CHARTERED CIVIL ENGINEERING SURVEYOR DESIGNATION: INFORMATION FOR DUAL CICES AND RICS MEMBERS
The Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) have launched a partnership agreement, offering exclusive access to a new Chartered Civil Engineering Surveyor (CCES) designation available for professional members of both institutions.
This new designation recognises your expertise and demonstrates your ability to work with the high standards of both professional bodies.
Who is eligible?
If you meet the criteria below, you will be automatically given access to the new Chartered Civil Engineering Surveyor (CCES) designation.
✓ You must be a Full Member of CICES (MCInstCES or FCInstCES), and you must be a Chartered Member of RICS (MRICS or FRICS).
✓ You must also have qualified through:
RICS Route:
MRICS via the Geomatics pathway, with Engineering competency at Level 3.
CICES Route:
MCInstCES via:
Geospatial Engineering core + Engineering or Land specialism
Commercial Management core + Cost Engineering or Quantity Surveying specialism
What are the benefits of the partnership agreement and the Chartered Civil Engineering Surveyor (CCES) designation?
CICES provides deep sector expertise in geospatial and commercial management. RICS offers global recognition and independent regulation.
Together, they can support your career across infrastructure, construction, and civil engineering.
✔️ Professional recognition: the designation demonstrates that you have met rigorous professional standards.
✔️ Joint CICES-RICS membership subscription saving you money and simplifying your payments*
You can find out more information in our full list of FAQs
Existing dual member but don’t meet all the above eligibility criteria?
From January 2026, you can still apply for the designation through a joint assessment process, which includes a written submission, which is assessed by a joint RICS/CICES assessor panel, and a possible interview, depending on the outcome of the written assessment.
We will write to those this applies to when the assessment is live.
What happens next?
If you are currently MRICS or FRICS AND MCInstCES or FCInstCES, and meet the stated eligibility requirements, you will automatically be given the designation Chartered Civil Engineering Surveyor (CCES). We will write to you about this.
*Please note that while this joint membership subscription is currently only available to those in the UK, we are actively exploring rolling this option out to those outside of the UK. Read our FAQs below for more information.
If you only hold membership of one of the two bodies, for example you are a member of CICES only or RICS only, then you may be eligible for dual membership:
Once you become a dual Member of both RICS and CICES, you may then be able to access the designation if you meet the eligibility requirements, as listed above.
Hear from existing dual members
Simon Navin MRICS MCInstCES CCES, Head of Geospatial Services Ordnance Survey
“The dual designation of MRICS and CICES is a truly meaningful recognition of the breadth and depth of expertise that geospatial professionals bring to the table. Many of us began our careers rooted in civil engineering surveying and have evolved into roles that demand a nuanced understanding of both engineering and surveying disciplines and the data that supports and enables both. This collaboration between RICS and CICES is not just a membership milestone—it’s a strategic alignment that reflects the realities of modern practice. It signals a shared commitment to technical rigour, professional integrity, and the kind of interdisciplinary thinking that’s essential to shaping resilient infrastructure and delivering geospatial and location data intelligence at scale. For our sector, it’s a future-facing move that validates the hybrid skillsets we’ve cultivated and reinforces the value we add across the built and natural environment.”
James Kavanagh MRICS MCInstCES CCES, Head of Professional Practice - Land and Development RICS
“This designation marks a significant step forward in recognising the unique blend of expertise held by professionals working at the intersection of civil engineering and surveying. I, like many other geospatial surveyors, started my career in civil engineering and this collaboration between RICS & CICES has been a long-held ambition for our growing sector. It reflects not only technical excellence but also a commitment to the highest standards of professional integrity and competence. By formally acknowledging this dual capability, RICS and CICES are reinforcing the value of interdisciplinary practice and collaboration in shaping the built environment, and future proofing the growth of our geospatial and construction sectors.”
