RICS APC and AssocRICS Lifeline - CPD by Jen Lemen

RICS APC and AssocRICS Lifeline - CPD by Jen Lemen

In this article we take a look at the CPD requirements for RICS APC and AssocRICS candidates, together with our top tips for getting your CPD record right first time.

What is CPD?

Continuing Professional Development, or CPD, is defined by RICS as ‘the systematic updating and enhancement of skills, knowledge and competence that takes place throughout your working life’.

What are requirements for RICS APC candidates?

A minimum of 48 hours’ CPD every 12 months. At least 50% of this must be formal.

This means that if you are undertaking structured training, you need a minimum of 48 hours per 12 months of structured training.
If you are undertaking preliminary review, you need a minimum of 48 hours in the 12 months prior to submitting. You will then need to update your CPD record to meet the minimum requirements again prior to submitting for final assessment.
If you are proceeding straight to interview, you need a minimum of 48 hours in the 12 months prior to submitting. 

What are requirements for RICS APC Senior Professional and Specialist candidates?

A minimum of 20 hours’ CPD in the 12 months prior to submitting. At least 50% of this must be formal.

What are requirements for RICS AssocRICS candidates?

A minimum of 48 hours’ CPD in the 12 months prior to submitting. At least 50% of this must be formal.

How are my CPD hours calculated?

Your CPD hours are calculated on a rolling period from the date you submit for assessment. This means that you need to work back from your submission date by either 12 or 24 months, as appropriate to your route.

What is formal CPD?

Formal CPD is defined by RICS as ‘any form of structured learning that has clear learning objectives and outcomes, such as a professional course or structured online training. It could also be learning that includes an assessment measure’.
Formal CPD does not have to be provided by RICS and it can include free activities or events, so long as they meet the requirements for being formal CPD.

What is informal CPD?

Informal CPD is defined by RICS as ‘any self-managed learning that is relevant or related to a member’s 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’.

Are there any activities that cannot count as CPD?

Yes, any activity that does not have a clear learning purpose or does not relate to your role and/or specialism. Examples include networking, social events, team meetings, informal planning events and involvement on boards, committees or clubs that have little or no relevance to your professional role.

How do I know the difference between formal and informal CPD?

The RICS provide useful guidance to help inform your decision as to whether a certain activity constitutes formal or informal CPD. Essentially, if an activity has a clear learning objective and is structured, then it is likely to be formal CPD.

Can my part-time or distance learning accredited degree count towards my CPD?

Yes, your final year can count towards your CPD for that year. It must be supplemented by other CPD activities, however.

How do I record my CPD on ARC?

You can access the CPD section on ARC using the navigation bar or the candidate home page. You will then need to click ‘New’ to add a new CPD entry.
The following details need to be recorded:

  • Description - brief summary of the activity, e.g. Property Elite Webinar – Money Laundering

  • Activity status – either planned or completed, ensure you click the latter to include the entry within your total CPD hours

  • Start date

  • Hours and minutes

  • Activity type – formal or informal

  • Learning outcome - brief summary of the learning outcomes, e.g. ‘I learnt about red flags of money laundering and the relevant RICS Professional Statement. I also learnt about processes to follow when carrying out Customer Due Diligence and what information I may need to request from clients to satisfy this duty’.

Finally, make sure you click ‘Save’ to add the entry to your CPD record.

What are our 5 top tips for recording your CPD?

  1. Record your CPD as you go, rather than uploading it in bulk before submitting. This is because it is much easier to record your learning outcomes as you go, allowing time to reflect on what you learnt. This means you can ensure your CPD record is accurate and relevant to your competency choices and experience.

  2. Ensure that your CPD record is written professionally and formally, using a consistent style, tense and grammar. We suggest using the past tense, e.g. ‘I learnt’ and ‘I gained an understanding of’, when discussing your learning outcomes.

  3. Undertake relevant CPD that helps to build upon your level 1 knowledge base. CPD to expand your knowledge base outside of your core scope of practice is helpful but remember that you can be asked about anything in your CPD record during your final assessment interview.

  4. Remember that you need hit the minimum requirements, but that there are no ‘bonus points’ for recording an impressively high number of hours! Also remember that you need to ensure that 50% is taken from formal activities.

  5. Ensure that your CPD doesn’t include work-based experience, e.g. providing advice to a client. This instead needs to go in levels 2 and 3 of your Summary of Experience. Your CPD record should essentially cover the breadth and depth of your level 1 competencies, both mandatory and technical.

How will CPD be dealt with during my final RICS APC assessment interview?

Your assessment panel are at liberty to ask you questions on anything included within your CPD record during your final assessment interview. This means that you should ensure that anything you include is relevant to your experience and competency choices. Essentially, anything you write is fair game to be asked about during your assessment!

About the author - Jen Lemen BSc (Hons) FRICS 

Jen has extensive experience in providing training services to students, RICS AssocRICS, APC and FRICS candidates and corporate clients, together with academic experience as a Senior Lecturer at the University of the West of England, Lecture at the University of Portsmouth and Associate Tutor at the University College of Estate Management. Her RICS assessment experience includes sitting on final APC interview panels, APC appeal panels and being a lead APC preliminary review assessor.

She has also written published articles in Property Week, ACES Terrier, RICS Modus and the RICS Property Journal. She also writes a regular APC column in Estates Gazette Brick & Mortar podcast series with Sarah Jackman and is a contributing author to the Health & Safety section on RICS iSurv.

For more details on the Built Intelligence APC Structured training sessions available click here

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