Job Description

Quantity Surveyors have a key role to play in any building project. They oversee everything from the early designs to the final completion of the project, above all they are concerned with doing the best possible job at the best possible price. Quantity Surveyors will mostly work in private practices, for local authority or for a contractor.

Entry Requirements

You can get into this job through:

Apprenticeship

You could take a surveying technician advanced apprenticeship, followed by further training on the job, or a chartered surveyor or construction quantity surveyor degree apprenticeship.

You'll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

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University

You could do a quantity surveying degree or a postgraduate conversion course accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Useful degree subjects include:

• construction
• structural or civil engineering
• maths
• geography
• economics
• land studies

You'll usually need:

• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
• a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course

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Work

You could start work as a surveying technician or surveying assistant, and study part time to become a quantity surveyor.

Other Routes

You could get a postgraduate surveying qualification through a graduate trainee scheme with a company or through distance learning with the University College of Estate Management.

More Information

You can register with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors to become a chartered surveyor through the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) scheme

You can find out more about becoming a quantity surveyor from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and Go Construct.

Career Path and Progression

With experience, you could become a senior quantity surveyor or move into senior project management, supply chain management, consultancy work or self-employment.

You could specialise in areas like planning, risk assessment or contract disputes.

Another option is to move into lecturing at a university or college.

Related careers you may be interested in:

• Estimator
• Building services engineer
• Building surveyor
• Civil engineering technician
• Technical surveyor

Required Skills

• A good knowledge of construction methods and materials
• Excellent IT and maths skills
• Excellent communication and negotiating skills 
• A clear understanding of building regulations

Salary Range

£18,000 to £80,000