Surveyor CPD Hub

Surveying apprenticeships: earn while you qualify

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Not everyone wants to take on a full-time degree and the debt that can come with it. Surveying apprenticeships let you do the opposite: get a job, earn a salary, and qualify while you work — often all the way to chartered status. Here’s how they work and whether one might suit you.

Apprenticeships are one of several routes — see how to become a surveyor for the full picture.

How surveying apprenticeships work

An apprenticeship combines paid employment with structured study. You’re hired by an employer, spend most of your time doing real surveying work, and study towards a qualification alongside it (often with day-release or block study). The training is typically funded through the apprenticeship system rather than paid for by you.

The big advantages:

  • You earn while you learn — a salary from day one.
  • No (or low) tuition debt compared with a full-time degree.
  • Real experience that counts towards professional assessment.

The trade-off is that you’re working and studying at once, which is demanding.

Levels — including degree apprenticeships

Apprenticeships run at several levels. The headline route for aspiring chartered surveyors is the degree apprenticeship, which can lead to an RICS-accredited degree and progression to the RICS APC for chartered (MRICS) status.

Apprenticeship standards, levels and funding change. Confirm the current options and what each leads to before applying.

How to find one

  • Look for apprenticeship vacancies with surveying firms, contractors, housing providers and consultancies.
  • Check the entry requirements for each level — degree apprenticeships expect relevant prior qualifications.
  • Treat it like any job application: the employer is choosing you as much as you’re choosing the route.

Which discipline?

An apprenticeship still sits within a discipline — building surveying, quantity surveying, valuation and others. Think about which appeals before you apply.

How I can help

I train people entering surveying and can help you decide whether the apprenticeship route fits you better than a degree. My CPD courses are in development — join the list for early access, and browse the free CPD directory to start learning now.

Frequently asked questions

What is a surveying apprenticeship?

A surveying apprenticeship combines paid employment with structured study, so you earn a salary while working towards a qualification — often a degree and chartered status — without the upfront tuition cost of a full-time degree.

What levels of surveying apprenticeship are there?

Apprenticeships exist at several levels, including degree apprenticeships that lead to a relevant degree and progression towards chartered (MRICS) status via the APC.

Do you get paid on a surveying apprenticeship?

Yes — apprentices are employed and paid by their employer while studying, typically with the training costs funded through the apprenticeship system rather than by the apprentice.

What qualifications do I need to start one?

Entry requirements vary by level and employer — higher and degree apprenticeships usually expect relevant prior qualifications. Check each vacancy's requirements.

Can an apprenticeship lead to chartered status?

Yes — degree apprenticeships in surveying can lead to an RICS-accredited degree and progression to the APC for chartered status. See our RICS APC guide.