The RICS updated their APC Candidate Guide in June 2025 with important changes on how case study word counts are being calculated. If the word count limits are exceeded, the RICS can reserve the right to cancel your Final Assessment Interview so APC candidates need to pay close attention to these changes. The updates also introduced an explicit ban on the use of generative artificial intelligence. After 10 years coaching APC candidates, I always emphasise the importance of printing out a copy of the Candidate Guides and keeping this close to hand so you can keep referring back to this. To help stay on track, below is a summary of the candidate guide updates along with the steps candidates need to follow to remain compliant with the latest changes being implemented by the RICS.
The RICS updated the RICS APC Candidate Guide in June 2025. These changes have introduced an explicit ban on the use of generative artificial intelligence for submission documents with AI detection checks now being carried out. Word count requirements are more prescriptive with Microsoft Word being utilised to check these in addition to a new requirement for candidates to state their own word count at the end of their Case Study. Further clarifications around which items are included and excluded from the word count have been added.
Below is a summary of the June 2025 updates to the RICS APC Candidate Guide along with the steps candidates need to follow to remain compliant with the latest changes.
RICS APC Case Study Word Count Changes
In the previous version of the candidate guide, the RICS enforced a strict 3,000 word count for the APC case study and could even reserve the right to cancel the final assessment interview if this was exceeded. These rules are still in place however the RICS are now much more prescriptive around how the word count is being calculated and checked within the latest candidate guide updates. APC candidates must now include a word count at the end of their case study, they should also include a note on which items are included within the word count total. The RICS have advised that the word count will now be checked using Microsoft Word so it is important for candidates to also use Microsoft Word to avoid any discrepancies. In this version of the guide, the RICS are much more prescriptive around which elements of the Case Study are included and excluded and how the appendices is to be used. The word count includes any content written from the Introduction section to the Conclusion including any headings and sub-headings. The word count excludes the project name, date of the project, confidentiality statement, table of contents and the appendices. Any photographs, charts & tables should be included within the Appendices and correctly referenced. Please see a brief summary below on which items are included & excluded from the word count:-
| Case Study Item | Included or Excluded from Word Count Total |
| Table of Contents | Excluded |
| Confidentiality Statement | Excluded |
| Project Name | Excluded |
| Date of the Project | Excluded |
| Introduction to Conclusion | Included |
| Headings & Subheadings | Included |
| Table of Competencies Demonstrated | Excluded as contained within Appendix A |
| Appendices | Excluded |
| Photographs, Charts, Tables, Plans | Excluded (To be included in the appendices section and correctly referenced) |
| Word Count Limit | Maximum of 3,000 words |
Please click here to access a successful case study example and word count check list to help calculate the correct inclusions & exclusions from the word count total.
The RICS can reserve the right to cancel your Final Assessment Interview if the case study word count is exceeded
Use of Artificial Intelligence
In the previous version of the guide, the RICS advised that plagiarism checks would be undertaken using a system called Turnitin which is commonly used to check University assignments to identify levels of similarity with previous work. If the RICS identify that your submission has been plagiarised, they can reserve the right to investigate further and potentially take disciplinary action removing candidates from the assessment process. These checks for plagiarism using Turnitin are still in place within the latest version of the guide so please ensure that everything referenced within your submission is your own work and based on your personal experience. In the latest version of the candidate guide, the RICS has now placed an explicit ban on the use of generative artificial intelligence to generate the content of your submission. Candidates are permitted to use tools to support them with the checking of spelling and grammar however the use of AI to generate your submission document content is strictly not permitted. The RICS have advised they will be undertaking detection checks to ensure AI has not been used to generate content within your submission documents.
RICS APC Summary Of Experience Word Count Changes
The RICS are still enforcing a strict 1,500 word count limit for the mandatory competencies and 4,000 word count limit for the technical competencies within the summary of experience but have added further clarification on how the word count is being checked and which items are included. Again the word count will be checked using Microsoft Word with any content under the column titled ‘Summary Of Experience’ being included. Any references or citations you write under this column will also be included.
The summary of experience word count does not include the titles or names of competency levels as these appear in the first two columns of the template. Please see the below summary table to confirm which items within the summary of experience are included within the word count total.
| Summary of Experience Item | Included or Excluded from Word Count Total |
| Titles of Competencies | Excluded |
| Levels of Competencies | Excluded |
| Experience Listed | Included |
| Project Titles | Included |
| References & Citations | Included |
| Technical Competencies Word Count Limit | Maximum of 4,000 words |
| Mandatory Competencies Word Count Limit | Maximum of 1,500 words |
Please click here to access a successful summary of experience example and word count check list to help calculate the correct inclusions & exclusions from the word count total.
Case Study Appendices Updates
The RICS have now added further clarification on how the Appendices can be used. The Appendices contents is still excluded from the 3,000 word count total and Appendix A is to be used solely to demonstrate the competencies you have achieved. The following Appendices B, C etc are only to be used for supporting items that compliment your Case Study such as charts, graphs, plans and tables. The RICS have added a reference here that extra written commentary is not permitted within the Appendices. Remember that any charts, graphs or tables you include within the main body of your Case Study will count to the overall word count so be sure to include these within your Appendices and make sure these are correctly referenced.
Please click here to access a successful case study example to demonstrate the correct use of the appendices.
Case Study Validity Period
The Case Study validity period is still in place within the latest version of the candidate guide and the RICS still require your involvement within your case study project to have taken place within the last 24 months. This means the activities undertaken in your case study should have been within the last 24 months working back from the date you submit for assessment. You must clearly reference the start date and end date of the project within your Case Study, if the project is still ongoing the end date can be omitted.
Diary & Logbook Requirements
In the latest version of the candidate guide, the RICS have had added further clarifications on the differences between the APC diary and logbook. They have confirmed these are two separate elements with the APC diary being used to capture your day to day surveying experience. The contents of the diary is then populated into your logbook for submission to the assessment panel, note here there is no requirement to include your diary within your submission documents, it is only the logbook that needs to be submitted. If the logbook is not included this will mean your submission documents are invalid.
Please click here to access a free APC diary template to capture your day to day surveying experience including a tutorial on how this should be populated.
Placement Year Enrolment
In the pervious version of the guide, candidates undertaking an RICS-accredited sandwich placement degree needed to enrol with the RICS prior to undertaking their placement year. However now the RICS have advised that there is no requirement for undergraduates to enrol on their placement year, they will automatically backdate enrolment so that your placement year counts towards the number of experience days required.
Final Thoughts & Candidate Checklist
From personal experience, in the middle of writing up my case study, I remember my anxiety levels increasing when trying to work out which elements were included and excluded from the hugely important word count total. It can be so challenging for candidates to keep up to date with any RICS rule changes, especially if these are made just before sending through your submission documentation. To help stay on track with the latest RICS APC Candidate Guide updates, please use the checklist list below to ensure you remain compliant with the latest rule changes:-
RICS APC Candidate Guide Checklist
Please click here to access the APC Candidate Guide Checklist to support with checking that your submission is compliant prior to submitting to the RICS.
RICS APC Q&A STUDY GUIDES
