Becoming MRICS in the USA and Americas
- Jen Lemen
- Apr 1
- 6 min read
Building a Better You
Property Elite’s sole aim is to build better property professionals - supporting your career every step of the way, whether you are an AssocRICS or RICS APC candidate or a MRICS or FRICS Chartered Surveyor simply seeking engaging CPD.
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What is this blog about?
In this week’s blog, find out how you can become a Chartered Surveyor if you live and work in the USA or Americas region. We will also look at how Property Elite are supporting RICS APC candidates in the Americas region.
Where is the Americas region?
The Americas region includes North America (USA) and South America.
The 2024 RICS Survey of the Profession revealed the following statistics about RICS in the Americas region:
What are the risks and rewards of working in the Americas region?
We suggest reading more about the property and construction markets relevant to your area of work:
There will also be different issues and opportunities in each sub-region of the Americas, as well as the impacts of the wider geopolitical climate following the new Trump administration.
The risks and rewards you face will depend on your market, region and area of practice – so we recommend undertaking your research carefully and speaking to surveyors already working in the Americas.
Do I need a visa to work in the Americas?
This is a question that is outside the scope of this article, and one left best to the experts in recruitment and visas!
However, we would recommend reading this LinkedIn post, by HeatherDaniel International on the E2 visas pathway.
What is it like to work in the Americas?
These two articles from RICS explain what it is like to relocate abroad for work:
You may also already be a resident or ex-pat in the Americas, so you will have a good idea of what your future surveying career may be like.
We would recommend also reading this (now slightly outdated) RICS article on the growing role of quantity surveyors in the USA.
We also found some information on surveyors in the USA on the USA Bureau of Labor Statistics website and the O*NET website, although neither actually mentions the RICS!
What are the benefits of becoming MRICS?
There are so many benefits, in our view, of becoming MRICS! Not only in the Americas, but in any world region.
Here are a few of the most rewarding benefits:
Recognising and demonstrating your expertise and competence to clients and the market
Advancing your knowledge
Demonstrating and adhering to the highest standards of ethics and professionalism via the RICS Rules of Conduct
Providing a competitive advantage
Joining a wider network of over 134,000 surveying professionals
You can read more on the RICS website, as well as Robert Kim’s (of Soben North America) article on why more quantity surveyors are needed in the USA.
How do I become a Chartered Surveyor in the Americas?
Becoming a Chartered Surveyor involves the same process, passing the RICS Assessment of Professional Competence (APC), no matter where you live or work in the world (unless you qualify for Direct Entry, which will apply in a very small number of circumstances – read more about this below).
You can read more about the APC process in our free E-Book Guide.
Our APC clients in the Americas region come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Some have completed non-cognate degrees (e.g,, finance or geography), which are not RICS accredited, and already have substantial experience, whilst others have undertaken RICS accredited degrees in the Americas or abroad (e.g., in the UK and then relocated for work).
If you want to pursue a RICS accredited undergraduate or postgraduate degree in the Americas, then there are fairly limited options available. We undertook a brief search on the RICS Courses website for the USA and found the following:
You could also look at distance learning options at a variety of UK institutions, such as UCEM or UWE.
Your route to becoming MRICS will depend on your background, in most cases whether you have an RICS accredited degree or not, and how much experience you have. Typically, non-accredited degrees (and over 5 years’ experience) give access via Preliminary Review, whilst RICS accredited degrees give access via Structured Training (0-10 years’ experience, with Structured Training dropping away if you have over 10 years’ experience). However, you may also be eligible for the Senior Professional or Specialist route, if you are at a more advanced stage of your career.
Please contact us via our chat box or book in a free consultation, if you would like to discuss what route is right for you.
What about Direct Entry?
We often receive enquiries about direct entry. This is a route to becoming MRICS which, in fact, does not involve going through the APC submission and interview process.
You can read more about which qualifications are applicable for Direct Entry to become MRICS on the RICS website. These qualifications are usually achieved outside of the UK and reflect a similar level of competence, professionalism and experience to that required of Chartered Surveyors who are MRICS and have passed the RICS APC.
It is easy to confuse the requirements for pure Direct Entry versus Direct Entry with Preliminary Review, so make sure you are checking the right information.
For pure Direct Entry, review the list of qualifications (on pages 4-5 of the MRICS document) for your Americas country of practice.
If applying for Direct Entry with an approved qualification, applicants must:
Be put forward (proposed for entry) by an existing Chartered Surveyor (MRICS or FRICS)
Complete the online RICS Professionalism Module
Submit a CV to RICS with a full summary of their relevant experience and CPD record (if requested)
Provide proof from their professional body that they are a full, current member, together with their route to achieving the qualification Provide proof that they are not subject to any regulatory or disciplinary action, or any sanctions, by their professional body
There are also some limited qualifications that provide Direct Entry to AssocRICS, primarily for valuers in the Caribbean.
If unsuccessful through the Direct Entry process, if a candidate is eligible for another RICS APC route, such as Preliminary Review, then they can still apply for this separately. This means that they must undergo the usual submission and interview process.
For Direct Entry via Preliminary Review (or the Senior Professional Assessment, SPA, or Specialist Assessment), the following USA qualifications are valid:
Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering International (AACEI) – Member with the certification Certified Cost Consultant (CCC) or Certified Cost Engineer (CCE) or Certified Cost Professional (CCP)
Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR) – Full Member
You are still required to undergo the final assessment submission and interview if you have either of the above qualifications.
If you are qualifying or practising in the Americas, then you will need to have experience in the jurisdiction you are working in. This will require an in-depth knowledge of any licensing, laws, regulations and RICS guidance relevant to your area of practice.
Two key areas for valuers includes specific RICS USA valuation guidance and the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).
Construction professionals may, in contrast, need to know about USA-specific contracts, whilst real estate professionals will need to know about relevant property law.
How can I find out more?
The RICS Americas APC candidate support page provides a great starting point. This also provides contact details for RICS regional representative Allen Williams (allenwilliams@rics.org) for individual guidance and assistance.
You can also use the RICS Recruit website to search for opportunities in the Americas.
How can we help?
Don't leave it too late to book your submission feedback and review, APC question pack, e-mock interview or 1-2-1 mentoring. We also provide revision quizzes, revision guides and a CPD Webinar Package.
We offer a range of short and long-term support packages in our eShop, including our popular Monthly Mentoring and Kick Start packages. These can include an RICS APC or AssocRICS Counsellor in certain circumstances.
Head to our blog archive to access even more free CPD and AssocRICS and RICS APC training and support.
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Stay tuned for our next blog post to help build a better you.
N.b. Nothing in this article constitutes legal, professional or financial advice.