QUANTITY SURVEYING A CHALLENGING PROFESSIONAL CAREER

The quantity surveyor acts as the financial and development consultant to the construction and property development industries, advising clients on the optimal use of funds as well as strategies to maximise human and physical resources.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

The quantity surveyor relates to people at all levels, whether they are developers, architects, engineers, land surveyors, lawyers and accountants or contractors, sub-contractors, emerging contractors and general workers.

Quantity surveyors are expected to maintain the highest level of professionalism towards all parties involved, thus ensuring fair and accurate finalisation of projects.

In addition to private professional practice, quantity surveyors' skills are also utilised in the following spheres of the economy:

• construction
• property development
• government
• finance

Many leaders in the commercial world are qualified quantity surveyors

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QUANTITY SURVEYING is a superb career for men and women who have the desire to involve themselves in the exciting world of construction and development.

In a highly pressurised world of spiralling costs and large scale development, the role of the quantity surveyor is currently more vital than when the profession was originally established in England in 1785.

WHAT DOES A QUANTITY SURVEYOR ACTUALLY DO?

Traditional quantity surveying functions:

• preparing feasibility studies and budgets for proposed projects
• preparing Bills of Quantities and other tender documentation to acquire fair and equitable tenders for projects
• negotiating building contracts
• drafting contract documents
• monitoring costs and reporting to clients during the design and construction of projects
• determining final costs of projects

Property development:

• development companies
• one's own initiative and entrepreneurial skills

Building construction with large or small building companies

Industrial development:

• mining
• petrochemical
• heavy industry

Community development locally, regionally or nationally through private and public sector housing, community services and infra-structural development projects.

Involvement in any project which requires rational planning and programming or financial and entrepreneurial skills.

Research related to building/property economics, profitability of commercial investment, professional practice matters, cost benefit analysis related to building material and construction method selection and many other fields of interest to clients of the construction industry.

HOW DOES ONE ENTER THE QUANTITY SURVEYING PROFESSION?

There a two routes:

• a four year full-time or five year part-time B.Sc (QS) university degree
• a three year technikon diploma advancing to a B-Tech degree after a further year of study

Within both these levels of entry a route exists for advancement to full registration as a professional practising quantity surveyor.

A two year correspondence course is also available, through which a candidate may qualify as a quantity surveying assistant.

Six universities and ten technikons in South Africa provide courses in quantity surveying. The course content, medium of instruction and entry requirements may be obtained directly from these institutions.

WHAT CAN A QUANTITY SURVEYOR EXPECT TO EARN?

Being a member of a recognised profession - like medical doctors, architects and others - the quantity surveyor can expect an income in keeping with the status of the profession. Initiative, enthusiasm, commitment to personal skills enhancement and hard work result in substantial financial reward.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further information may be obtained from the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors by telephone (011) 315-4140 or by fax (011) 315-3785 or by writing to The Director, ASAQS, PO Box 3527, Halfway House, 1685 or by using the e-mail facility provided below

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