RICS
Surveying and design · Chartered professional body and regulator
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors sets professional standards for surveying and related property work. Individual professional membership and a firm’s regulated status are separate matters.
Checked Official sources below.
What it covers and whether it is required
RICS membership is not a statutory licence for all surveying or building work. It indicates an assessed professional status; clients should also check whether the firm is regulated by RICS for the service offered.
Joining requirements and costs
Associate and chartered routes require assessment against the relevant pathway. Experience, qualifications and the assessment route determine eligibility. Check the applicable professional development, ethical and insurance requirements for the individual and any regulated firm.
Check the current fees with RICS before applying. Ask whether the quotation includes application, assessment, renewal and any per-job charges. Use published fees or ask for a written quotation.
What it means for homeowners
Use RICS’s member search to check the individual and its firm-search services to check the business. Agree the survey type, exclusions and terms of engagement. A professional designation does not mean every defect is covered by a survey or that the survey is a guarantee of the building.
How to check a claim
Official member, card or certificate check: RICS.
Match the record to the named person or contracting business. Check the current scope, not just a logo on a van or an old certificate. If the public record does not show the detail you need, ask the body to confirm it before appointing the business.
Where the scheme applies
UK and international professional body. Confirm local experience, the right survey service and the jurisdiction of any regulated firm or complaint arrangement.
Common questions
Is a RICS member the same as a RICS-regulated firm?
No. One is the person’s professional status; the other concerns the business. Check both where they are claimed and relevant to the instruction.
How do I check RICS status?
Use the official verification service linked in this guide. Match the person or legal business name, current status and relevant work category. For a guarantee, check the document issued for your contract as well.
Official sources
Sources checked November 2026. Scheme rules can change; confirm current requirements before applying or signing a contract.