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News Story

RICS opens the door wider to estate agents

Monday 23rd November 2009

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors is launching a new route for estate agents and letting agents to have chartered status.

The RICS is this week launching qualifications in residential survey, valuation and sales.

The move has been officially supported by a number of leading agents.

Partners of the scheme include Andrews, Carter Jonas, Fine & Country, Hamptons and Winkworth, as well as e-Surv and Countrywide Surveyors.

The new qualifications are specifically designed to provide a route into associate membership at the RICS for people who are not graduates – the normal requirement.

The new AssocRICS scheme means that candidates will be assessed both online and through relevant work experience.

Qualifications include NVQs at level 3 in the sale of residential property, and in surveying, property and maintenance. For both, two years’ experience is required. There is also an NVQ4 in valuation.

A diploma in surveying practice, which also calls for two years’ experience, is also launched.

Associate members who pass will be competent to undertake a broad range of residential mortgage valuations of single properties, although more complex or higher value properties will remain the domain of the fully qualified members of RICS.

Louis Armstrong, RICS chief executive, said: “This new entry-level qualification is an opportunity for many who would like a career in the property sector, but have previously been denied access to a professional qualification due to a lack of academic qualifications.

“For the first time they will have an opportunity to work towards attaining chartered status.

“The new qualification is a further building block in the RICS strategy to raise standards in the residential sector.

“It will assist employers in recruiting and developing an appropriately skilled workforce, and it will give consumers further confidence that they will be provided with a professional service if they use a surveyor that is regulated by RICS.
“This has to be good news all around.”

http://www.ricsassociate.org
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Posted By Brian on Tuesday 24th November 2009 14:00:39

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As long as they don't just bumb it down to let flok just by some initials to put after their name Nae or something of the like!

Posted By Past-it Pres on Monday 23rd November 2009 22:51:13

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Well the NFOPP (or as it used to be known-the NAEA)will have to examine the way in which their head of membership might have to start & understand what members in that association expect.

Posted By Agency Insider on Monday 23rd November 2009 10:54:34

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No wonder RICS is trying to tempt estate agents into their fold. If the average age of the RICS residential faculty is 55+ then without new blood it will be virtually non-existent in a few years time. This is an exercise in keeping the cash rolling into their coffers in the future. Look out NAEA, you may have a fight on your hands...for survival.

Posted By Chris Smiles on Monday 23rd November 2009 10:34:42

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Personally I feel that being a Chartered Survyor sets you apart from being an Estate Agent. This is a cynical dash for cash by the RICS which will allow "wide boys" into the RICS and eventually lead to the public tarnishing the whole institution as "Resi Estate Agents". Why cant Estate Agents just stick with the NAEA or ARLA?

Posted By Integra on Monday 23rd November 2009 10:03:42

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This is good news. For years we have seen RICS raise their entry standards to levels which have largely made membership prohibitive to huge numbers in the property profession - why shoudl you need a degree before you can even get started on an RICS qualification? It is surely where you get to not where you start that counts. Assoc RICS is a big step in the right direction.

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Editorial Contact Details - Rosalind Renshaw | rosalind.renshaw@estateagenttoday.co.uk | 01252 843 566.