The local branch of Britain's Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) was rewarded with a great accolade as three of its men became certified by the British body.

RICS Bermuda was founded in 1997 to help Bermudians become chartered surveyors on the Island.

Co-founder, Paul Matthews, said that he started RICS Bermuda "basically to encourage the development and number of chartered surveyors that Bermuda produced".

"When surveyors used to have to go overseas to be assessed, to the UK for example, they would have to learn all the UK law and procedures. But what we have now are guys learning all Bermudian laws and procedures. It is a springboard," he said.

RICS Bermuda chairman, Mark Griffin, said that there were three Bermudians training to further their surveying qualifications on the Island.

He said that the founders thought organising Bermuda's chartered surveyors would benefit the profession and they applied for a grant from RICS in the UK.

The grant funded the development of their website, www.rics.bm, but also began a continued professional development (CPD) programme.

"We are obliged to keep learning. It is a requirement of the organisation," Mr. Griffin said.

The installation of this CPD was how Christopher Potter, Gary Garnett and Richard Hanson achieved their new qualifications

Mr. Potter said his wife Lara was very supportive of his studies.

His son William was born two months before his interview to see if he became a chartered surveyor, he said.

"On the day of the interview my wife and I were phoning for over two hours to try and find a baby sitter. But we found one," Mr. Potter said.

"It was really great that I was able to complete (the qualification) in Bermuda while (working to) gain practical experience," he said.

Mr. Hanson said that he also completed his qualification part-time doing school work one day a week out of five, he said.

"You can do it within six years so if you start at 18, you can finish at 24," he said.

But Mr. Garnett said it took him ten years to get where he is today.

"I started in the UK, but moved to Bermuda. There was no Island certification then. To complete the process, I would have to go back to the UK to get qualified," Mr. Garnett said.

"But it's more than just self certification", he said. "The members provide support for the trainees."