RICS / CICES Partnership Agreement FAQs

RICS’ Recognition of Professional Qualifications (RPQ) allows for other professional qualifications to be evaluated against RICS’ entry and assessment requirements.

If assessed as equivalent, holders of the qualification are eligible for entry to RICS membership, subject to conditions.

Recognition routes must be approved by the RICS Qualifications and Assessments Committee (QAC) and Standards and Regulation Board (SRB).

RICS reserves the right to decline the entry of any individual practitioner applying through an RPQ route. When this happens, applicants are required to undertake the most appropriate RICS assessment.

RICS assessments will be available from 1 January 2026.

Examples of when an application will be declined are:

• When applying through a recognition route, applicants are asked to confirm how they gained the qualification. If this was by way of a third-party arrangement which is not RICS-recognised in its own right, the applicant will be referred to the most appropriate RICS assessment.
• If the applicant has been previously referred at an RICS assessment, they are not eligible to apply.

You are eligible for the Chartered Surveyor designation, which is a professional title awarded only by RICS. Holders of this title are entitled to use the designatory letters MRICS (Professional Member of the RICS).

As a dual member, you can also access the Chartered Civil Engineering Surveyor alternative designation if you have met the eligibility requirements. 'See Question 'What are the eligibility requirements for the Chartered Civil Engineering Surveyor designation?' for more information.

Yes. You can apply via the CICES’ Accelerated route. This is offered to full members of RICS (MRICS / FRICS) to become MCInstCES. Further information is available online here.

No. The agreement does not include automatic access to FRICS. You would need to apply and meet the requirements set out here.

No. The agreement does not include automatic access to FCInstCES. You would need to apply and meet the requirements set out here.  

As a candidate, the agreement does not apply unless you are already a qualified member of CICES (MCInstCES) and meet the requirements for the recognition route.

RICS has a number of chartered alternative designations which are linked to different surveying disciplines.

If you are a Chartered Surveyor, you are eligible for an additional title if you have demonstrated the specific competency requirements for the alternative designation. 

Yes. You will need to undertake an additional joint assessment to demonstrate the competency requirements for the designation.

The first stage of the assessment is a written submission, which will be assessed by a joint RICS/CICES assessor panel. The panel may award the designation or recommend a full assessment interview.

Further information about the assessment will be available in January 2026.

No. You can maintain and pay separately for each membership subscription and still access the designation.

Yes. The original version of the recognition route included access to one of three RICS alternative designations depending on your CICES route to qualification:

• Chartered Engineering Surveyor
• Chartered Land Surveyor
• Chartered Quantity Surveyor

You will not lose access to any alternative designation that you were granted when you initially joined RICS. Members can hold multiple designations.

The designations are similar in terms of the competency requirements that RICS members must demonstrate. The main difference is that the Chartered Civil Engineering Surveyor title is offered exclusively to dual members of RICS and CICES.

The Joint Membership Subscription gives dual members of RICS and CICES access to a combined annual subscription fee and single invoice if they are based in the UK.

To be eligible for the Joint Membership Subscription, you must be a chartered member of RICS (MRICS or FRICS) and a full member of CICES (MCInstCES or FCInstCES).

Please see the ‘What are the eligibility requirements for the Chartered Civil Engineering Surveyor designation?’ question for further information

Yes. The combined fee varies depending on the membership grades you hold.

Yes. The combined fee varies depending on the membership grades you hold.

The combined fee is initially only available to dual members based on in the UK because each market/region will need its own financial modelling to factor in local market dynamics or conditions.

We are actively exploring new commercial arrangements as part of the ongoing partnership between RICS and CICES, including for Australia and Hong Kong where we have a higher number of dual members outside the UK.

If you are a dual member of RICS and CICES outside the UK, and meet the eligibility requirements, you can still access the Chartered Civil Engineering Surveyor designation.  See FAQ #10 for further information.

RICS and CICES have a long-standing relationship; a Memorandum of Understanding was first signed in 2013 and updated in 2018.

In 2024, an RICS/CICES working group was formed, including both RICS and CICES members, to review the agreement and put forward recommendations for suitably qualified practitioners to access the Chartered Civil Engineering Surveyor designation.

Both RICS and CICES share common goals, and our partnership, including the Joint Membership Subscription is a logical step in supporting joint members as well as being in the public interest.

This is a unique agreement for both RICS and CICES and will serve as an example of best practice in collaboration.

The Joint Membership Subscription is only available to individuals who are already Members or Fellows of both organisations based in the UK.

Eligible members will automatically be assigned to the Joint Membership Subscription and contacted directly by RICS to make payment.

If you are a UK based member of both organisations, but have not been contacted by either RICS or CICES regarding your joint membership status, please email contactrics@rics.org.

Payment for the Joint Membership Subscription can be made by logging into your RICS Member account at rics.org, or by calling RICS directly to make a payment over the phone.

The reduced fee for the Joint Membership Subscription is the result of a reciprocal financial agreement between CICES and RICS. This agreement recognises the financial burden of maintaining membership with both organisations and aims to support members by offering a more affordable option. At the same time, it ensures the financial independence and sustainability of both professional bodies.

Yes. You would first need to withdraw from the Joint Membership Subscription as members cannot received two separate subscription discounts.

As an RICS member, you would then be eligible to apply for one of the available  subscription concessions based on your individual circumstances.

CICES members who are retired can receive a subscription concession on application.

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 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.

CICES is recognised as the foremost UK-based professional institution for specialists employed in geospatial engineering and commercial management in the civil engineering industry.

The RICS and CICES partnership is built on collaboration and promotes the advancement of each Institution’s public advantage remit through the extension of professional standards and RICS’ regulatory model.

No. This is a mutual recognition agreement, building on our longstanding relationship, to offer dual members access to the Chartered Civil Engineering Surveyor title.

The partnership and agreement create a framework for RICS and CICES to continue to work together, aligning our shared commitment to serving the public advantage as independent bodies.

No. Both RICS and CICES recognise there is a role for the mutual recognition of professional qualifications.

The partnership promotes the advancement of RICS’ public advantage remit through the extension of RICS’ regulatory model. Mutual recognition supports joint members to practise in different countries as well as increasing the appeal of RICS regulation and standards both in the UK and internationally.

All RICS recognition routes must be based on a detailed comparison of the entry and assessment requirements, including:

• Competency mapping to an RICS pathway
• Academic requirements
• Experience requirements
• Assessment requirements
• Quality Assurance processes
• Continued Professional Development / Lifelong Learning
• Rules/Code of Conduct and ethical principles/standards

All routes must be approved by the RICS Qualifications and Assessments Committee (QAC) and the Standards and Regulations Board (SRB).

RICS uniquely offers the title of Chartered Civil Engineering Surveyor, a designation that carries global recognition, extensive membership benefits, and the assurance of independent regulation.

CICES brings deep sector-specific expertise and strong regional engagement within this specialist area of surveying.

The partnership gives dual members the flexibility to choose membership with RICS, CICES, or both depending on their professional focus and preference.

As a dual member, you will have access to the Chartered Civil Engineering Surveyor title.

All RICS members are RICS-regulated, including those who join via the recognition route.

All individuals accessing the Chartered Civil Engineering Surveyor designation, including those on the Joint Membership Subscription must retain full membership of both Institutions and there will be no reduction in the level of service or oversight provided by either body.

Yes. You should continue to record and submit CPD records in line with the requirements of RICS and CICES.

Not automatically. The employer would first need to obtain ‘Regulated by RICS’ status. The RICS rules for the registration of firms is online here.