Specialist submissions and assessment

Employment History

All candidates must show their full employment history relevant to their pathway and surveying profession. The purpose is to document your career progression, your expertise and key responsibilities to demonstrate how your work has contributed to achieving the required competencies and your specialist role.

All currently enrolled candidates must access the Assessment Platform to update their full employment history.

Minimum years required per route:

• 10 years of relevant experience
• OR 5 years of relevant experience if you have a relevant postgraduate degree.

Tip: Complete your full/entire career history relevant to the pathway and surveying profession. This can show progression and how you become a specialist in your area of work.

When requesting and adding new employers. This can take up to 5-days business days to be updated on the RICS Assessment Platform. Ensure this is done before any assessment windows are opened to avoid missing out.

Adding Current and Past Employer (Employment)

All candidates should provide all employment details relevant to the pathway. This can include full-time, part-time, secondment, contract, or self-employment.

For each entry, you must input and provide.

• Location: Select the correct location
• Employer Name: The organisation/firm/business name you worked for
• Dates: Start and end dates for each role
• Job Title: Your position(s) within each organisation
• Role Descriptions: A brief summary of your main duties and tasks. This can be provided as a bullet list.

Specialist Applicant Guide - Page reference: 7

Each case study must be between 1,000 and a maximum 1,500 words and be on a defined project that you have been personally involved in the three years (36 months) prior to your assessment submission date.

All case studies should provide evidence of your specialist profile, and relevance of your experience to the pathway and the mandatory competencies, especially ethics, rules of conduct and professionalism.

Sector pathways

Global Assessment Dates and Process

Case study on specialist area of work (case study 1)

1,000-1,500 words covering a project that demonstrates your specialist experience against one or two core technical competencies selected for your pathway (your specialist area of work). You must demonstrate at least one competency required to Level 3 as stated in the pathway guide.

Do not reuse any competencies from Case study 2 or Case study 3, with the exception of ethics, rules of conduct and professionalism.

Case study on technical competence 1 (case study 2)

1,000–1,500 words covering a project that demonstrates your experience against a minimum of two technical competencies (different from other case studies) selected for your pathway.

Do not reuse competencies from Case study 1 or Case study 3, with the exception of ethics, rules of conduct and professionalism.

Case study on technical competence 2 (case study 3)

1,000–1,500 words covering a project that demonstrates your experience against a minimum of two technical competencies (different from other case studies) selected for your pathway.

Do not reuse competencies from Case study 1 or Case study 2, with the exception of ethics, rules of conduct and professionalism.

Important Information

Each case study will include a mixture of mandatory and technical competencies. Your choice of project(s) is very important and must reflect your specific sector pathway. It must be based on a defined project you have been personally involved in in the last 36 months at the point of submission.

• All case studies should provide evidence of your specialist profile and relevance of your experience to the pathway and the mandatory competencies, especially ethics, rules of conduct and professionalism.
  
• You are recommended to select projects in which you have played a leading role in terms of strategy, project management, decision-making, problem-solving and client relationship management.
  
• Consider projects where you have had to deal with a key issue, anomaly or challenge that you have had the task of managing and overcoming. Make sure this relates to the competencies of your pathway, demonstrating your professionalism and ability to problem solve.
  
• The detailed technical work of the project may be dealt with by employees or contractors under your supervision.
  
• This could be a project related to a technical or professional service for a client or an internal or external activity/initiative for your employer/business.
   

Specialist Applicant Guide – Page reference: 3, 4

Each case study is structured into the following key sections:

As a requirement, please ensure you use the correct and updated Case Study template downloaded from the Assessment Platform.

It's recommended that you write to the maximum word count for each. 95% - 100% (1,425 – 1,500 words) of the allowable word count should be used without exceeding the limit. This shows that you've taken the time to craft a well-rounded submission.

Title

In this section, you should provide a name to distinguish the project. Example:

• Project Name
• Project Location
• Project Description

Case Studies

A brief overview of the key issues

In this section, you should give context to your understanding of these issues and identification.

• Describe the projects and its objectives
• Can reference some, not all, of the competencies selected

An account of your role/personal involvement

In this section, you can reference and show the specialist role you played.

• Explain what you were responsible for
• How you performed your responsibilities
• What did you do?
• Should reference some, not all, of the competencies selected

An outline of some of the problems faced and the experience you have used to resolve these problems

In this section, you should describe the problems, why they were problems, how you were able to resolve these problems with your technical experience.

• Describe your approach to the project
• How you were able to deliver on the objectives
• Should reference some, not all, of the competencies selected

A note of the outcome and successful delivery with emphasis on the role you played

In this section, you should further show your understanding of what you did and how you contributed to the project.

• Describe what you achieved
• Explain the impact on your client
• Explain the impact on your employer
• Explain the impact on your career
• Explain the impact on your future projects
• Should reference some, not all, of the competencies selected

Word Count

This minimum 1,000 to 1,500 words maximum is for the content written. Sections that are excluded from the total word count are; Project Name, Date of Project, Confidentiality Statement, Table of Contents, Competencies Demonstrated and Appendix.

• Maximum of 1,500 words for each case study
• Must indicate the total words written

Put any charts, graphs and table into the appendices to maximise the word count available

Aim to use 95% - 100% of the allowable 1,500 (1,425 – 1,500 words) allocation to showcase your skills and experience.

Competencies Demonstrated

Your case study will include a mixture of Technical and Mandatory competencies. You must list the competencies that you believe are demonstrated in each case study.

Additionally, you can bold the competency name in the written case study. This will make it easier for you, the counsellor and the assessing panel to review the written content.

It's typical for a candidate in each case study to demonstrate further technical and mandatory competencies that are relevant to the project, this is important to help demonstrate your experience and expertise to the pathway. A case study may demonstrate a total of 3-7 competencies.

Appendix

You may insert illustrations, charts, graphs, photographs or plans to this section. Please keep the attachments to a minimum, ensuring they are relevant to the case study.

• Appendices should support your report, not add to or expand on it.

Review the Specialist Applicant Guide for more details regarding the case study. Additionally, seek your counsellor to support the written content, context and suitability for the Assessment.

Please visit our page Recording CPD Activities for Candidates for more details.

Please visit our page Senior professionals, specialists and academics for more details on submission requirements.

Please visit our page Assessment applications for more details on checklists.

Now more than ever, professionalism matters.

You are required to successfully complete the RICS Professionalism module prior to the assessment. The module includes four e-learning modules and a test that all candidates must pass not longer than 12 months before submitting for final assessment to be eligible to submit for Assessment.

In the e-learning modules, you will learn about the five Rules of Conduct, which support positive change in the built and natural environments by promoting and enforcing the highest ethical standards in valuation, the development and management of land, real estate, construction, and infrastructure.

1. Members and firms must be honest, act with integrity and comply with their professional obligations, including obligations to RICS.
   
2. Members and firms must maintain their professional competence and ensure that services are provided by competent individuals who have the necessary expertise.
   
3. Members and firms must provide good-quality and diligent service.
   
4. Members and firms must treat others with respect and encourage diversity and inclusion.
   
5. Members and firms must act in the public interest, take responsibility for their actions and act to prevent harm and maintain public confidence in the profession.

As a candidate, you must also pass the Ethics Test, a 20-question multiple-choice test that tests your understanding of what you are learning. Your understanding of professionalism, ethics, and practice will also be tested during the Final Assessment Interview.

Before/During the Final Assessment Interview

There will be a significant emphasis on the Rules of Conduct, professional practice and ethics in the interview, so you must familiarise yourself with the Rules. Please remember, you can be referred on this area alone.

It will be important to review the Professionalism module again prior to your interview.

Pages to review and understand:

• Rules of Conduct
• Requirements & Support
• Standards and Regulation Board
• Profession & Standards

Note: The Assessment panel will look for opportunities to discuss ethical issues throughout the interview.

• Complete all four e-learning modules and test.
• Understand, apply, and give reasoned advice towards all five rules of conduct.
• All candidates will be tested on Ethics and Professionalism in their Final Assessment Interview.

When applying for your APC, SPA, Specialist or Academic assessment, you are required to provide the details of three Chartered Surveyors who support your application to be elected as a Chartered Surveyor should you be successful at assessment.

• Both the proposer and seconders must be Chartered Members of RICS (MRICS or FRICS).
• Your Counsellor may act as your proposer or seconder.
• A minimum of one of your proposers/seconders must be from a different firm or organisation.
• You must complete the nomination request 0-2 months before the assessment/submission date. Approved requests will time-out after 3 months.
• All candidates must seek the support of three MRICS/FRICS professional members as a proposer or seconder.

Who can be a proposer or seconder?

MRICS or FRICS members who are willing to propose and recommend you, from personal knowledge and or careful enquiry, to be elected to RICS should you be successful at interview.

When nominating a member to act as your proposer or seconder, you should first reach out to the Member directly. Once they have agreed to act as either the proposer and seconder, should you request their nominate them through the Assessment Platform.

Process of proposer and seconder nomination and approval

Candidates are required to nominate their chosen Proposers and Seconders on the Assessment Platform. The nominated proposer or seconder will have the option to accept or deny this request on the RICS Assessment Platform.

If a proposer or seconder declines a request to support your application, you will have the option to add a new request.

Best practice: Do not nominate or request support from members you have not previously connected with, have advised a conflict of interest, or randomly selected from the member portal. Candidates may be in breach of misuse of nominated Proposer and Seconder request and referred to RICS Regulations.

All UK and MENA candidates

If you are based in either the UK or MEA regions, you must complete the Intent to submit form, which opens three weeks prior to the assessment submission window. This is where you indicate that you will be applying for your assessment at the next session.

If you do not complete the intent to submit form, the submission window on the assessment platform will not open for you and you will not be to apply. The intent to submit form must be completed by all candidates, including those on an apprenticeship programme.

This helps to cross reference all entry points for the end point assessment. Please remember to check your Junk and Spam folders for assessment related communication; RICS do not have any control over receipt of your email preferences.

When you complete your Intent to Submit you need to make sure you are on the right pathway, route and have your correct counsellor details, these will be the basis for your assessment.

Important: When submitting the Intent to Submit form, please ensure your pathway, route, and counsellor are correct. Once it is submitted, this information cannot be changed.

Please visit our page Assessment dates and process for more details.

All Specialist Candidates

Specialist Applicant Guide – Page Reference: 8, 9

All candidates must complete and pass the final assessment interview to be elected to MRICS. All final assessments will be conducted online through MS Teams.

The interview will be conducted by a panel of assessors comprising a minimum of two (maximum three) RICS chartered professionals, trained and selected for this role.

The interview will last approximately one hour and is designed to determine whether you are a specialist, and:

• have applied your theoretical knowledge through professional experience
• act in accordance with RICS’ Rules of Conduct, possess the highest level of professional integrity and objectivity, and recognise your duties to clients, employers and the community
• are a good ambassador for the profession, RICS and your employer (if applicable)
• are aware of the professional and commercial implications of your work • understand your clients’ and employer’s objectives
• have an up to date knowledge of legal and technical matters relevant to the work you do and the law of the region or country in which you practise
• meet the competency requirements of your chosen pathway.

Review the following:

• Final Assessment: Video Interview guidance
• Final Assessment: Preparation, 8-week planner & Mock Interview

SPA Interview structure (60 minutes)

Candidate’s presentation (personal introduction) – 10 minutes

• All candidates must prepare and deliver a presentation that goes for exactly 10 minutes. You will give a presentation to the assessment panel based on the application you submitted.
• Must create a PowerPoint presentation.
• Presentation must go for exactly 10-minutes.
• Presentation is on your specialist profile
• This is your opportunity to brief the panel on your background and career history.
  
  
  
• You can use speaker notes to deliver your presentation with any content you share but these are the only materials you can have access to.
• After the questions on your presentation, you are not allowed to access any of the materials and may be asked to show that you have moved the materials out of your sight.
• At no point during the interview are you allowed access to your submission.

Under no circumstances must you record, or attempt to record, any element of the video call or interview. Any knowledge or suspicion of your recording, or attempting to record, the video call or interview may result in the interview being terminated and we may refer the matter for further investigation that could result in disciplinary action being taken against you. In addition, your status as an RICS candidate may be impacted including potential removal from the assessment process pending the outcome of the investigation.

Results and outcome

Specialist Applicant Guide – Page Reference: 11

You will receive your results after 5 working days (7 calendar days)

Pass result: if the outcome is a pass, steps and instructions will be detailed via email for payment, election and fees to MRICS.

Referral result: If the outcome is a referral you will be sent a referral report within 21 days of the result explaining why the assessors reached this decision.