APC Trainer: Can you pass the mandatory competencies?

This week’s question focuses on the mandatory competencies. These are a mix of professional practice, business, interpersonal and management skills that are considered common to all chartered surveyors.

If you recall from previous articles, assessors are trained to ask questions that ascertain candidate’s progress against the three APC competency levels:

Level 1 knowledge and understanding (‘knowing’)
Level 2 application of knowledge and understanding (‘doing’)
Level 3 reasoned advice and depth of technical knowledge (‘advising’)

The following questions are typical of those that could be reasonably expected at final assessment.

Level 1

Question In terms of business planning, how does the management of your company ensure that you are making a profit?

Answer While the candidate would not be expected to know the details of their company’s internal financial procedures, they should be able to show an appreciation of the general approach taken and be able to describe some of the following tools and techniques:

• Timesheets
• Resourcing forward planners
• Financial management software systems
• Fee/cost reconciliation tools

Level 2

Question On the project described in your critical analysis, what measures did you or your company take to ensure good standards of health and safety when either undertaking your work or delivering the project?

Answer Again, the assessors would look for a broad understanding that demonstrates the appropriate level of competency. The candidate may describe some of the following:

• Preparing or contributing to work method statements or risk assessments
• Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Adhering to the principal contractor's site rules
• Attending site inductions
• Ensuring that health and safety was discussed at progress meetings
• Appointing or acting as CDM coordinator

Level 3

Question When seeking tenders for professional services, in addition to the actual fee bid, what sort of information would clients typically expect to be submitted by the consultant?

(Note: this question may be phrased differently if the candidate works for a contracting organisation)

Answer The candidate should describe, among others, some of the following:

• Track record or previous experience
• Management structure
• Proposed team
• CVs or pen profiles
• Proposed methodology or approach
• Resource profile and cashflow forecast
• References
• Case studies