Building Conservation Accreditation Scheme

The RICS Accreditation scheme was set up in 1992 and since its introduction the scheme has promoted good practice and standards and has become recognised and respected throughout the industry.

The register is of individuals knowledgeable in the field of conservation of historic buildings or sites who have demonstrated experience in this field. Currently they will be full professional members of a recognised body to be fully registered member of the scheme.

The register of fully accredited members is updated regularly and is available to the public and other client groups through RICS information services and the RICS website.

All applicants for must be members of the RICS Building Conservation Forum.  

Eligibility

There are currently two routes into accreditation depending on educational attainment and experience.

• Applicants with no post graduate academic qualifications in Building Conservation
  Applicants should register with the scheme and will be required to present five projects for the final assessment and interview stage
• Applicants with Post Graduate academic qualifications in Building Conservation
  Applicants who have successfully completed a relevant and approved post graduate qualification in Building Conservation will need to present at least three projects at the final assessment and interview stage.

All applicants must be full members of an approved professional body and must be successful at a final assessment interview.

Applicants must also provide a record of relevant Building Conservation Life Long Learning (LLL) training for the previous two years.

In all cases the registration is for individuals and is not accreditation of a practice or company.

Assessment

The onus is on the applicant to prove his or her level of competence within the application and supporting documentation. It is expected that candidates will have a minimum of five years conservation experience however this may be varied in exceptional circumstance, please seek advice from the scheme administrator in the first instance.

Bona fide applications will be assessed by interview panels of no less than three members; two of whom will be accredited chartered surveyors with a thorough knowledge of building conservation.

The third member will be an independent external assessor.

Criteria for assessment broadly follows ICOMOS guidelines and is more fully described in the Guidance for Applicants.

Re-assessment

Members of the registration scheme will need to provide details of continued involvement in building conservation on a five yearly basis by submitting a record to the assessment panel of brief details together with the nature and scale of involvement and life long learning over the preceding five years. Failure to satisfy the panel may lead to withdrawal of accreditation.