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What is this blog about?
In this week’s blog, we look at a common pitfall for RICS APC candidates choosing their optional technical competencies on the Commercial Real Estate pathway.
You can download the post-2018 pathway guide here.
What do I need to be aware of?
Take a look at the requirements for the Commercial Real Estate RICS APC pathway (post-2018) below (RICS, 2025):
The blue arrow indicates the potential pitfall that Commercial Real Estate candidates encounter.
Essentially, when selecting your technical optional competencies - you can take a mandatory competency to a higher level (level 3) in your 'three to level 3' selection.
However, you can only take ONE of these to level 3:
Accounting principles and procedures;
OR Conflict avoidance, management and dispute resolution;
OR Data management ;
OR Sustainability.
This means that you cannot take Data management AND Sustainability to level 3, as an example. This is probably the most common combination of invalid competencies that Commercial Real Estate candidates try to select.
Where you see the 'one to level 3 or two to level 2' (or amended selection if you take Valuation to Level 3) selection on the right-hand side of the technical optional competencies (optional plus), you cannot select any of the above four mandatory competencies AGAIN.
I.e., if you have already selected one of the mandatory competencies as one of your 'three to level 3' optional choices, then you can not select one of the others (indicated by OR) again in your optional plus selection.
This prevents candidates from selecting more than one of the above four mandatory competencies as a technical optional competency to a higher level.
I'm still confused!
If you are still confused, simply send us an email (jen@property-elite.co.uk) and we will confirm if your technical competency choices are valid or not.
Don't fall foul of this potential pitfall - if your competency selection is invalid when you submit, RICS will simply reject your submission and you will need to amend your submission and re-submit in the next window.
How can we help?
Don't leave it too late to book your submission feedback and review, APC question pack, e-mock interview or 1-2-1 mentoring. We also provide revision quizzes, revision guides and a CPD Webinar Package.
We offer a range of short and long-term support packages in our eShop, including our popular Monthly Mentoring and Kick Start packages. These can include an RICS APC or AssocRICS Counsellor in certain circumstances.
Head to our blog archive to access even more free CPD and AssocRICS and RICS APC training and support.
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Not sure about signing up? Make sure you read what our recent successful candidates have to say in our Testimonials.
Stay tuned for our next blog post to help build a better you.
N.b. Nothing in this article constitutes legal, professional or financial advice.