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How to Become a Building Surveyor: A Beginners’ Guide
August 15, 2025
19 minutes
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Do you know that the average salary of building surveyors is more than £48,000 in England? And that’s not all; anyone can become a building surveyor and can earn around £70,000 per year. So, if you are a school-leaver or don’t have a degree, you can also become a building surveyor.
Building surveyors assess the quality of buildings, from houses to public and commercial properties. They examine the condition of facilities and advise on ways to improve the condition of the facilities.
Although, that’s only the tip of the iceberg regarding a building surveyor’s duties and responsibilities. In reality, they are a valuable member of any construction team. They often advise architects and builders on:
So, are you considering a career in building surveying? If you are, you need to understand the various aspects of the position and the significance of the work you’re about to undertake.
We, One Education, prepared this blog for you. Read on to know all the essential information related to building surveyors. Also, you can learn how to become a building surveyor.
Who is the building surveyor?
A building surveyor advises clients or employers on the design, construction, maintenance and repair of buildings. They survey buildings and then make a report on their findings. If the result is not up to the standards, they make appropriate recommendations to meet the criteria.
Building surveying is one of the most comprehensive areas of surveying practice. The workload of a building surveyor is varied. The workload can include everything from the conservation and restoration of historic buildings to contemporary new developments.
They are involved in all aspects of property and construction, from supervising significant mixed-use developments to planning domestic extensions. To handle such a wide range of responsibilities efficiently, many professionals rely on software for construction project management like Fieldwire, which helps streamline site coordination, document sharing, and progress tracking across teams.
What are the responsibilities and duties of a building surveyor?
The duties and responsibilities of a building surveyor are vast. As a building surveyor, you will need to:
What to expect when you will be working as a building surveyor?
The following are some aspects of this job you can expect when you start your journey as a surveyor:
Salary of a building surveyor
According to the RICS Macdonald & Company Rewards & Attitudes Survey 2019, a building surveyor’s average annual salary is £48,000. However, a chartered building surveyor earns around 38% more than their non-chartered counterparts.
After graduating, you can expect to earn around £22,000 to £26,000 per year. Although, if you can get a job in London, you will have the chance to make more. After a few years, you will be more experienced; you’ll earn around £28,000 to £50,000 per year.
At the senior level position, the annual salary can rise to £70,000. There is the potential for the paycheck to reach a six-figure if you become a company’s partner or director.
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Working hours of a building surveyor
The average working hours of a building surveyor are 38 – 40 hours a week. As a building surveyor, you have to work 9 am to 5 pm like other office jobs. Sometimes you have to meet and socialise with clients outside the 9 to 5 schedule.
The work of a building surveyor is much less desk-bound than some branches of surveying. Although, you may have to work long hours when it is necessary. And also, you will be working alone for significant periods of time when working on site.
Is the building surveying the job right for you?
Every profession requires some specific skills and knowledge to perform the daily task. There is no point in choosing a career in surveying unless you have a passion for the profession and a determination to learn. You will also need formal qualifications to become a building surveyor.
After becoming a building surveyor, you will be working with a wide range of clients. You will also need to demonstrate some personal abilities, such as:
So, do you have the above-mentioned skills and can handle the work toll? Then, this job is right for you. Become a building surveyor and earn a lot of money.
Read on to know the different routes of becoming a building surveyor.
How to become a building surveyor
A career in building surveying is not only limited to university graduates. A school-leaver can pursue this career and become a building surveyor. You can get into this career through:
Through University
You can become a building surveyor by taking a course from the university. There are plenty of universities that provide building surveying related courses. The related course’s subject is:
The courses must be approved by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). If you don’t have the above-mentioned degree, but you have a degree in different subjects, you can also pursue this career. For instance, the degree you have is in economics, law or maths; you could take an accredited postgraduate qualification in surveying.
There are other subjects that may help to provide relevant knowledge about building surveying include:
Entry requirements for a university course
You will usually need:
Through apprenticeship programmes
You can become a building surveyor through an apprenticeship programme. Apprenticeships offer training to the interested body and provide a great way to enter the profession.
RICS are keen to remove the barriers for young people who might want to get into building surveying. Everyone knows that a university degree can be expensive, and it is not for everyone.
A school leaver can sign up to the Chartered Surveyors Training Trust (CSTT). This organisation offers apprenticeship schemes to help young people become surveyors. And also help them qualify for associate membership (AssocRICS).
Building surveying degree apprenticeships are available via a range of employers. You will need five years to complete the apprenticeship degree. During this time, you will work four days a week and spend one day a week studying in a partner university.
You will get a salary from the employer during that time. Because an apprenticeship is all about paid training. A building surveying degree apprenticeship (level 6) won’t cost you anything either because the government or your employer will pay all the fees. You can also secure a long-term earning potential and progress your career from apprenticeship.
Entry requirements for apprenticeships
You will need to do this apprenticeship are:
On completing your degree apprenticeship, you’ll end up with a B.Sc (Hons) degree in Building Surveying. Also, you will get registered as a Chartered Surveyor with the RICS. And then it’s time to let the big money, big projects and good times roll.
Working towards this role
If you have a relevant foundation degree or HND and are working in this industry, you can also become a building surveyor. For instance, you are working as a surveying technician, you may be able to do further building surveying qualifications.
Through other routes
There are other routes to become building surveyors. Many companies provide a postgraduate qualification through a graduate trainee scheme; you can enrol with them. Or get trained in building surveying through distance learning with the University College of Estate Management.
The Building Surveyor Training course is open to all people, and there are no formal entry requirements. To become a building surveyor by this route, you need to have:
For instance, you can take training on building surveying from One Education. The course is delivered through an online learning platform. You can access this course and materials through any internet-connected device. There are no formal deadlines or teaching schedules so that you can study the course at your own pace.
After successfully completing this course, you will receive:
Required skills to become a building surveyor
The daily responsibilities and duties of a building surveyor are very diverse. To perform the day-to-day task, you will need to have a lot of skills, include:
Where can I get the necessary work experience?
You should work for an employer or visit some sites before you start studying for a career in building surveying. From the working sites, you can understand what the job is, and is it the right job for me. If so, you have some experience that you can add to your CV.
Getting the necessary work experience makes your CV look good and also helps you land a job quickly. You can get the required experience in two ways. One is working for construction companies, and the other is working for a non-profit organisation.
From construction companies
Doing work for a construction company can help you decide if this is the right profession. These will also help you find a job. You can gain experience from working in:
You can include work experience in your CV if you:
From working voluntarily
Volunteering works always look good on a building surveyor’s CV. From doing volunteering work, you will be picking up valuable life and work skills that will help you throughout your entire life.
Even the unnecessary work skills which don’t seem immediately relevant to building surveying can help you get the job. These irrelevant skills will show the employer you have the right stuff and make your job application stand out.
Professional development of a building surveyor
To become a surveyor, you have to successfully complete a degree that is accredited by the RICS. From there, you can pursue a master’s degree or work towards chartered status. You can achieve chartered status through the completion of the RICS Assessment of Professional Competence (APC). It is a work-based professional training scheme, and it usually takes two to three years to complete.
The APC scheme includes on-the-job learning, regular meetings with a supervisor, and an assessment interview. Upon completion of the APC along with academic qualifications leads to chartered surveyor status and RICS membership.
Continuing professional development (CPD) is an essential aspect of the building surveyor role. You need to maintain professional competencies and practice standards as your career advances.
Professional organisations such as RICS support CPD for surveyors. There are several training courses available that support and enhance building surveyor’s skills. RICS offers a range of courses that cover:
You can also take qualifications and training from other professional organisation are includes:
Being a member of a professional organisation can also help with CPD. This organisation can provide access to professional journals, easy communications and a network of professional colleagues.
Building Surveyor Course Training
This course is ideal for beginners who are new to the field and require basic training. Key topics include contracts and fees, external inspections, damage assessment and building safety.
Career prospects of building surveyors
As a building surveyor, you will have a lot of opportunities to progress your career. You have the opportunity to gain broader experience and also promotion. As you gain experience, you could move into projects or take responsibility for planning, controlling, and coordinating projects from inception to completion.
If you succeed in these roles, you may have a shot becoming departmental head or manager in the public sector. In private sectors, you may have the opportunity to become a director, partner, or open private practice. The career ladder of building surveyors is below:
Chartered Building Surveyor > Apprentice Building Surveyor > Assistant Quantity Surveyor > Project Surveyor.
You can move between these below public sectors to advance your career:
Most large organisations have formal promotion channels for surveyors who take on increased technical and managerial responsibility.
How you want to advance your career entirely depends on you. You may choose to specialise and become an expert in one particular area or follow the standard career path. Another option, once you achieve your charted status, you can set up your own private practice.
Who are the employers of building surveyors?
The demand for building surveyors is increasing day by day. They are required in various real estate markets, including leisure, residential, commercial, agricultural and industrial.
Chartered building surveyors’ job location is not fixed; they worked for various organisations. For example, you could work in the private, corporate, public or voluntary sectors. There are also a lot of opportunities for non-chartered surveyors. Typical employers of building surveyors include:
There are opportunities to work abroad with various international property and construction companies. Because the professional qualifications in surveying are recognised worldwide.
Related: Things You Should Know About Listed Building Surveyor
Where the job vacancies advertised?
Many large private companies take fresh graduates once a year. The deadline for intake varies from company to company. For private companies, the closing date for intake is as early as December or January of your final year. Other companies will accept speculative applications slightly later.
Public sector organisations rarely accept speculative applications when hiring employees. They usually advertise vacancies as they occur.
Once you’ve gained enough experience, you could consider self-employment as an option. You can look for job vacancies at:
Building Quantity Surveyor
This Course too is designed with the utmost attention and thorough research. All the topics are broken down into easy to understand bite-sized modules that help our learners to understand each lesson very easily.
Building Quantity Surveyor
This Course too is designed with the utmost attention and thorough research. All the topics are broken down into easy to understand bite-sized modules that help our learners to understand each lesson very easily.
Conclusion
The responsibility of building surveyors is to ensure that buildings are constructed safely and are suitable to be occupied. To do this, building surveyors assess, consult, advise and enforce legislative requirements.
The work is not tedious; you get to work in both conditions working in and outside of the office. Every day you have to face various challenges, and this can be very exciting. The perks and benefit of becoming a building surveyor are immense. Also, you can earn a lot of money as a building surveyor.
Be a building surveyor. By doing this, you will become a responsible member of society.
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