General practice surveyor
General practice surveyors are involved in the management, valuation, buying, selling and development of land and property.
Salary Range: £20,000 to £50,000
How to become a general practice surveyor
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- a graduate training scheme
University
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
Apprenticeship
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
Work
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.
Other routes
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.
More information
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.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
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
What you’ll do
Day-to-day tasks
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
Working environment
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.
Career path and progression
You could move into a specialist area like auctioning land, property or plant and machinery, or the valuation and auctioning of fine arts and antiques.