Construction PM - Which Professional Body?

[GuinnessMK]

I've recently completed a BSc in Building Project Management, and that has allowed me to update my CSCS Card to Academically Qualified Person. I've got my Asbestos Awareness and First Aid at Work, so I'm pretty happy that I'm at a minimum standard.

Next step is to try to gain membership of one of the acronyms.

RICS (PM) looks to be a good option, but seems to require almost another degree's worth of evidence.

CIOB and APM look to be a quicker option, with a professional review being the main route to entry.

Which would you go for and why?

Or do I get APM first, while I build my evidence for RICS?

[CRB14]

If you're building things then most definitely the CIOB. Even a lot of surveyors are going down that route now.

[tleefox]

Letters after your name mean nothing without experience under your belt - focus on that first. With the IOB if you do 5 years experience you can apply for the professional review interview route, so killing 2 birds with one stone.

Edited by tleefox on Sunday 10th May 21:45

[GuinnessMK]

Perhaps I should have been clearer. I've worked in construction for 20 years, however due to having a head down, arse up sort of attitude to getting jobs done for clients, I completely missed the whole sea change around qualifications and CPD.

Something that bit, and bit hard, when I was out of a job, and 15 years experience counted for nothing. Now I have 20 years experience and a few tickets.

However, I'm old enough to know I'm never more than one bad job away from an exit interview. Currently I'm in a client side role, but the next logical step would be to a big consultancy, which is pushing me towards APS or RICS. The alternative is going back to the construction side, which would point me towards CIOB.

[tleefox]

GuinnessMK said:

Perhaps I should have been clearer. I've worked in construction for 20 years, however due to having a head down, arse up sort of attitude to getting jobs done for clients, I completely missed the whole sea change around qualifications and CPD.

Something that bit, and bit hard, when I was out of a job, and 15 years experience counted for nothing. Now I have 20 years experience and a few tickets.

However, I'm old enough to know I'm never more than one bad job away from an exit interview. Currently I'm in a client side role, but the next logical step would be to a big consultancy, which is pushing me towards APS or RICS. The alternative is going back to the construction side, which would point me towards CIOB.

Based on the above, I would say which route you go down depends on which side of the fence you see yourself sitting on. Client side I would say RICS is better - contractor side I would say CIOB is better. I wouldn't bother with APM as to the best of my knowledge, that is not specific to the industry?

Like I said in my original post, if you've got the experience (5 years minimum IIRC) you used to be able to skip everything in the IOB and go straight to the final interview, which if still the case would certainly be the quickest and easiest option for you.

[iphonedyou]

Given your update - RICS.

I'm sitting next Wednesday (graduate route 1, QS) and can confirm it's horrific but professional entry is less arduous.