RICS CPD Requirements: Hours, Ethics and Deadlines for 2026

RICS CPD requirements, in force since 1 January 2026, say that qualified members must complete a minimum of 20 hours of CPD in each calendar year, and at least 10 of those hours must be structured. Over any rolling three-year period you must also complete at least 1 hour of structured CPD on each of three mandatory topics: RICS global professional and ethical standards, sustainability, and AI, data and technology. CPD must be recorded digitally, and according to the RICS rules the annual declaration and records are due by 31 January of the following year at the latest.

RICS is a global body, and these rules apply to its qualified members wherever they work, including in the UK. This guide sets out what the current rules say. The CPD year for 2026 runs from 1 January to 31 December, so at the time of writing (15 October 2026) there are still around two and a half months left to complete this year's CPD.

RICS CPD requirements at a glance

Who the rules apply to

The rules apply to Member Fellows, professional members and non-chartered members, which on the RICS website are described as FRICS, MRICS and AssocRICS. Honorary members are not covered. RICS says candidates and students follow the requirements set by the assessment team rather than these rules.

The 20-hour minimum and the structured/unstructured split

According to RICS, you need a minimum of 20 hours of CPD each calendar year, of which at least 10 hours must be structured. The split works like this:

• Structured CPD is learning where outcomes can be easily identified. RICS gives webinars, seminars, conferences, lectures and workshops as typical examples. RICS says structured CPD does not have to be paid for or provided by RICS.
• Unstructured CPD is self-managed learning with a clear purpose. Examples from RICS include private study, on-the-job training, "keep up to date" reading and listening to podcasts.

The remaining hours after the 10 structured hours can be unstructured, though you can of course do more structured CPD if you wish. Each activity must be at least 30 minutes long to count, although smaller activities of less than 30 minutes that are similar in nature can be combined.

The three mandatory topics, including ethics

The updated framework adds mandatory topics. RICS says that each of the following must be covered as structured CPD of at least 1 hour, at least once in every three CPD years, on a rolling basis:

• RICS global professional and ethical standards;
• sustainability; and
• AI, data and technology.

The ethics requirement is therefore not an annual one: it must be covered at least once in any three-year window. The rules we reviewed do not state when the first three-year window begins, so if you are unsure how your own history counts, contact RICS at cpd@rics.org.

Recording and deadlines

The RICS rules say CPD must be recorded digitally through RICS My Account or the official RICS app. The app is optional: members can carry on recording through My Account on the website. For each activity you must record the learning outcome or outcomes. You also provide a single annual statement covering why you undertook the CPD, how it affected your development and how it affects your plans for next year.

On deadlines, the rules and the RICS website put it slightly differently:

• the rules say the annual declaration and formal submission of CPD records are due no later than 31 January of the year after the CPD year, and CPD must be recorded by then at the latest;
• the RICS CPD web page says you should record your CPD before the end of the calendar year.

The practical advice is to record as you go and finish before 31 December, using January only as a safety margin. For the 2026 CPD year, that makes 31 January 2027 the outer limit under the rules.

Exemptions

RICS allows full or partial exemptions in some circumstances. According to the rules, they include:

• exceptional hardship (including LionHeart support), assessed case by case;
• retirement, for those who no longer work for pay and do not expect to return;
• ill health, for its duration;
• non-practising status, assessed case by case; and
• family raising or caring, parental or adoption leave, and unemployment or seeking work, with a full exemption for the first CPD year.

Exemption requests should normally be made at membership renewal, and RICS says they must be made by 31 December of the relevant CPD year, though later requests may be considered at the Head of Regulation's discretion. An exemption has to last 6 months or more in a CPD year to remove that year's requirements. If it applies for less than 6 months, you must still meet the CPD requirements. A partial exemption still requires at least 10 hours of CPD and coverage of the mandatory topics.

Carrying hours forward

RICS allows one form of carry-over. If you undertake a structured programme of study that leads to an externally accredited award and lasts longer than 10 hours, you may carry forward up to 20 hours of structured CPD, recorded as up to 10 hours in each of the next two CPD years. Carry-over is not permitted for activities that began before 1 January 2026. Other programmes may qualify with the prior agreement of RICS Regulation.

Reviews and what happens if you do not comply

RICS says that each year a percentage of members will have their CPD records reviewed in detail, that all members may be subject to random or targeted reviews, and that reviews may be carried out using technology systems. The rules state that breaches may result in administrative and/or disciplinary action, and that failing to complete the annual declaration or submit CPD records may also lead to such action.

How RICS members can keep on top of it

• Check your running total now, while there is time to add structured hours before 31 December.
• Plan your three mandatory topics across the three-year window, and log which have been covered.
• Write the learning outcome for each activity at the time, not months later.
• Keep a note of the exemption deadline if your circumstances change.

Other built-environment professionals have their own schemes. See our guides on RIBA CPD recording and requirements and how ARB CPD works for architects. More guides are on Learnsignal's CPD hub.

Frequently asked questions

How many CPD hours does RICS require?

A minimum of 20 hours per calendar year, of which at least 10 must be structured, according to the RICS CPD rules effective 1 January 2026.

Is there an ethics requirement for RICS CPD?

Yes. RICS global professional and ethical standards is one of three mandatory topics. You must complete at least 1 hour of structured CPD on it at least once every three CPD years.

When is the RICS CPD deadline?

The CPD year ends on 31 December. The RICS rules say the annual declaration and CPD records are due no later than 31 January of the following year. RICS's web page advises recording before the end of the calendar year.

Do the new rules apply to AssocRICS members?

Yes. RICS says the rules apply to AssocRICS, MRICS and FRICS members. Honorary members are excluded.

Is the RICS app compulsory?

No. RICS says the app is optional, and members can keep recording through RICS My Account.

Can I carry over unused hours?

Not in general. Carry-over is limited to a qualifying structured programme leading to an externally accredited award, as described above.

Closing thoughts

The 2026 RICS rules are specific: 20 hours, at least 10 structured, three mandatory topics on a rolling three-year basis, and digital recording with a declaration by 31 January. Check your total now, plan your remaining structured hours, and confirm any detail on the RICS website, as the rules may be updated.

This article is general information, not regulatory, legal or compliance advice. Check the current RICS CPD rules and requirements on rics.org before relying on any detail.