The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has launched a new qualification aimed at smashing the the non-graduate 'glass ceiling' for professionals in the industry.

The new entry-level qualification, which carries the letters AssocRICS, was unveiled in Northern Ireland today.

RICS Northern Ireland Director, Ben Collins, and RICS Northern Ireland Regional Training Adviser, Eion Lawless met the Minister for Employment and Learning, Sir Reg Empey, at Parliament Buildings to discuss the new qualification.

AssocRICS will offer those working in land, property and construction a progressive, non-graduate route to chartered status.

It will deliver a professional qualification to a broader cross-section of individuals while ensuring that standards are advanced in the sector.

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RICS NI Director, Ben Collins, said: "Employers will benefit from an upskilled, professional workforce, improved staff retention and a wider skilled recruitment pool.

"Consumers will reap the benefit of support staff achieving a recognised level of competence and bound by RICS ethics and rules of conduct, supported by a regulatory regime," he said.

AssocRICS replaces the TechRICS qualification and will be rolled out across a number of specialist areas of the surveying profession starting with Quantity Surveying, closely followed by residential survey & valuation and residential estate agency.

The Associate assessment process is online and competency based. The qualification is achieved by demonstrating that RICS standards have been met through relevant work experience.

Louis Armstrong, RICS chief executive added: "This new entry-level qualification is an opportunity for many excellent property professionals who previously have been denied access to a professional qualification due to a lack of academic qualifications.

"RICS is keen to recognise the experience and competence of a broad section of workers and offer them the opportunity to attain chartered status and remove barriers to social mobility and career progression."

(PR/BMcC)