You'll usually need to do an accredited degree approved by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Relevant subjects include:

• surveying
• business studies
• economics
• estate management
• land and property development

If your degree is in an unrelated subject or is not accredited by RICS, you could take an accredited postgraduate qualification in surveying.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

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

You could take a college course and enter the profession as a surveying technician. After completing your course, you would do further professional qualifications or a degree apprenticeship.

Courses include:

• construction
• construction and the built environment
• T Level in Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

You can apply to do an apprenticeship, for example:

• Surveying Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
• Chartered Surveyor Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship

If you follow the surveying technician route, you would need to do further training to qualify as a planning and development surveyor.

Entry requirements

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 higher or degree apprenticeship

If you have a higher national diploma or foundation degree in surveying or construction, you may be able to work as a surveying technician, and take further training on the job to qualify as a surveyor.

You may be able to do a postgraduate qualification through a graduate trainee scheme with a company or through distance learning with the University of the Built Environment.

You'll need:

• maths knowledge
• knowledge of geography
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• analytical thinking skills
• customer service skills
• knowledge of engineering science and technology
• the ability to work well with others
• knowledge of construction and planning regulations
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

As a planning and development surveyor, you could:

• analyse market data, like land and property records and values
• present findings to clients and make recommendations
• prepare planning applications for schemes
• bid for funds from development agencies and investment companies
• negotiate contracts and tenders
• advise clients on construction regulations and legal matters
• assess the likely impact of economic, social and environmental developments

You could work at a client's business, in an office or visit sites.