RICS CPD Ethical Content

RICS CPD requirements are an obligation towards all members and non-members who apply for the Royal Institution of CharteredSurveyors membership qualification. Continuous Professional Development is one of the ways through which RICS maintains the professional standards of its services and qualifications. Being a member of the professional body benefits an individual in many ways. Along with the recognition in the industry, the individual will also be respected as a qualified professional. RICS requires all members to:

·         Fulfil a minimum of 20 hours of CPD and keep records of the activities throughout the process.

·         Members should first understand the rules and regulations set by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and follow the ethical standards to complete the RICS CPD hours according to the chosen profession in the industry.

There are many ways through which an individual can complete the CPD hours: candidates can achieve it through any form of structured learning (formal CPD) or any self-managed learning (informal CPD). Individuals should also complete the mandatory CPD – the RICS ethical standard. Every candidate must take the ethical standard online course to have an in-depth understanding of the ethics, values and culture maintained by the institute. RICS not only requires members and non-members to follow the requirements, but it also requires the registered firms to abide by the Rules of Conduct for Firms when it comes to maintaining the CPD standards.

What should the firms do?

Firms that register with RICS will be recognised as professional service providers in the industry. However, the firm should fulfil the obligations and responsibilities which are required by RICS. The firm should ensure that the staff meets the requirements set by the institute. Firms can do this through competence and training. RICS will monitor the CPD management in the firm, and if individuals fail to record the sufficient hours of CPD, then firms should face the penalties that are established by the institute. One main reason why the RICS establishes the obligations and requirements is to ensure that the quality is maintained in the industry.

RICS Registered firms should:

·         Meet training requirements

·         Assist employees in their learning

·         Provide training and development system

·         Identify gaps in performance and rectify them

·         Providing employees with a method to record their CPD activities

Firms can provide training by using online courses and In-house training. The College of Contract Management in the UK, an online course provider, delivers the pre-recorded CPD courses through its online study platforms. The college also provides In- house training sessions for their short courses.