Entry Requirements

To be eligible to study for the IRRV (Level 4) Certificate in Rating, candidates must be over 18 years of age and ideally have gained some work experience. All students for the duration of their study will be classified as ‘Student’ members of the IRRV when they enrol on the Course. They cannot sit the viva voice unless they are still a member of the Institute.

Candidates must hold a qualification at least equivalent to A-Level, or any qualification at Level 3 of the national framework (England and Wales) and be able to fulfil workplace experience requirements.
 

Course Duration and Assessment

The Course will commence in September 2026 and run through to December 2027. It consists of over 10 modules, which comprise 3 x 2 hour sessions per module of structured learning plus independent learning and projects/assignment for each Module before progressing to the final assignment and Viva. The programme is expected to be undertaken in a workplace environment, with appropriate supervision from an appropriately qualified mentor.

Project work and assignments are set by the Course Leader and marked independently with appropriate moderation. The Course will be overseen by the IRRV Qualifications Management Board.

Alignment

The IRRV Certificate in Rating (Level 4) is aligned with the following programmes already available:

• IRRV Technician (Level 3)

• IRRV Apprenticeship (Level 4)

• IRRV Diploma (Level 5)

• IRRV Honours / MRICS (Level 6)

• RICS Diploma in Rating (Level 7)

 

Course Delivery

The Course leader for the IRRV Certificate in Rating is Andrew Hetherton MRICS IRRV (Hons) Cert Ed. Andrew is an Honours Member of the IRRV having qualified as a Chartered Surveyor and is also a Member of the Rating Surveyors’ Association, a member of the International Property Tax Institute and Associate of International Association of Assessing Officers.

Andrew has a Certificate of Education with the University of Southampton and is also an Associate Tutor for the University of the Built Environment.

The Course will be delivered virtually through ‘Zoom’ and ‘Dropbox’. The Course leader will also bring in a number of guest speakers on a range of topics.

 

Course Progression

Those achieving the qualification would be eligible to then progress on to IRRV Diploma and ultimately, IRRV Honours.

Diary

Students will be required to keep a diary of their activities, learning and experience during the Course of the programme, not only during the Course but also from other training and experience in this area of practice during the period of their enrolment.

A post qualification CPD record maintained on the IRRV platform is expected for students to remain current and up to date on professional matters.

Assignments

Each module includes project work, required reading, quizzes and assessments marked as part of the programme. This would be submitted electronically and would cover aspects of the module and the application to their work environment.

Dissertation

Providing the student has achieved the required standard, they will then be able to progress to the dissertation. The student must submit a proposal to the Institute on a topic of their choice. If the proposal meets the requirements outlined in the guidance, they are asked to prepare a 5,000 word dissertation and to submit this to the Institute within three months.

The focus will be on their workplace experience and area of practice. This enables those students from Valuation Office Agency, Tribunal Service, Local Authority or private practice to focus their project on an area of work on which they have experience.

The candidate will attend a professional discussion (viva voce), lasting approximately between 45 minutes and an hour, where they will be asked to summarise their learning based on their assignments, training undertaken during the Course and their dissertation content. They will be asked to answer questions from a panel of experts on all aspect of their study during their Course.

The overall mark from the dissertation will be classified as follows:

• Unclassified: 0 to 16 marks.

• Fail: 17 to 44 marks.

• Marginal Fail: 45 to 49 marks.

• Pass: 50 to 74 marks.

• Distinction: 75 to 100 marks.

 

Membership
 

The Course is being run with the support of the Rating Surveyors’ Association (RSA). For the duration of the Course, students will be enrolled as members of both the IRRV and RSA.

Benefits of IRRV membership includes:

• Journals.

• Conferences and professional meetings.

• Faculties.

• Associations and networks.

• Member directory.

• Member website.

• Technical enquiry service.

• CPD.

• Information services.

• Career development.

• IRRV rewards scheme.

Non-Members of the Institute will become student members of the Institute and during the Course, will receive complimentary membership of both the IRRV and the RSA. Current Institute members shall retain their existing grade and be liable for payment of the appropriate membership fee. They will also continue to be able to use any designatory letters.

Certification

Upon completion of the Course and assessment successful students will be to use the designatory letters IRRV (Cert in Rating) and to apply to the Rating Surveyors’ Association as an Affiliate Member*.

*Subject to the appropriate acceptance of the respective Rules and Articles of Association of the RSA.

Course Fee

£1,600 +VAT