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Professional groups

Professional groups

Building a global professional body fit for the 21st century

Following the positive vote of the profession in November 2018 to proceed with the changes to our governance structure, RICS has been formulating a comprehensive governance reform programme, the implementation of which will help us to become a professional body fit for the 21st century. Part of the programme includes a series of significant appointments. We recently advertised the Senior Vice President (SVP) role and applications are currently being reviewed with candidate shortlisting due to complete later this month. The next key appointment is for the Chair of the UK and Ireland World Regional Board, in time for when the current Chair steps down in the summer.

Apply here to be considered for the Chair of the UK and Ireland World Regional Board

As soon as we receive approval from the Privy Council, which we expect in Spring, we will begin the two recruitment campaigns for the new Chair of Governing Council and the Chair of the new Standards and Regulation Board. These are two key appointments in our new governance structure and we are aiming to attract high calibre individuals who will lead the delivery of the vital work of these two significant governance bodies within RICS. There will also be a series of elections to repopulate Governing Council with 15 market-based seats. If you have any questions on the governance reform programme or would like any information, please contact our governance team.

Work is also progressing on the Standards Transformation Project. We have recently produced a set of FAQs on this programme. Our Standards Transformation work aims to reshape the way in which we gather market insight and develop our professional standards. To ensure that we remain trusted to set and enforce professional standards, the project will support the adoption of a flexible, agile, future facing and connected engagement strategy with our profession and stakeholders.

Standards transformation: Frequently asked questions (0.15MB)

About our groups

Professional groups provide technical advice across the organisation.They contribute to our public policy agenda, and develop and maintain strategic alliances with other professional bodies and industry organisations/groupings.

Most groups are also responsible for maintaining alternative designations (eg. chartered quantity surveyor; chartered facilities management surveyor).

Benefits

  • Where attained, the right to use the alternative designation attaching to the specific group.
  • Receipt of a technical journal relating to the professional group's remit.
  • Alerts and updates on the latest practice developments via email.

Joining a group

As a professional, you are automatically attached to the professional group through which you qualified as part of your annual subscription (your primary professional group).

If you wish to use the alternative designation of a specific group, you must have achieved your RICS qualification through that professional group and maintain your membership of the group.

If you wish to attain the alternative designation you must complete the requirements set by that professional group's board.

You can apply to change your primary professional group at anytime by contacting the RICS contact centre. You can only normally apply to change your primary professional group if you have achieved the level of competence demanded by that professional group’s board.

Get involved with our professional groups

Our professional groups are responsible for four main areas:

  1. Standards
  2. RICS Professional Statements
  3. Market insight
  4. What we regulate

Groups are made up of our professionals who provide the technical guidance and market insight that underpin our standards and guidance. To support or contribute to the work carried out by a professional group, please contact us:

Email our professional groups team

Our professional groups

  • Our Building Control Professional Group is our home for professionals who have an interest in the regulations that govern the design and construction of buildings. It is made up of our volunteer members, led by our staff working in partnership across the following sectors:

    • small housing extensions
    • large city centre redevelopment
    • inspecting dangerous structures
    • administering entertainment licences
    • addressing safety at sports grounds and other open-air events
    • cinema and theatre inspections.

  • The Building Surveying Professional Group is the home within RICS for professionals who have an interest in the design, construction and management of real estate assets. It is made up of RICS volunteer members, led by RICS staff working in partnership across the following sectors:

    • residential
    • commercial
    • retail
    • industrial
    • leisure
    • education
    • health.

  • Our Commercial Property Professional Group is the professional specialism across the commercial property sector. It is made up of our volunteer members, led by our staff working in partnership across the following sectors:

    • retail
    • office
    • industrial
    • leisure.

  • Our Dispute Resolution Professional Group is the professional specialism across the dispute resolution sector. It is made up of our volunteer members, led by our staff working in partnership across the following sectors:

    • the appointment of RICS' third-party dispute resolvers across a range of land, property and construction disputes
    • training
    • quality control
    • the development of new commercial dispute resolution schemes and consultancy services.

  • Our Environment and Resources Professional Group is the professional specialism across the environmental sector. It is made up of our volunteer members, led by our staff working in partnership across the following sectors:

    • energy
    • environment
    • minerals
    • waste
    • education and membership
    • policy.

  • Our Facilities Management Professional Group is the professional specialism across the facilities management sector. It is made up of our volunteer members, led by our staff working in partnership across the following areas:

    • business operations
    • business relocation
    • business support
    • health and safety
    • outsourcing
    • performance measurement
    • procurement
    • property management
    • strategic planning and advice
    • utilities and services.

  • Our Geomatics Professional Group is the professional specialism across the geomatics sector. It  is made up of our volunteer members, led by our staff working in partnership across the following sectors:

    • land, engineering and hydrographic surveying
    • mapping and positioning
    • global and local navigation systems
    • geographic information science
    • engineering survey
    • cadastre and land registration
    • private, regional and international boundaries determination
    • dispute resolution and expert witness
    • land law, administration and reform
    • cartography
    • aerial and terrestrial photogrammetry, laser scanning, LiDar and remote sensing techniques
    • spatial data and metadata management, interpretation and manipulation
    • land, coastal and marine information management
    • ocean bed and resource surveys
    • monitoring of structures
    • project management
    • research and consultancy.

  • Our Machinery and Business Assets Professional Group is the professional specialism across the machinery and business assets sector. It is made up of our volunteer members, led by our staff working in partnership across the following areas:

    • valuation and agency services for all aspects of machinery and business assets in the industrial, commercial and government sectors
    • heavy industrial machinery
    • IT
    • telecoms equipment
    • ancillary equipment.

  • Our RICS Management Consultancy Professional Group is the professional specialism across the management consultancy sector. It is made up of our volunteer members, led by our staff working in partnership across the following areas:

    • business property solutions
    • management and practice
    • strategic advice
    • corporate insolvency
    • turnaround management.

  • Our RICS Minerals and Waste Professional Group is the professional specialism across the minerals and waste sector. It is made up of our volunteer members, led by our staff working in partnership across the following areas:

    • mining and quarrying
    • minerals economics and valuation
    • mining law
    • planning law
    • environmental legislation
    • geology
    • surveying.

  • Our Planning and Development Professional Group is the professional specialism across the planning and development sector. It is made up of our volunteer members, led by our staff working in partnership across the following sectors:

    • delivering sustainable development
    • financial viability in planning
    • infrastructure delivery
    • affordable housing
    • neighbourhood planning
    • urban and rural regeneration
    • tax increment financing.

  • Our RICS Personal Property/ Arts & Antiques Professional Group is the professional specialism across the personal property sector. It is made up of our volunteer members, led by our staff working in partnership providing professional advice on the valuation, purchase, sale and management of antiques and fine arts.

  • Our Project Management Professional Group is the professional specialism across the management of construction projects. It is made up of our volunteer members, led by RICS staff working in partnership across the following areas:

    • developing the project brief
    • selecting, appointing and coordinating the project team
    • represent the client throughout the full development process
    • managing the inputs from the client, consultants, contractors and other stakeholders.

  • Quantity surveyors are the cost managers of construction. They are initially involved with the capital expenditure phase of a building or facility, which is the feasibility, design and construction phases. 

    The Quantity Surveying and Construction Professional Group is the home within RICS for professionals who have an interest in the cost and procurement of construction projects.

    Professional groups are responsible for four main areas:

    1. Contributing to international standards development.
    2. Developing guidance on how members should implement these standards.
    3. Market insights in their specialist areas of practice.
    4. Consideration of how RICS should regulate members against these standards.

    The construction industry is globaland extends across all real estate and infrastructure markets. Quantity surveyors work in all sectors of the construction industry worldwide.

    In real estate this covers:

    • residential
    • commercial
    • industrial
    • leisure
    • agricultural
    • retail.

    In infrastructure, sectors include:

    • roads
    • railways
    • airports
    • waterways
    • sea ports
    • coastal defences
    • power generation
    • utilities.

    Quantity surveyors may also work in process engineering, such as chemical engineering plants or oil rigs. They must understand all aspects of construction over the whole life of a building or facility. They must have the ability to manage cost effectively, equating quality and value with individual client needs.

  • Our Residential Professional Group is the professional specialism across the residential property sector. It is made up of our volunteer members, led by our staff working in partnership across the following sectors:

    • Home surveys
    • Valuations
    • Estate Agency
    • Private Rented Sector Investment, Letting and Management
    • Social/Affordable Housing Investment and Management
    • Leasehold Estate/Block Management
    • Residential Housing Policy.

    There are four working groups made up of our professionals who provide the technical guidance and market insight that underpin our standards and guidance. These are:

    • Housing Supply
    • Estate Agency and Lettings
    • Survey and Valuation
    • Property Management.

  • Our Rural Professional Group is the professional specialism across the rural sector. It is made up of our volunteer members, led by our staff working in partnership across the following sectors:

    • rural estate management
    • agriculture
    • planning
    • valuation
    • auctioneering
    • asset management.

  • Our Valuation Professional Group is the professional specialism across the valuation sector. It is made up of our volunteer members, led by our staff working in partnership across the following sectors:

    • general valuation
    • compensation bases
    • assessment for compulsory acquisition
    • investment appraisal
    • performance measurement and analysis
    • decision taking
    • rating valuation and property taxation law and practice
    • property funding and financing.

Discover more about getting involved with our professional groups