FM qualification from RICS adds new dimension

13 April 2010

AssocRICS provides an alternative route to a career in the property sector, announced by, RICS’ chief executive, Louis Armstrong

RICS recently extended its new grade of associate membership to include the facilities management sector. With AssocRICS, it is now offering those individuals with the relevant experience or qualifications working within facilities management the chance to achieve a highly respected and internationally recognised professional qualification.
AssocRICS will provide more facility management professionals with the opportunity to gain recognition for their skills with a qualification that will certify ethical standards and competence levels. It is an entry level professional qualification that offers an alternative to the RICS graduate route for those without an RICS accredited degree.
Those professionals achieving this new qualification will benefit from being associated with RICS and their standards, which are recognised as the highest in the world. In the facilities management sector RICS has recently introduced the White Book which aims to set the benchmark for best practice, raising standards and improving business performance.
AssocRICS offers a progressive route to Chartered facilities manager status for highly skilled professionals by enabling facilities managers without a degree but with vocational competence to undertake study modules to work towards the APC.
The Associate assessment process is online and competency based, and the qualification is achieved by demonstrating that RICS standards have been met through relevant work experience and or qualifications.
FM is becoming increasingly more important, sophisticated and demanding. We all know how vital it is for our quality of life in buildings. The new qualification is a further buildingblock in RICS' strategy to raise professional standards within facilities management. As an entry-level qualification it provides an opportunity for many who would like a career inthe property sector, but have previously been denied access to a professional qualification due to a lack of academic qualifications.
For the first time they will have an opportunity to work towards attaining chartered status. It will help employers to recruit and develop an appropriately skilled workforce: a professionalised workforce provides employers with a clear competitive advantage and reassures clients.”
For more information please vistit www.rics.org.uk
Six technical competies
 Analysis of client requirements
 Contract practice
 Procurement and tendering
 Project financial control and reporting
 Property management
 Supplier management
Eight mandatory skills
Softer skills needed regardless of technical specialism
 Client care
 Communications and negotiation
 Conduct rules, ethics and professional practice
 Conflict avoidance, management and dispute resolution procedures
 Data management
 Health & Safety
 Sustainability
 Team working