APC: receiving your results

12 June 2013

Ewan Craig talks to Jon Lever, the RICS UK Licensed Assessor Trainer and an APC coach, about what to do when you receive your APC results

Candidates who sat the APC final assessment in Session 1 this year will have received their results during May. Congratulations to those who passed the APC. But for those candidates who were referred, this article will help you understand the process and how you can take something positive out of this to improve next time.

The process

The objective of the APC panel is to assess the candidate’s suitability as a professional member of RICS. The APC final assessment has a methodical process using trained assessors, honed procedures and integral quality control. Following the interview, the APC panel will reach a decision based on the evidence collected. If the panel refers the candidate it prepares a report giving guidance and comments about any deficiencies or shortcomings, together with areas to improve.

The results schedule

Candidates will receive their results by email 5 working days after their interview, so please ensure that your contact details are correct and up to date. The results are also posted on the RICS website 1 to 2 working days following the candidate’s email.

Referred candidates receive their referral report by email after 26 working days and they then have 21 days to appeal, if appropriate.

Referral

Dealing with the bad news

You may be disappointed, upset, frustrated or even angry. This is perfectly normal but you must understand that a referral is an assessment of where gaps in your competencies are.

Try to absorb the panel feedback; you may have met some of the competencies and you will know what improvements the panel thinks you require. You will also have gained a greater insight into the APC process, how well you worked and how you worked with your supervisor, counsellor and others. This will give you a better understanding of what you need to do for a successful APC final assessment, so take some positive steps and refocus your energy into making sure you are prepared for next time.

Understand the referral report

Read it properly a few times and discuss it with your supervisor and counsellor. The panel will have taken some time and effort to prepare the report so be objective when you reflect on their guidance. Focus on your competency gaps and understand what you are missing. Also seek guidance from others, e.g. RICS training advisers or APC doctors.

Make a plan

Plan how you are going to fill these gaps within the time available before the next assessment. Consider the experience (Template 7) and learning (Template 8) that you need to achieve for your next assessment. Keep motivated and include plenty of preparation time. Your counsellor and supervisor should be well placed to motivate and encourage you.

What happens at your next assessment?

You will fit into the normal RICS application and submission timescales. It is likely you will have a new panel, which will expect a full APC interview covering all of your declared competencies but will investigate areas identified as deficient in your referral report.

Go the extra mile

Referral often occurs because candidates are ill prepared. After reflecting on where you went wrong last time, correct it to make sure you fully understand the process, plan in good time and enlist the support of others. Use all available resources and ensure you are completely happy with your competency experience and that your documentation is comprehensive. It will be worth it when you pass.

Appeals

Some candidates may consider appealing against the panel’s decision. An appeal process is provided and cases are considered by an independent panel of experienced assessors. Because of the rigour of the whole process, successful appeals are relatively rare and any grounds need to be clear such as an administrative or procedural matter that unduly affected your interview.

You passed

Congratulations, this represents a high point in any surveyor’s career. Do continue to develop as a surveyor and continue to record your CPD online, as required from January. Also think about helping others in the APC, such as becoming an APC doctor or an Assessor after 3 years’ experience as a chartered surveyor.

Ewan Craig is a member of the Building Surveying Professional Group Board and the Course Leader for the BSc (Hons) in Building Surveying at the College of Estate Management

Further information

Thanks to Jon Lever FRICS of DeLever Ltd for his input to this article