apply for final assessment interview; You do this by completing and returning the appropriate Final Assessment application form, Graduate Route 3 - Adaptation Route 1, to the relevant RICS office during the application period. Please note it is important that when completing the form you select three potential final assessment centres, and that you keep all potential interview dates free. When applying for final assessment all candidates must be proposed for membership by existing RICS members, and must provide signatures for a proposer and two seconders. At least one of these must be a Fellow of RICS (FRICS) and no more than two can be from a candidate's employing firm or organisation. Failure to provide these signatures at time of application will result in your application for final assessment being deferred until the next available assessment session.
Send RICS your written submissions; Once you have successfully applied for final assessment you will need to send us your completed written submissions. This must be done during the submission period. It is important that you send RICS all the required submission documents and you should use Template 2 from the APC templates to make sure you do not miss anything. RICS has produced guidance on how your submissions should be laid out. You should also make sure you read all the important notes for final assessment.
Referred Candidates
If you are re-applying for final assessment as a previously referred candidate you must submit for final assessment using your existing APC submission as-is. You must also send a copy of your referral report and a new or updated critical analysis (as per your referral report). You must also complete the below templates from the new APC Templates (December 2008):
- Template 1 - Candidate Declaration
- Template 2 - Candidate Checklist
- Template 7 - Referral deficiency report
- Template 8 - Professional development deficiency report
For more information please see the guidance available in the download section of this page.
If you were referred under the 2002 APC Guides please follow the guidance notes available.
Sit final assessment interview; Once your submissions have been received and checked by RICS you will receive notification of your final assessment interview date, time and venue. You must tell RICS immediately if you wish to defer your final assessment. Before final assessment RICS recommend you:
After the interview; RICS staff at the assessment centres will give you some important results information.
RICS will send you written notification of your final assessment result 21 days after your interview date. There are two possible results for final assessment, pass or referral. If you pass the APC you will receive an award pack and can use your new RICS designation straight away. If you are referred you will receive a referral report from your panel chairman detailing why you were not successful at interview, and what you will need to do before coming forward for final assessment again. You do have a right of appeal if you are referred at interview. For more details you should read the Appeal Form and guidance notes.
