Exploring new professional pathways for RICS membership

RICS is exploring three new pathways to address evolving industry demands including increased focus on sustainability, data analytics, and retrofit solutions.

The proposed pathways are:

• Retrofit Surveying (AssocRICS)
• Sustainability Advisory (MRICS)
• Data Analytics and Intelligence (MRICS) – please note that work on this pathway is at an earlier stage of development and we will communicate further on this in due course.

The pathways will create opportunities for professionals in the built and natural environment with diverse backgrounds to join our profession, work to RICS standards and be regulated professionals.

The pilot is designed to test viability and gather insights. This will allow us to ensure that any new pathways are consistent with the standards expected of all RICS-qualified professionals and that there is sufficient demand.

Subject to approval, our plan is to launch the pilots for formal applications in stages from late 2025 and into early 2026.

No final decisions have been made at this stage.

The Retrofit Surveying and Sustainability Advisory pathways will launch expressions of interest campaigns first to gauge demand, with the Data Analytics and Intelligence pathway following at a later date.

If the pathways are approved to progress to the pilot assessment stage, we aim to open for applications from eligible candidates for the Retrofit Surveying and Sustainability Advisory pathways in Q4 2025.

The Data Analytics and Intelligence pathway will be developed for a proof of concept towards the end of 2025, with expressions of interest expected to launch in 2026 (date tbc).

RICS is the global professional body for the surveying profession. Among its functions, RICS is responsible for regulating the professional conduct of members and firms in order to:

• Protect the public,
• uphold the public’s confidence in the surveying profession, and
• uphold professional standards.

RICS’ designations represent expertise and trust across a wide range of disciplines and RICS has a leadership role in promoting standards and guidance in existing and emerging sectors, including Retrofit Surveying, Sustainability and Data Analytics Intelligence.

There is a growing body of professionals working across these sectors, advising consumers and institutions. We believe RICS can support the public and underpin these sectors through qualifying and regulating professionals. 

The RICS Standards and Regulation Board (SRB) will be asked to consider and approve the launch of the pilots in Q4 2025.

Prior to the SRB meeting, the RICS Knowledge and Practice Committee (KPC) and  Qualifications and Assessments Committee (QAC) will need to provide their support for the pilots.

We are seeking 30 candidates for our pilot round of assessments. All others who are interested, but not on the pilot round, will be kept on file and contacted if we roll out further. We will prioritise formal applications from those who have submitted expressions of interest, who meet our eligibility requirements in terms of experience and qualifications.

If formal applications exceed our capacity for the pilot we will inform any applicants not selected and they will be invited to come forward at a later date, subject to the pathway being rolled out on a permanent basis, following the pilot.

Further details will be provided following formal approval to progress the pilot, we expect to start inviting applications from the first half of November.

This will be at RICS’ discretion based on a review of applications.

Each pathway will have a pathway guide setting out the minimum competency requirements.

The guides are currently being drafted by RICS-member experts and will be shared once approved by the RICS Knowledge and Practice Committee (KPC). The date for this is to be confirmed.

The pilots will utilise RICS' current assessment methodology. This allows for controlled piloting using existing processes before considering future refinements and ensures the maintenance of the RICS standard at assessment across the proposed pathways.

Additionally, as with all RICS pathways, the assessment will be carried out by trained RICS assessors.

The eligibility requirements for the Retrofit pathway – AssocRICS include:  

A minimum of 4 years’ relevant experience. The period of required experience may be reduced as follows for candidates with an RICS-approved qualification that is relevant to the retrofit pathway

• 1 year of relevant experience and a relevant bachelor’s degree*
• 2 years of relevant experience and a relevant higher/advanced/foundation qualification*

For the Sustainability Advisory and Data Intelligence – MRICS pathways, the requirements are:

Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) Preliminary Review – a bachelor’s degree or with an RICS-approved professional body membership qualification, and 5 years’ relevant experience, 12 months of which must be post-degree/qualification.  

Or

Senior Professional Assessment – 10 years’ relevant experience and now in a senior industry position. The period of experience is reduced to 5 years with an RICS-approved qualification.

For candidates who qualify through the pilot Retrofit pathway, they will become Associate members of RICS (with the designation AssocRICS).

For candidates who qualify through the pilot Sustainability Advisory or Data Analytics and Intelligence pathways, they will become Chartered Surveyors (with the designation MRICS).

As qualified members of RICS, there will be no change to their membership if they continue to meet their obligations as an RICS professional e.g. recording their annual CPD and paying the yearly subscription fee.

Success will be evaluated based on three key criteria at specific gateway points:

• developing a coherent competency framework that can be effectively assessed to the same high standards as existing RICS pathways,
• generating sufficient market interest and candidate applications to demonstrate genuine demand, and
• ensuring the assessment process is workable and delivers a positive candidate experience.

These evaluations will be conducted through our established governance processes to ensure rigorous decision-making at each stage.

This initiative is a separate project focused on defining and exploring the demand for new pathways that do not currently exist within the RICS framework, which is distinct from the scope of the Entry and Assessment Review.

These new pathways complement rather than compete with existing routes into RICS membership. They are being designed using current assessment methodology and maintain the same high professional standards while addressing emerging surveying disciplines not currently served by our existing pathways.

The Retrofit Surveying pathway pilot will be available only in the UK and will therefore accept expressions of interest from within the UK.

The Sustainability Advisory pathway is designed for professionals globally. The location of the pilot round of assessments will depend on market demand as evaluated through the expressions of interest we receive. The location of initial assessments will be decided following this process based on participation levels and demand.

Our members will benefit from the increased recognition of the surveying profession as the premier professional body for the management of land and the built environment. This enhanced profile will elevate the status and credibility of all RICS professionals, strengthening the value of their qualifications in the marketplace.

Employers will have additional opportunities to demonstrate their support for career development amongst their staff, and their commitment to the recognised standards of RICS. These new pathways provide employers with more flexible routes to help their employees achieve professional recognition, whilst reinforcing their organisation's dedication to maintaining the highest industry standards and investing in their workforce's professional growth.

These pathways will offer a route to becoming an RICS qualified professional, which will enhance professional credibility and open new career opportunities in rapidly growing sectors.

The Retrofit Surveying pathway covers six key retrofit-sector roles - lead professional, assessor, designer, contract administrator, builder, and post retrofit inspector. The pathway is designed to address the urgent need for 500,000 home retrofits annually by 2025 rising to 1 million by 2030 (the Climate Change Committee).

The Sustainability Advisory pathway helps to position professionals as strategic leaders in environmental decision-making, ESG investment analysis, climate resilience planning, and regulatory compliance.

All pathways provide access to RICS' established professional network and dedicated CPD opportunities to support ongoing career development.

The pathways support and align to established requirements of both RICS, such as RICS’ Residential retrofit and Whole Life Carbon Assessment (WLCA) professional standards, and global industry standards and frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals. The pathways ensure that candidates have a full appreciation of documentation such as Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and statutory requirements.