The Associate qualification demonstrates your competence for a commercial or technical role. It is suitable for those with work-based experience or vocational qualifications. When you achieve this qualification, you will be able to use the designation AssocRICS.
The five stages of assessment
Eligibility
You must have 4 years’ relevant work experience. However, certain qualifications can reduce the number of years’ experience required, as indicated in the table below.
| Education |
Work experience |
RICS assessment |
Apply |
| No qualifications |
4 years' relevant experience |
Associate assessment + online ethics module |
Enrol online |
| Approved HND, HNC, NVQ3, BTEC or foundation degree |
2 years’ relevant experience |
Associate assessment + online ethics module |
| Relevant bachelor’s degree |
12 months’ relevant experience |
Associate assessment + online ethics module |
| Approved direct entry to associate membership |
N/A |
Online ethics module |
|
All Associate candidates must appoint a counsellor who is RICS qualified. Their role is to support you and guide you throughout your assessment journey. Counsellors for the Associate Assessment must be AssocRICS qualified for at least four 4 years, MRICS or FRICS.
Vetting
Your application information will be checked prior to assessment to confirm you meet the eligibility requirements.
Ethics
Candidates for all RICS assessments must complete the RICS online ethics module and test.
Submission
The submission for the Associate Assessment includes:
- Summary of experience – 3,000 word summary of your experience against competencies set out in your chosen pathway.
- Case study – 2,500 words on one of your recent projects that demonstrates your technical ability
- CPD – a record of 48 hours of CPD for the last 12 months
Assessment
Your counsellor will confirm when you are ready to submit for assessment.
Your submission will be assessed by a panel of trained RICS assessors to ensure you have met all the required competencies.
Download the Associate Assessment Candidate Guide
How long will it take me to qualify?
It will depend on your current experience, but generally it takes between 6 -12 months to complete the submission.
How much will it cost?
Candidate fees
An enrolment fee is payable when you apply to become an Associate candidate. This covers all the support materials, access to the online ethics module and test, access to the Assessment Resource Centre (ARC) where you will complete your submission, and the written assessment. A candidate subscription fee is payable every January to cover all the support materials and access to ARC up to the point you become qualified.
Qualification fees
When you are awarded the qualification an election fee and your professional subscription fee is payable. The election fee covers the award pack and election process giving access to all RICS professional services. The professional subscription fee covers your RICS professional status for your first calendar year. Depending on what month you qualify there may be a reduction in the professional subscription fee to take account of the candidate subscription you have paid.
Find out more information about our subscription fees
