A Look at One of World’s Largest Institute of Surveyors – the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is an institute of surveyors responsible for regulating and supervising the activities, qualifications and business practices of property professionals, surveyors as well as students and trainees in the property industry in the United Kingdom and other sovereign nations all over the world. This RICS was first founded in London as an institute of surveyors, when 49 surveyors came together in a meeting held at the Westminster Palace Hotel in 1868. In the decades that followed, the RICS grew both in terms of influence and membership, forming a global network of more than 150,000 professionals scattered across more than 146 countries all over the world.

Most of the RICS' members are based in London and in the United Kingdom, although the organization also has a very strong presence in other Commonwealth countries such as Australia, Hong Kong and Canada. Membership in the United States, Asia, India, the Middle East and North Africa is also growing at an unprecedented rate, serving only to reaffirm the institute of surveyors' stature and influence over the property industry. Today, the RICS is recognized as one of the world's largest and most widely recognized organization of property professionals, responsible for spearheading new and better standards for the industry.

With over a century's worth of expertise and experience, the RICS has grown to become an organization that sets the standard for professionalism. In fact, this institute of surveyors also provides one of the most coveted marks of credibility. A RICS certified surveyor is always in a better position when it comes to finding work, getting higher salary figures and dealing with clients in general. Due to the RICS distinct code of ethics which is strict but ultimately fair, both employers and clients can have peace of mind when dealing or working with an RICS-certified surveyor or professional.

For surveyors, being a member of the RICS definitely has its perks. Aside from improving their employment outlook, RICS members also get the opportunity to interact and meet with a global network of professionals in the same field. If anything, this promotes cooperation and the dissemination of trade practices and secrets, which further improves the overall industry. Although huge, the RICS network is highly effective in weeding out "bad apples," which tarnish the organization's name.