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News & Insight

Exploring new professional pathways for RICS membership

15 July 2025

As industries evolve and new specialisms emerge, RICS is committed to staying ahead of the curve. We're launching a pilot programme to explore the potential for three new professional pathways that could expand the profession’s reach and better serve the changing needs of markets and employers.

The three pathways we are developing include Retrofit Surveyor (AssocRICS), Sustainability Advisory (MRICS) and Data Analytics and Intelligence (MRICS). We are working to understand interest in new pathways in these areas and will be launching a campaign to gather expressions of interest from employers, individuals and educational institutions.

We are doing this to address the industry's increased focus on sustainability, data analytics, and retrofit solutions. As educational and regulatory landscapes change, we are aligning our pathways with emerging career paths and specialisms, creating opportunities for professionals with diverse backgrounds to join our profession.

This pilot represents our ongoing commitment to listening to industry feedback and adapting to transformation across the built and natural environment. By exploring these pathways, we are investigating opportunities to welcome new professional communities while continuing to champion the high standards and expertise our existing members value.

We have deliberately designed this pilot programme to test viability and gather insights. This will allow us to ensure that any new pathways are aligned with the required standards and that there is sufficient demand. If this is achieved our intent is to launch them in stages over 2025 and 2026. No final decisions have been made about permanent pathway additions.

We will soon be seeking feedback and expressions of interest from interested employers, individuals and educational institutions to directly inform our strategic direction. You can sign up to stay updated on the pathways pilot programme by contacting Futurehub@rics.org.

With the UK requiring 500,000 home retrofits per year by 2025 and 1 million by 2030 to meet net zero targets, there's an urgent need for skilled professionals in the domestic retrofit sector. This pathway would create opportunities for new entrants and RICS members to specialise in retrofit services across six key roles: lead professional, assessor, designer, contract administrator, builder, and post retrofit inspector.

The pathway would offer a new way into RICS membership which will promote high-quality reports that comply with national standards like PAS 2035, BS 40104 and RICS' own Residential Retrofit Standard. It would also provide dedicated CPD for retrofit services, helping to upskill current members while creating pathways for existing retrofit professionals to join RICS.

This initiative responds to growing market demand from consumers, governments, and funders who want to work with regulated professionals to build trust and mitigate risk in retrofit projects.

This pathway is part of our pilot programme and is currently under evaluation. No final decisions have been made regarding its implementation.

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