Building surveyor

You'll usually need a degree or professional qualification approved by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) in a subject like:

• surveying
• construction
• civil engineering
• building engineering

If you graduated in an unrelated subject, you may be able to do a surveying postgraduate conversion course.

Course entry requirements vary, so check with individual universities which degrees they accept.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

• a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
• university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/

You could apply to do a Chartered Surveyor Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship with a construction or surveying company.

It may be possible to work towards this role by doing a Surveying Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship. You would then need to follow this up with further training to qualify as a surveyor.

RICS has more information on surveying apprenticeships.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide

If you have a relevant foundation degree or higher national diploma and are working, for example as a surveying technician, you may be able to study for more qualifications on the job to become a building surveyor.

If you have a degree, you could do a postgraduate surveying qualification through:

• a company graduate trainee scheme
• distance learning with the University of the Built Environment

Registrations

you can register with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors to become a chartered surveyor through the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) scheme

Further Information

You can find out more about careers in surveying through the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Chartered Institute of Building .

As a building surveyor, you could:

• inspect properties, identify structural faults and recommend repairs
• assess damage for insurance purposes
• establish who's responsible for building repair costs
• advise clients on issues like property boundary disputes
• act as an expert witness during legal proceedings
• make sure properties meet building regulations, fire safety and accessibility standards
• deal with planning applications and improvement or conservation grants

You could work on a construction site, at a client's home or in an office.

Your working environment may be at height, outdoors in all weathers and you may spend nights away from home.

You may need to wear protective clothing.