Plotting your new APC route

Many will be familiar with the graduate, experience and expert routes of the APC, but as of 1 September 2005, the RICS has revamped the categories and introduced new routes.

Some are genuinely new while others are a simple re-badging exercise of the old. The most important change is that the requirement of the “waiting period” prior to the final interview is now relaxed depending on the nature of the candidate’s qualifications and experience.

So what exactly are the new classifications?

Graduate Route Option 1

This is an old graduate route for candidates who have no prior experience, but hold an RICS accredited degree (undergraduate or postgraduate) or are studying for one. They will start the two-year process either following graduation, as part of their sandwich year,

final year of a part-time degree, final year of a distance learning degree or at commencement of a conversion post graduate course.

These candidates will have to fulfil the 24 months of structured training/experience, keeping a full record of the paper trail (diary, logbook and so on) and undergo a full professional interview that tests the candidate’s knowledge across the competencies.

If candidates have 5 to 10 years experience at any stage of their career and are currently on an old route, it might be beneficial to move to graduate route option 2. If they have more than 10 years experience, shifting over to graduate route option 3 could be a good move.

Indeed, if at a senior professional level they should consider transferring to a senior route.

Graduate Route Option 2

This is an old experience route for candidates who have 5 to 10 years experience and hold an RICS-accredited degree. These candidates will start the one-year process following graduation.

They must complete only 12 months of structured training/experience, keep a minimal record of the paper trail, but still take the full final interview. If candidates have more than 10 years experience and are on an old route, it might be worthwhile shifting to graduate route 3. Again, if working at senior professional level, consider a senior route.

Graduate Route Option 3

This is a new route for candidates who have over 10 years experience and hold an RICS-accredited degree.

Those with a non RICS-accredited degree (not necessarily surveying related) or those with other RICS-approved professional qualifications, such as MCIOB, would have to undertake an additional 450 hours of study from a final year of an RICS accredited degree, equivalent to about three modules.

Candidates in any of these three instances are fast-tracked and bypass the waiting period in terms of additional training/experience. They go straight to the final assessment at the next opportunity and must still take the full interview.

Again, there may well be cases where years of experience has led them to play a role at a senior professional level and they should consider transferring to a senior route.

Senior Management Route Option 1

This is an old expert route for senior professional candidates who have more than 10 years experience (following their first degree or professional qualification – under this route any experience prior to the degree does not count) and have either a surveying related degree, RICS accredited or not, or other relevant professional qualification.

These candidates should now be in a senior position and can be fast-tracked.

On top of the full interview, leadership skills will be tested.

Senior Management Route Option 2

A new route for senior professional candidates who have over 5 years experience (following their second post graduate degree or PhD – under this route any experience prior to the second degree or PhD does not count) and hold either a surveying related degree, RICS accredited or not, followed by a post graduate degree, RICS accredited or not, or hold a PhD.

These candidates should now be in a senior position and again can be fast-tracked. The full interview and leadership test also apply.

Whichever route the candidate takes, the scrutiny at the final interview will still be equally challenging, ensuring that the final process to Chartership of the RICS remains the most respected and desired around the globe.

Alpesh Patel is director of APC Coach. For more information, visit www.apccoach.com

Full details on the revisions are available from the RICS.