APC

RICS will send an invitation to all APC candidates who are eligible to apply for their final assessment interview in the upcoming assessment period. This invitation will go to the email address you have registered with RICS. Please make sure you keep this address up to date to ensure you receive any emails we send that are related to the APC. If you receive an invitation but are not ready to sit final assessment please advise RICS and we will move your expected date forward for the next available assessment session.

When you are ready to apply for your final assessment interview, please send RICS the following during the relevant application period

1. A copy of your completed application form for final assessment
2. Please select three potential assessment centres on your application form.
3. Signatures from a proposer and two seconders
   At least one will need to be a Fellow of RICS (FRICS) and no more than two can be from a candidate's employing firm or organisation.

All the information above including the relevant signatures must be presented at the time of application otherwise we will unfortunately have to delay your application until the next available session.

Please note that if you do not have proof of your accredited qualification you can still apply for final assessment. RICS must receive proof of your qualification seven working days prior to the date of your final assessment interview. RICS can only accept copies of diplomas or result letters as proof of qualification. Results pending ratification or moderation cannot be accepted. If proof is not received seven working days prior to the date of your interview you will be required to defer until the next available session.

RICS Assessment Centres

• View directions for RICS assessment centres

Final Submissions

An important element of your final assessment is the written submissions that you are required to have completed one month before you undertake your final assessment interview. Your final assessment submissions demonstrate to your assessment panel the knowledge and understanding you have gained and the competencies you have achieved during your structured training.

The written submissions comprise:

• APC logbook
  A summary of your training achievements that you record over your period of structured training
• Professional Development Record
  Records of the 48 hours' professional development you must undertake for each 12-month period of your structured training
• Critical Analysis
  A 3000-word report of a project or projects which you have been involved in during your training. Your critical analysis must explain the project processes followed and the rationale behind your decision making.
• More information on the final submissions is available in the APC candidate guide 

Sending your Final Assessment Submissions

Once you have successfully applied for final assessment you will need to send RICS your completed written submissions during the relevant submission period for your pathway.

The required submission documents include four bound copies of the following:

1. Candidate Declaration
2. 2006 APC Checklist
3. Achievement Record
4. Professional Development Record
5. Education Record
6. Experience Record
7. Critical Analysis

The templates for your submissions are available in the APC excel workbook for your pathway. Template 2 provides a checklist to ensure that you don't miss anything.

• View the Guide to your final assessment submission

Once your submissions have been received and checked by RICS you will receive notification of your final assessment interview date, time and venue.

Referred Candidates

If you are re-applying for final assessment as a referred candidate you must submit the following for your final assessment:

• Your existing APC submission template (as submitted previously)
• A copy of your referral report
• A new or updated critical analysis (updated as advised in your referral report)
• 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. If you were referred under the 2002 APC Guides please follow the guidance notes available

Final Assessment Interview

The final assessment interview for the APC is the culmination of all the hard work you'll have put in over the period of your structured training. It is an opportunity for you to demonstrate that you have achieved the level of competence in key areas for the clients you serve and that you understand the level of professional conduct expected of an RICS member.

The interview involves a 10 minute presentation on the purpose, investigations and conclusions of your critical analysis

At interview you will be questioned on

• Your presentation and critical analysis
• Your final submissions and development record
• The broader aspects of your experience and knowledge including ethics, RICS rules of conduct and current issues of concern to the profession
• The assessors will base the questioning on the law and best practice

On the critical analysis, the assessors will normally ask you about what you did and why you took a particular approach.

The assessors will be looking to determine your general level of ability and will take a holistic view of your training, final assessment submissions, presentation and interview.

Final assessment interview tips

• Familiarise yourself with your final assessment centre location
• Plan to arrive in plenty of time
• Revise the RICS Rules of Conduct
• Practice your presentation for the final assessment interview.

Results

RICS will send you written notification of your final assessment result 21 days after your interview date. You will also be able to check the pass list for your assessment centre online. 

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 assessment panel 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. Further details are available in the RICS Appeal Guidance Notes.

Important notes for final assessment candidates

Please ensure that your final assessment application and written submissions are complete and correct at the time you submit them to RICS. No allowances can be made for incomplete submissions, or for changing/amending any of the documentation once it has been submitted.

If your submission is incomplete it will be sent back to you by RICS and your interview will be deferred to the next round of assessments. RICS check all documents received, but cannot be responsible for the content of the documents. This will be checked by your assessment panel. Any discrepancies may result in your interview being cancelled.

Can my submission documents be delivered by hand to RICS?
Yes. Confirmation of the last date to hand deliver submissions will be confirmed in your acknowledgement letter. Unfortunately it is no longer possible to hand deliver your submissions to the RICS London office on the last day of your submission period.

What happens if I wish to defer my assessment interview?
If you have submitted your application form for final assessment, and then wish to defer, you must inform RICS as soon as possible. Notification must be received in writing/email by RICS before 17:30 on the day before the start of the relevant submission period. If receipt of your wish to defer is received after your submission period has ended a deferral fee will be charged. This fee is currently £275 and is payable at the time of your next application for final assessment.

Will I be guaranteed an assessment at my first choice assessment centre?
It may not be possible to allocate you to your first choice centre so please keep the dates free in your diary for assessments at all the centres you have selected. Once your interview date has been set, RICS is unfortunately unable to change your assessment date unless there are extenuating circumstances. Sometimes due to circumstances beyond RICS's control, interview times may change. If this happens you will be contacted and your new time will be confirmed in writing.

Rules on plagiarism
The RICS uses the Oxford Brookes University's definition of plagiarism and cheating; this is "faking or using another person's thoughts, writings or inventions as your own".

Since RICS is responsible for regulating professional ethics, plagiarism is considered a fundamental breach of ethics. All incidences of plagiarism will be referred to RICS Professional Regulation.

RICS Valuer Registration Scheme
The RICS Valuer Registration Scheme is a monitoring scheme for all members undertaking valuations in accordance with RICS Valuation Standards – the ‘Red Book’.  It is now mandatory for members undertaking valuations in the UK to register on the scheme. 

If you are qualifying for Chartered membership after 1 January 2012, you are required to meet the Valuation competency to Level 3 at Final Assessment to be eligible to sign up to the RICS Valuer Registration Scheme.  

If you do not meet the valuation competency to Level 3 after this date, you will be required to undertake a further assessment of competence in valuation in order to sign up to the scheme. Details of the further assessment requirements will be available from September 2011.  

For further information on the scheme please visit www.rics.org/vrs