Building Conservation Accreditation

The RICS Building Conservation Accreditation Scheme (BCAS) was established in 1992 to provide recognition for individuals specialising in conservation of scheduled monuments, historic buildings or sites.

The effective management of historic assets requires factors to be considered beyond those recognised for conventional assets. These factors include the cultural and social value of an asset, its materials and construction, desire for public access and the impact of legislative requirements.

As a result, clients with a vested interest in historic assets seek professionals who can demonstrate an understanding of these factors and possess the knowledge and skills to manage the expectations of multiple stakeholders. These stakeholders include occupiers, owners, investors, government, national heritage bodies, amenity societies and the public.

Accreditation provides a rigorous assessment and monitoring programme ensuring individuals affecting the historic environment understand the approach required to manage our historic assets and the impact of their decisions on all stakeholders. It is only awarded to individuals who are prepared to maintain exemplary standards.

The benefits

Industry profile

Accreditation is supported by many funding bodies and owners of historic buildings and sites.

BCAS register and logo

Your details and contact information will appear on the RICS Building Conservation Accreditation register which is published on rics.org, so clients will be able to find you.

You will also have exclusive access to the RICS Certified Historic Building Professional logo:

Eligibility

All applicants must:

be a Chartered member of RICS (MRICS or FRICS)
have current and relevant practical experience to be able to demonstrate the BCAS competencies.

Practical experience is essential, and it is recommended applicants have a minimum of five years’ experience related to conservation.

How to apply

There are two stages – the assessment application and the assessment interview.

Before applying, please read the applicant guide to ensure your application meets the requirements for the assessment and to help you prepare for your professional interview.

There are three assessment windows per year: