How To Become A Quantity Surveyor In South Africa

Quantity surveyors estimate and control costs for large construction projects. They make sure that structures meet legal and quality standards. Quantity surveyors are involved at every stage of a project.

The course prepares students for middle and top management employment in the construction, property development and allied industries, as well as financial institutions and government departments. The quantity surveyor is the cost and financial specialist of the construction industry.

Why do you need a quantity surveyor?

A QS will provide an accurate cost estimation from the earliest stage, obtaining the best market prices and quality of materials and trades available to deliver the project in line with the budget. They manage the budget during the build, maintaining real-time cost information for the client.

What does a junior quantity surveyor do?

The Junior quantity surveyor you will be responsible for helping to estimate costs, quantities, and project timelines and providing this information to clients.

What does a quantity surveyor do day to day?

day-to-day role of a quantity surveyor.

You’ll be preparing tender and contract documents, carrying out cost analysis, monitoring cost variations and writing reports, finding out the client requirements and undertaking feasibility studies, allocating work to sub-contractors and making payments.

How To Become A Quantity Surveyor In South Africa

Quantity surveyor: job description

Quantity surveyors are responsible for managing all aspects of the contractual and financial side of construction projects.

Quantity surveyors manage the costs on a construction project. They help to ensure that the construction project is completed within its projected budget. Alternative job titles for a quantity surveyor include ‘cost consultant’, ‘commercial manager’, ‘cost manager’ and ‘cost engineer’.

The tasks quantity surveyors complete will differ according to whether they are working on the design or the construction stage of a project (and therefore whether they are working for a consultancy – which focuses on the design stage – or the contractor, who builds the project). Depending on the stage of the project and their employer, they might:

price/forecast the cost of the different materials needed for the project

prepare tender documents, contracts, budgets, bills of quantities and other documentation

track changes to the design and/or construction work and adjust budget projections accordingly

procure or agree the services of contractors and/or subcontractors who work on the construction of the project

measure and value the work done on site

pay subcontractors

liaise with the client and other construction professionals, such as site managers, project managers and site engineers

select and/or source construction materials

write reports.

Typical employers of quantity surveyors

The main employers for quantity surveyors are:

specialist cost management/quantity surveying consultancies working within the construction industry

construction and engineering companies (consultants and contractors).

However, quantity surveyors may also find a few vacancies with these types of employers:

property firms and property developers

architectural practices

infrastructure and utility companies, eg Network Rail and Scottish Water

public sector organizations.

Vacancies are typically advertised on TARGET jobs, in TARGET jobs Property, by careers services, by specialist recruitment agencies, by construction and property industry news outlets (in print and online) and via relevant professional bodies such as the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).

Qualifications and training required

There are routes into a career as a quantity surveyor for both university graduates and school leavers. For school leavers, there are apprenticeships and training programmes available: see the TARGET careers website for more details.

In most cases, graduates will need:

either an undergraduate degree accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) in quantity surveying, commercial management or a related construction subject

or a postgraduate conversion course (usually a Pg Dip or a masters) accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)

Key skills for chartered surveyors

Numeracy

A good working knowledge of MS Excel and the ability to learn how to use specialist software

Excellent relationship-building and interpersonal skills

The ability to work in a team

The ability to negotiate

Attention to detail and a methodical approach to work.

Property development:

. Dealing with development companies;

. Using one’s initiative and entrepreneurial skills; and

. Collaborating with large or small building companies.

The department of education’s scarce-jobs list has quantity surveying in the fourth spot, so there is clearly demand for these professionals.

It is a superb career for men and women who are interested in the exciting world of construction and development.

In our highly pressurized world of spiraling costs and large-scale development, the role of the quantity surveyor is indispensable – more so than when the profession was originally established in England back in 1785.

For further information about the industry, contact the Association of SA Quantity Surveyors on 011 315 4140 or by fax 011 315 3785, or you can write to The Director, Asaqs, PO Box 3527, Halfway House, 1685

What qualifications do you need for quantity surveyor?

To work as a quantity surveyor, you will usually need a degree in quantity surveying or commercial management accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). If your undergraduate degree is in a different subject, you can take a RICS-accredited postgraduate conversion course.

Where can I study quantity surveyor in South Africa?

The University of the Free State is the only South African institution that offers a distance learning course in quantity surveying.

How many years does it take to become a quantity surveyor?

The BSc (Hons) in Quantity Surveying is a one year, full-time degree. The degree enables graduates to apply quantity surveying techniques to building and civil engineering projects; carry out property development and -portfolio administration and perform applicable professional quantity surveying management roles.

What subjects are needed to become a quantity surveyor in South Africa?

An accredited degree, diploma or professional qualification is needed in order to enter the field of quantity surveying. Relevant subjects include surveying, construction, civil engineering and structural engineering

Is quantity surveying hard to study?

Becoming a quantity surveyor takes hard work – but it’s worth it, explains recent graduate Andrew Frost, who’s eight months into his first job at Turner & Townsend. If you’re thinking about beginning a career in the construction industry, read on and find out how to become a quantity surveyor.

How much does a junior quantity surveyor earn in South Africa?

The average salary for a Quantity Surveyor in SA is R 527 330 gross per year (R 43 940 gross per month), which is 87% higher than the South Africa’s national average salary.

Quantity Surveyor – Salary Differences.

JobSalaryDifference
Junior Quantity SurveyorR 169K/year-68%

How many points do you need to become a quantity surveyor?

Points are awarded on the same basis as for the Leaving Certificate, Pass 28 points; Pass with Merit 46 points; and Pass with Distinction 66 points. The link modules ‘subject’ may not be used to meet minimum entry requirements. The LCA subjects do not meet the minimum requirements for entry to CIT full-time courses.

Can I be a quantity surveyor without a degree?

If you haven’t got a degree, you could join an RICS approved Chartered Surveyor Degree Apprenticeship. This pathway will see you working as a trainee quantity surveyor while you study a surveying degree on a part time basis, gaining both theoretical and practical knowledge as you go.

Is quantity surveying in demand in South Africa?

High Demand: Quantity surveyors are in high demand in South Africa and the Department of Home Affairs has invited foreign applicants who qualify to apply for the critical skills visa to the gap.

What is a surveyor salary in South Africa?

An early career Professional Land Surveyor with 1-4 years of experience earns an average total compensation (includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay) of R417,500 based on 12 salaries. A mid-career Professional Land Surveyor with 5-9 years of experience earns an average total compensation of R540,000 based on 5 salaries.

What does a quantity surveyor do in South Africa?

Quantity surveyors are the financial consultants of the construction industry whose training and experience qualify them to advise on cost and contractual arrangements and to prepare contract documents. They are independent experts who operate in a specialized area of the construction industry.