General practice surveyor

You'll usually need a degree or professional qualification approved by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors to become a general practice surveyor.

Relevant degrees include:

• real estate management
• property development and valuation
• building surveying
• quantity surveying and commercial management

If your degree is in a different subject like economics, law or maths, you could take an accredited postgraduate qualification in surveying.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
• a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• student finance for fees and living costs
• university courses and entry requirements

You could do a chartered surveyor degree apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships

If you have a higher national diploma or foundation degree in surveying or construction, you may be able to work as a surveying technician with a company and take further qualifications to fully qualify.

You could get a postgraduate qualification through a graduate trainee scheme with a company, or through distance learning with the University College of Estate Management.

Registration

• you can register with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors to become a chartered surveyor through the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) scheme

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a general practice surveyor from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

You'll need:

• maths knowledge
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• knowledge of geography
• analytical thinking skills
• customer service skills
• knowledge of engineering science and technology
• knowledge of computer operating systems, hardware and software
• legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Your day-to-day duties may include:

• negotiating deals for buying, selling and renting property
• acting as an agent, buying and selling property and land on behalf of clients
• assessing the environmental impact and economic viability of developments
• valuing land and property
• compiling reports for valuations, mortgages, rent reviews and investment potential
• advising on property values, land purchase, tenancy issues and related legislation

You could work in an office or on a construction site.

Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers and you'll travel often.

You may need to wear protective clothing.