RICS has produced a series of APC templates that must be completed by all candidates. Once you have enrolled on to the APC you will need to download a copy of the templates so that you can start recording your training and/or experience.
At a glance:
- All APC candidates in the UK need to switch to the new version of the APC Templates.
- These new APC Templates (December 2008) are available to download from this page.
- 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 Supervisors and Counsellors.
- Any existing records on the old templates (Word version) should be 'cut and paste' to the new templates wherever possible.
EXCEL TEMPLATES - VERSION 2 JUNE 09: Please note that the APC Excel workbooks have been updated. The new templates, Version 2, have been amended to reflect the changes in the APC specialist areas for Final Assessment. There is also a new area for candidates to provide details of their employment history, as well as a section for any experience gained outside of the declared competencies. If you have already downloaded Version 1 of the Excel workbooks it is NOT COMPULSORY to change to Version 2 (anybody still using Version 1 may need to hand-write their specialist area in Template 1 as the new specialist areas will not be available).
The templates available are:
When you have downloaded the Excel workbook for your particular APC pathway you should read the 'Getting Started Guide' contained within the templates. This guide details how the templates work, and how they should be completed. Each template also has in-built help functions, indicated by question marks, to assist you as you complete them. Please note RICS does not offer technical support for these workbooks, if an error occurs with the workbook please download a new version. When completing the templates please also save them on a regular basis.
Though not contained within the Excel workbooks you must maintain a day to day diary of your training and experience. You will use it to help complete your experience record. You should not record a period of less than half a day. You do not need to record mandatory competencies in your diary. These are an intrinsic part of your day to day work and are not normally part of the minimum days of experience. However, you must record your attainment of the mandatory competencies in your achievement record. Your diary does not need to be submitted to RICS however, if requested, it must be available for inspection.
On the following pages you will find an description of each of the APC templates.
Template 1 - Candidate declaration
Document purpose: To supply basic information regarding your APC and it includes a comprehensive declaration that must be read, agreed and signed by you, your supervisor and your counsellor when you are ready to come forward for final assessment interview.
Template 2 - Candidate checklist
Document purpose: To ensure that at final assessment stage you include all the relevant documents that are required and have the address of where you will need to send your submissions.
Template 3 - Candidate achievement record
Document purpose: To detail which competencies you wish to be assessed against, to indicate when you achieved each competency to the required level, and to summarise your diary recording for each year of structured training.
It is recommended that you update your logbook within the candidate achievement record every month. It summarises your diary showing the training, in numbers of days, grouped under the core and optional competency headings. This summary, which is calculated automatically from what you enter in the logbook, provides the APC Assessors with all the information they need whilst also correctly calculating your competency experience achievement. You must not record any experience against more than one competency. For each day you record you must decide which competency that day's experience covers. You cannot multi-code individual entries to more than one competency. You must not record less than half a day.
Your supervisor and counsellor must date the candidate achievement record as and when you have achieved each of your declared mandatory and technical competencies. However, it is your supervisor and counsellor, at the time of your application for final assessment interview, who must be satisfied that you have achieved all the specified competencies.
Template 4 - Professional development record
Document purpose: To capture all your professional development which has been completed during your structured training period and to evidence objectives, reasoning and learning outcomes.
Professional development is the systematic maintenance, improvement and broadening of professional knowledge, understanding and skill throughout your career. As part of your structured training you must undertake a minimum of 48 hours' professional development for each year of structured training.
Template 5 - Education record
Document purpose: To detail your further education and show any relevant professional memberships that you hold.
Template 6 - Experience record
Document purpose: To provide an ongoing record reflecting the experience gained against each competency/level covering the entire journey to final assessment (however long that may take). You should write approximately 150 - 200 words for each level of competency.
You must update this document at each of your three monthly meetings with your supervisor/counsellor. Use your diary as a prompt to remind you of the previous quarter's training and experience gained. Keep the entries brief - your assessment panel will use this document to question you on your activities.
Template 7 - Referral deficiency report - Referred Candidates Only
Document purpose: To provide a record reflecting the experience gained against each competency/level since you last sat final assessment interview.
Template 8 - Referral professional development record - Referred Candidates Only
Document purpose: To provide a record of the professional development which has been completed since you last sat final assessment interview, and to evidence objectives, reasoning and learning outcomes. If you are referred at final assessment interview you must record 4 hours of professional development every month until you next sit assessment.
