Key RICS Reference Documents

Section 1

Purpose

RICS publishes an extensive library of professional standards and practice information, together with legacy guidance notes and professional statements not yet reissued, that underpins the work of chartered surveyors. For APC candidates, knowing which documents are essential — and understanding their status within the RICS standards hierarchy — is critical both for the assessment and for competent professional practice.

This guidance note identifies the key RICS reference documents relevant to the Quantity Surveying and Construction pathway. It explains the standards hierarchy, highlights the documents most frequently referenced in APC interviews, and provides a structured approach to building familiarity with the RICS professional library.

The information is drawn from the Requirements and Competencies Guide (December 2025, amended March 2026), the QS and Construction Pathway Guide (December 2025) and the RICS professional standards catalogue.

Section 2

Key Principles

• RICS standards framework (since the 2021–22 restructure): international standards (IPMS, ICMS, IES) sit at the top, then RICS professional standards, which are mandatory, then RICS practice information, which is advisory. The legacy classes — professional statements, codes of practice, guidance notes, information papers and insight papers — are being progressively reissued into those two classes and remain in force until they are. Always cite the class printed on the cover of the document itself.

• RICS professional standards set mandatory requirements. Members and regulated firms must comply, and non-compliance may lead to regulatory action. Legacy professional statements carry the same mandatory weight until they are reissued or withdrawn.

• RICS practice information is advisory. It is not mandatory, but it evidences the standard of competence expected, and a member who departs from it may be required to justify that departure — for example if their work is challenged in a claim or a disciplinary matter. Legacy guidance notes have the same advisory status.

• The NRM suite (NRM 1, NRM 2 and NRM 3) is the primary measurement and cost management framework for QS practice in the UK. All three are published as RICS practice information — that is, they are advisory rather than mandatory, notwithstanding that they are treated as the standard basis of measurement in practice and are frequently incorporated into contracts by reference, which makes them contractually binding on the particular project.

• The RICS QS and Construction Pathway Guide (December 2025) lists specific publications against each competency — candidates should use this as a reading list.

• Key cross-cutting documents include: Rules of Conduct, Conflicts of Interest PS, Countering Bribery and Corruption PS, Client Money Handling PS, and the Complaints Handling guidance.

Section 3

Practical Application

Step 1

Obtain the Pathway Guide reading list — The QS and Construction Pathway Guide includes a study checklist (Part 3) listing publications against each competency. Download and use this as your primary reading plan.

Step 2

Prioritise the mandatory documents — Start with the RICS Rules of Conduct (effective 2 February 2022) and the professional standards that apply to all members and regulated firms, including Conflicts of interest (1st edition, March 2017, effective 1 January 2018), Countering bribery and corruption, money laundering and terrorist financing, and Client money handling (1st edition, October 2019).

Step 3

Study the NRM suite — NRM 1 (Order of Cost Estimating and Cost Planning for Capital Building Works, 3rd edition, October 2021), NRM 2 (Detailed Measurement for Building Works, 2nd edition, October 2021) and NRM 3 (Order of Cost Estimating and Cost Planning for Building Maintenance Works, 1st edition 2014) are fundamental to QS practice.

Step 4

Review contract-related publications — Familiarise yourself with RICS guidance on contract administration, procurement, and dispute resolution. Know the key standard forms of contract (JCT, NEC) and RICS guidance on their use.

Step 5

Build a personal reference index — Create a simple spreadsheet mapping each of your selected competencies to the relevant RICS publications, noting edition numbers and effective dates.

Step 6

Stay current — RICS regularly updates its publications. Check the RICS website quarterly for new editions and amendments. Note that the APC assessors will expect knowledge of current, not superseded, editions.

Section 4

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Citing superseded editions — RICS publications are regularly updated. Always check the current edition number and effective date before citing a document in your submission or interview.

• Quoting the pre-2021 hierarchy — describing RICS documents as “professional statements, codes of practice, guidance notes and information papers” dates a candidate immediately. The current classes are professional standards (mandatory) and practice information (advisory). Know both, and know that legacy documents keep their original weight until reissued.

• Relying solely on the NRM and ignoring cross-cutting standards — assessors will test your knowledge of professional conduct documents (Rules of Conduct, Conflicts of Interest) as much as technical standards.

• Not reading the actual documents — summarising from third-party study notes is no substitute for reading the original RICS publications. Assessors can tell the difference.

• Failing to link publications to competencies — in the APC interview, you should be able to cite specific RICS documents that support your competency evidence. Generic references ('RICS guidance says...') are insufficient.

Section 5

APC Competency & Quick Reference

• Ethics, Rules of Conduct and professionalism — Level 3 — Rules of Conduct, Conflicts of Interest PS, Countering Bribery PS

• Design economics and cost planning — Level 3 core — NRM 1 (3rd edition, October 2021)

• Quantification and costing — Level 3 core — NRM 2 (2nd edition, October 2021)

• Contract practice — Level 3 core — RICS Tendering Strategies GN, Contract Administration GN

• Procurement and tendering — Level 3 core — RICS Procurement GN, Tendering Strategies GN

What is the difference between an RICS professional standard and RICS practice information?

An RICS professional standard sets mandatory requirements for members and regulated firms; non-compliance may result in disciplinary action. RICS practice information is advisory — it sets out good practice and evidences the expected standard of competence, so departure is permitted but may need to be justified if challenged. These two classes replaced the earlier professional statements, codes of practice, guidance notes and information papers in the 2021–22 restructure; legacy documents retain their original status until they are reissued or withdrawn, so always check the class printed on the cover.

Which NRM documents are most relevant to the QS pathway?

NRM 1: Order of Cost Estimating and Cost Planning for Capital Building Works (3rd edition, October 2021) covers cost planning. NRM 2: Detailed Measurement for Building Works (2nd edition, October 2021) covers measurement and bills of quantities. NRM 3 covers building maintenance works. All three are published as RICS practice information.

How should you stay current with RICS publications?

Check the RICS website quarterly for updated editions and new publications. Subscribe to RICS Modus magazine and RICS sector alerts. Use the RICS isurv platform for access to current standards. Always verify edition numbers and effective dates before citing any document.

Section 6

APC Preparation Checklist

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Download the QS and Construction Pathway Guide study checklist (Part 3) as your reading plan

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Read the Rules of Conduct and the mandatory professional standards: Conflicts of interest, Countering bribery and corruption, Client money handling

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Study the NRM suite (NRM 1, NRM 2, NRM 3) — know edition numbers and key content

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Create a personal reference index mapping competencies to RICS publications with edition dates

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Read RICS guidance relevant to your selected optional competencies

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Check the RICS website for any updated or amended publications since your last review

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Practise citing specific RICS documents with edition numbers and dates in mock interview answers

Section 7

CPD Learning Outcomes

• Describe the RICS standards framework and distinguish the regulatory weight of RICS professional standards (mandatory) from RICS practice information (advisory), including how the legacy classes map onto them.

• Identify the key RICS publications relevant to each competency in the Quantity Surveying and Construction pathway.

• Apply current RICS standards and guidance to practical quantity surveying scenarios, citing specific documents with correct edition numbers and dates.

Section 8