For quantity surveyors and cost managers, one question comes up time and time again: should you become MRICS? This is a topic which can be debated, however, after many, many years in the industry it is a simple answer.

In my view, the answer is a clear yes - 100%.

Career Progression Matters

In many organisations, there is a very real ceiling on progression if you are not chartered. You will often reach an intermediate level where moving into senior roles simply isn’t possible without MRICS status. This isn’t about opinion, it’s how many businesses are structured. Without the qualification, career progression can stall, regardless of experience or capability.

The Industry Gold Standard

MRICS remains the gold standard within the industry. Many clients, particularly in real estate, expect to see it. If you don’t have the qualification, it can limit the type of clients you’re able to work with, which in turn can restrict your opportunities within the organisation you’re part of.

Being chartered provides clients with confidence. It signals credibility, capability, and professionalism, all of which matter when businesses are deciding who to trust with complex projects and significant budgets.

A Passport to Global Opportunities

While this may not apply in every region, MRICS often acts like a passport for international opportunities. In certain countries, without a recognised professional qualification, you simply won’t be considered for roles.

For quantity surveyors looking to work internationally, MRICS is frequently used as a benchmark to establish that you have the right skills, training, and professional standing. It opens doors that would otherwise remain closed.

Addressing the Counterargument

Of course, there will always be people who say they’ve done well without becoming chartered, and that may be true. But the question isn’t whether you can have a career without MRICS. The real question is whether not having it has limited certain opportunities along the way.

If gaining MRICS gives you access to more roles, more clients, and more locations, then why wouldn’t you pursue it? Choosing not to do so can mean restricting your own potential for no real upside.

The Bottom Line

MRICS enhances credibility, supports long-term career progression, and opens doors, both domestically and internationally. If you’re a quantity surveyor or cost manager serious about maximising your career opportunities, it’s a qualification well worth pursuing.

Key Takeaways

• MRICS is often essential for progression into senior roles

• It remains the gold standard within the industry

• Many clients expect chartered status

• MRICS opens international career opportunities

• Not having it may limit doors you don’t even realise are closed