I knew having a recognised qualification would help me develop personally in my role.

Anna Anthony, Estates Manager - Cherwell Business Village

I have wanted to complete the RICS (Royal Institute for Chartered Surveyors) qualification for some time. Having a recognised qualification from the world’s leading professional body for surveyors would help me develop personally in my role, as well as giving confidence that clients are in safe and competent hands.

Going back to studying for the first time since leaving school was a daunting prospect and so, with some trepidation, I began my qualification for RICS in October of 2019 with the goal of completion within a 3-year time frame.

It was only a few months later that the COVID-19 Pandemic began. I was initially worried that it would affect my progress, but in actual fact, working solely from home helped! I found the balance of working and studying far more effective with the move to online CPD (Continuing Professional Development), mainly with the many hours of travel to seminars and training saved. I found that I was able to dedicate time to focus on the qualification, that otherwise would have been difficult to balance with a busy job and a demanding family!

The process for completing this qualification was quite complex. Due to COVID, It was all completed online and involved:

  1. 8 mandatory competencies, totaling 1,000 words,
  2. 6 technical competencies, totaling 2000 words, ensuring all elements required by RICS were covered off by documenting tasks completed that clearly evidenced the skills and experience achieved,
  3. A 2500-word case study, again giving a good example of a job that I had completed within a certain time frame. This also had to cover a certain amount of the competencies, whilst giving examples of my achievements,
  4. CPD had to be undertaken and logged,
  5. And finally, I had to take an ethics test.

Once all areas were ready to submit, I submitted in early July of this year (2021).

The wait until receiving my results on 6th September was excruciating. It must have been the longest wait of my life! I am very proud to have achieved AssocRICS in less than 2-years!

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