The RICS APC (Assessment of Professional Competence) is the final stage in qualifying as a chartered surveyor (MRICS). It tests, through your diary, case study and a final interview, that you can apply professional judgement to real work. This guide brings together everything you need — the routes, the case study, the competencies, the final assessment and a realistic timeline — with links to detailed guides for each stage.
The APC is the structured training and assessment that leads to RICS chartered status. It combines a period of recorded professional experience with a final assessment. The aim is not to test what you know in the abstract, but whether you can exercise sound professional judgement — weighing options and giving reasoned advice — in real situations.
There are several routes (such as the structured training route and the preliminary review route) and many technical pathways — quantity surveying, building surveying, valuation, project management, commercial real estate, planning and development, and more. Your pathway determines which competencies you must evidence and to what level.
The case study is the centrepiece of the assessment: a maximum of 3,000 words, based on a real project from the last 24 months. It is a reflective account that demonstrates your judgement — the issues you faced, the options you weighed, the advice you gave, and what you learned.
Competencies are the backbone of the APC. Each is assessed at one of three levels:
| Level | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Knowledge and understanding of the principles, terminology and legislation. |
| Level 2 | Application of that knowledge in practice on real tasks. |
| Level 3 | Reasoned advice and depth — weighing options and justifying recommendations. |
Every pathway specifies mandatory (ethics, conduct, business), core technical and optional competencies, each to a required level. See RICS APC competencies explained.
The assessment ends with a structured interview, usually around an hour. You give a roughly 10-minute presentation on your case study, then the panel questions you on the case study, your competencies, ethics and CPD. Every claim in your submission is fair game. See how to prepare for the RICS APC final assessment interview.
| Stage | Focus |
|---|---|
| Experience period | Record structured experience and build competency evidence in your diary. |
| 3-4 months out | Choose your project, map competencies and plan your case study. |
| 1-2 months out | Write, review and refine your case study. |
| Final weeks | Rehearse your presentation and prepare for questioning. |
Get one-to-one RICS case study help, writing support and mentoring from a chartered surveyor — structure, evidence and refine a winning case study and prepare for your interview.
Get RICS APC supportThe Assessment of Professional Competence is the final stage to qualify as a chartered surveyor (MRICS). It combines a period of recorded professional experience with a case study, competency evidence and a final assessment interview.
A maximum of 3,000 words, based on a real project you have worked on within the last 24 months. It is a reflective account of your judgement, not a description of works.
Level 1 is knowledge and understanding, Level 2 is application in practice, and Level 3 is reasoned advice and professional judgement. Your case study must demonstrate Level 3.
You give a roughly 10-minute presentation on your case study, then the panel questions you on the case study, your competencies, ethics and CPD. The interview lasts about an hour.
Yes. We offer one-to-one RICS case study help, writing support and mentoring from chartered surveyors. Your submission must remain your own work, so we mentor and review rather than write it for you.
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