In the property, construction, infrastructure, and land sectors, professional credibility carries significant weight. Few credentials are as widely recognised as membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
However, there is often confusion between the RICS Assessment process—most commonly the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) - and RICS Membership itself. While the assessment is rigorous and respected, employers and clients ultimately place greater value on what chartered membership represents.
This article explores the difference and explains what truly matters in the marketplace.
Understanding the Difference
1. The RICS Assessment (APC)
The Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) is the structured pathway candidates follow to demonstrate:
Technical competence across defined competency levels
Professional judgement and decision-making
Ethical awareness and compliance with standards
Commitment to Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Ability to communicate clearly under formal interview conditions
The assessment culminates in a final interview before a panel of trained assessors.
The APC is demanding and respected within the profession. It demonstrates that a candidate has met the required threshold for chartered status.
2. RICS Membership (MRICS / FRICS)
Once candidates successfully complete the assessment, they gain professional membership and the right to use the MRICS (Member) or FRICS (Fellow) designation.
Membership signifies:
Internationally benchmarked competence
Adherence to professional and ethical standards
Accountability under RICS regulation
Ongoing commitment to professional development
Access to a global professional network
While the assessment is the gateway, membership is the lasting credential.
What Employers Value Most
1. Recognised Professional Status
For employers, chartered status provides assurance. When a professional holds MRICS or FRICS, it signals that they:
Have been independently assessed
Meet globally recognised standards
Understand risk, compliance, and governance
Can represent the organisation credibly
In competitive markets, having chartered surveyors strengthens a firm’s profile. Some roles explicitly require RICS membership as a minimum qualification.
Employers rarely focus on how a candidate passed the assessment—they focus on the fact that they are chartered.
2. Risk Management and Professional Judgement
Employers value professionals who can:
Make defensible decisions
Provide sound technical advice
Manage commercial and regulatory risk
Demonstrate ethical reasoning
The RICS assessment tests these qualities—but membership confirms that the individual meets and maintains them.
3. Business Development Advantage
Chartered status can directly impact:
Tender eligibility
Framework appointments
Client confidence
Fee justification
Firms often promote the number of RICS-qualified professionals they employ as a competitive advantage.
What Clients Value Most
1. Trust and Credibility
For clients, especially institutional or international investors, RICS membership provides:
Confidence in professional standards
Assurance of ethical conduct
Access to regulated complaints procedures
Alignment with internationally recognised best practice
Clients are generally less concerned with the assessment pathway itself. They are interested in the end result: a chartered professional accountable to a global body.
2. Regulatory and Compliance Assurance
In many jurisdictions, RICS-qualified professionals are preferred—or required—for valuation, project management, and advisory roles.
Chartered membership demonstrates:
Understanding of professional standards
Compliance with rules of conduct
Commitment to CPD
Structured governance oversight
For high-value transactions, this reassurance is critical.
3. Global Mobility and Consistency
RICS membership is internationally portable. Clients operating across multiple countries value the consistency of standards that chartered status represents.
The assessment ensures competence—but membership delivers recognisable credibility across borders.
Where the Assessment Still Matters
Although employers and clients focus on membership, the assessment stage is not irrelevant.
The APC matters because it:
Ensures quality control within the profession
Maintains high entry standards
Tests practical judgement, not just knowledge
Protects the reputation of chartered status
The strength of the assessment underpins the value of membership. Without a rigorous gateway, the designation would not carry the same weight.
In short:
Assessment builds competence.
Membership signals competence.
Long-Term Value: Membership Over Process
From a market perspective, the distinction is clear:
Assessment (APC)
Membership (MRICS/FRICS)
Internal professional milestone
External professional credential
Demonstrates readiness
Demonstrates recognised status
Evaluated once
Maintained continuously
Process-focused
Reputation-focused
Employers and clients remember the designation—not the interview.
Final Thoughts
The RICS assessment is rigorous for a reason: it protects the integrity of chartered status. But in commercial reality, what employers and clients value most is the professional credibility that comes with RICS membership.
Chartered status represents:
Independent verification of competence
Ethical accountability
Risk-aware professional judgement
Commitment to ongoing development
The assessment is the proving ground. Membership is the trusted signal.
For professionals in the built environment, RICS Assessment achieving chartered status is not just about passing an interview - it is about securing long-term recognition in a competitive and accountability-driven industry.