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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 today's blog about?
In this week’s blog, we take a look at the RICS CPD requirements for candidates and qualified members. We also take a look at some of our favourite CPD resources, including our bespoke CPD webinar.
What does CPD stand for?
CPD standards for Continuing Professional Development. It is a requirement of Rule 6 of the RICS Rules of Conduct for Members.
It is defined by RICS as ‘the systematic updating and enhancement of skills, knowledge and competence that takes place throughout your working life. It should be closely linked to your current work’.
CPD is a commitment made by RICS members and candidates to ‘continually update their skills and knowledge in order to remain professionally competent’.
What can CPD include?
CPD can include a wide range of sources, such as:
Online/face-to-face webinars, seminars and conferences
Meetings
Private study
Mentoring
On-the-job training
Final year of a RICS-accredited part time or distance learning degree
Candidates and members can decide on their own CPD strategy, ensuring that it compliments their area of practice and competency choices. However, careful consideration must be given to gaining CPD in a structured manner and reflecting on lessons learnt.
What are the requirements for RICS APC candidates?
Structured training candidates – minimum of 48 hours’ CPD per 12 months’ structured training
Preliminary review – minimum of 48 hours’ CPD prior to submitting for preliminary review, updated again prior to submitting for final assessment
Essentially, this means that all RICS APC candidates will have completed a minimum of 48 hours’ CPD prior to submitting.
At least 50% of this must be allocated to formal development.
Your CPD hours are ‘calculated on a rolling period from the date you submit for assessment’. This means that candidates need to ensure that their CPD hours fall within the required 12 or 24 month period, working back from their submission date.
During the final assessment interview, a candidate’s CPD record will be scrutinised by their assessors – so be prepared for questions on anything included within this.
What are the requirements for RICS SPA APC candidates?
RICS Senior Professional Assessment (SPA) APC candidates have slightly different requirements to meet, more akin to those of RICS members.
This requires a minimum of 20 hours’ CPD over the past 12 months. Again, at least 50% of this must be allocated to formal development.
What are the requirements for RICS AssocRICS candidates?
RICS AssocRICS candidates also have to complete a minimum of 48 hours’ CPD in the 12 months prior to submitting.
At least 50% of this must be allocated to formal development.
What are the requirements for RICS members?
RICS members are defined as being AssocRICS, MRICS and FRICS.
RICS members must undertake at least 20 hours’ CPD by 31 December each year (i.e. January to December).
This must be recorded using the RICS online system by the 31 January each year. RICS Regulation undertake random comprehensive reviews using this system.
At least 10 hours of this (i.e. 50%) must be allocated to formal development. Members must also undertake a 3 yearly online RICS ethics assessment, which can count as formal CPD.
There are certain exemptions to the minimum requirements, e.g. maternity, paternity, adoption or family raising leave, unemployment or being on long-term sick leave.
What is formal CPD?
RICS define formal CPD as ‘any form of structured learning that has clear learning objectives and outcomes, such as a professional course, structured online training, technical authorship, learning that includes an assessment measure. This can include self-managed learning as long as it has a clear learning outcome which is clearly linked to the member’s development needs’.
There is a common myth that formal CPD needs to be paid-for training, which just isn’t not true. Formal CPD can be ‘any structured learning with a clear learning objective and outcome’.
What is informal CPD?
RICS define informal CPD as ‘any self-managed learning that is relevant or related to your professional role. This could include activities such as private study, on-the-job training, attendance at informal seminars or events where the focus is on knowledge sharing’.
What does not count as CPD?
CPD should always be planned and relevant to you and your role. It also needs to have a clear learning objective. This is unlikely to include ‘networking, social events, informal team building or planning events and involvement on boards, committees or clubs that have little or no relevance to your professional role’.
RICS provide helpful guidance on whether your activities count as CPD (Decision Tree) and whether your CPD is formal or informal (Annex A).
What are our top 5 CPD resources this Spring?
1. We have a full range of free CPD resources on our website, including e-books, revision quizzes, YouTube channel, podcast and, of course, this blog.
2. We can also provide bespoke CPD webinars for up to 6 participants on a wide range of topics, including all RICS APC and AssocRICS technical and mandatory competencies.
3. The RICS website currently provides a wide range of free CPD resources, including the online ethics module.
4. The EG Property Podcast provides excellent free content to listen to relating to the built environment and property industry.
5. The Designing Buildings Wiki discusses a wide range of issues relating to the built environment.
BONUS! The LionHeart website provides additional support to RICS professionals, which candidates and members are likely to find helpful.
How can we help?
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We offer a range of short and long-term support packages in our eShop, including our popular Monthly Mentoring and Kick Start packages.
Head to our blog archive to access even more free CPD and AssocRICS and RICS APC training and support.
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Not sure about signing up? Make sure you read what our recent successful candidates have to say in our Testimonials.
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.