RICS appoints leading professional qualifications expert to lead entry and assessment transformation

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has appointed Sarah Hutchinson as Chair of the newly established Entry and Assessment Review Design, Implementation and Oversight Group - an expert group leading the delivery of the most significant transformation of RICS' education and qualification standards and methodology in over two decades.

Sarah brings over three decades of global experience in professional qualifications and assessment design. She currently chairs the Board of Examiners for the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, overseeing assessments for more than 18,000 candidates worldwide annually.

Sarah has extensive leadership experience in legal education and professional development and serves as a non-executive director of BARBRI Global, which provides legal education and training to aspiring and practising lawyers across the UK, US, and internationally, supporting over 1.3 million candidates to date.

Her previous roles include serving on the Executive Board of the University of Law and holding senior leadership positions with the International Bar Association and the Law Society of England and Wales.

Sarah previously chaired the Entry and Assessment Steering Group, which conducted the RICS Entry and Assessment Review and developed reform recommendations that now shape the foundation of the new change programme.

Speaking of the opportunity ahead, Sarah said: ‘This is an opportunity to enhance professional standards whilst attracting the most able and committed future candidates to serve their communities, clients and to ensure the future of a sustainable built environment. We will ensure that the programme works in the best interests of fairness and transparency for candidates, their employers and the professions and industries in which they work.’

The Independent Chair of RICS Standards and Regulation Board Nigel Clarke said: ‘Sarah is well placed to lead the Group’s work, ensuring strong governance, public confidence, and effective delivery as we move forward into this critical phase of the transformation programme.’

Modernising the path to chartership

In close partnership with RICS Governing Council, the Group will oversee the successful design, development, and delivery of new standards and methodology for the assessment of candidates. Their collaboration with universities, firms, and candidates throughout the process will ensure the new model is grounded in real-world needs while maintaining the profession's commitment to excellence and public interest.

With the start of the transformation, RICS is implementing two complementary workstreams:

1. Improving the current model and prioritising the candidate journey, with tangible improvements in support, communications, and assessment experience.
2. Designing a new, progressive, qualifications-based model that reflects global best practice and enhances professional credibility.
    

Call for member input

Recruitment is now open for Group members - a diverse body that includes experts in education, assessment, professional development and surveying practice. Applications are welcome from RICS members as well as independent experts who can contribute to reshaping the path to RICS chartership and beyond. For those with the expertise and passion to contribute, this represents a unique opportunity to help design and deliver the next generation of surveying qualification – one that will define how professionals enter and progress within the profession for decades to come.