Access Arrangements

Access Arrangements: Reasonable Adjustments related to a disability

RICS makes every effort to protect applicants from discrimination in accordance with the UK Equality Act 2010 (the Act) and is committed to equality of opportunity.

Conditions that may require reasonable adjustments include, but are not limited to, physical access, visual impairment, hearing impairment, long-term health conditions, learning disabilities and neurodivergence.

When applying for an assessment, RICS must consider requests for a reasonable adjustment where an applicant, who is disabled as defined by the Act, would be at a substantial disadvantage in comparison to someone who is not disabled.

A reasonable adjustment must be based on the individual needs of the applicant and their ability to access an assessment.

To apply, you should first refer to the Access Arrangements: Reasonable Adjustments policy.

If this is relevant to your circumstances, please choose the option to apply for an adjustment in the RICS Assessment Platform.

Access Arrangements: Reasonable Adjustments not related to a disability

The Equality Act 2010 includes other protected characteristics where adjustments to RICS’ assessment criteria may be appropriate. This could be, for example, a time extension to the validity of the case study and/or Continued Professional Development (CPD) record because of a career break due to parental leave.

If you require adjustments not related to a disability but may be covered by other areas of the Equality Act 2010, please contact the Assessment Delivery team for further guidance.

If you have any questions, please contact your Assessment Delivery team:

• Candidates in the UK&I and Americas – adjustments@rics.org
• Candidates for the rest of the world – globaladjustments@rics.org

Access Arrangements: Special Considerations

A special consideration is defined as a consideration given to an applicant who has temporarily experienced a significant personal difficulty at the point of taking an assessment, for example:

• Temporary illness or injury.
• An event outside the applicant’s control, such as the loss of a loved one or taking on short-term caring responsibilities, which has or is likely to have had a significant material effect on their ability to take an assessment and demonstrate their level of attainment.
   

Applicants undertaking the RICS Chartered assessment interview are asked by the panel at the start of the interview if they are fit and well to proceed, but RICS recognises that following an assessment, an applicant may wish to submit a request, in recognition of a difficulty they have encountered at the point of taking the assessment.

To apply, you should first refer to the Access Arrangements Special Considerations policy before sending your request to Assessment Delivery Team. This must be received within 5 days of your assessment.

• Candidates in the UK&I and Americas - adjustments@rics.org
• Candidates in the rest of the world - globaladjustments@rics.org
  

Access Arrangements: Extenuating Circumstances

RICS also recognises candidates may experience other extenuating circumstances not covered in the Equality Act 2010 such as:

• Serious illness or injury
• Death or serious illness of a close family member or dependent
• A significant family crisis directly affecting the applicant
• Unavoidable absence, such as eviction
• Significant financial hardship
• Legal issues such as jury service
  
  

To apply, you should first refer to the Access Arrangements: Extenuating Circumstances policy before sending your completed application to the Assessment Delivery team.

• Candidates in the UK&I and Americas - adjustments@rics.org
• Candidates in the rest of the world - globaladjustments@rics.org