Quantity Surveyor Career in South Africa
Explore the official OFO occupation, common tasks, specialisations and approved South African qualification pathways.
Occupation overview
Estimates and monitors construction costs from the feasibility stage, through tender preparation, to the construction period and beyond.
What does a Quantity Surveyor do?
A quantity surveyor helps determine whether a construction project is financially feasible and keeps its costs under control. The work can include preparing estimates, developing tender information, monitoring expenditure during construction and reviewing costs after the project has progressed. Related areas include building economics, construction economics, and estimating electrical or plumbing work.
Specialisations
How to become a Quantity Surveyor in South Africa
- Develop a strong understanding of construction costs, project feasibility, tender preparation and cost monitoring.
- Explore current education and training options related to quantity surveying, construction economics or construction estimating.
- Gain practical understanding of how building projects progress from feasibility through tendering and construction.
- Confirm current qualification, provider, assessment and professional requirements with the relevant South African authorities, providers or employers.
- Build experience applying cost-estimating and monitoring skills to construction projects.
Edupstairs Preparation Guidance
There is no single universal qualification pathway stated for this career, so prospective quantity surveyors should compare current South African study and training options and verify requirements with recognised providers, relevant authorities and employers. The occupation may also involve specialised work such as building economics, construction economics, electrical specifications writing or plumbing estimating.
Useful school subjects
- Mathematics
- Accounting
- Economics
- Engineering Graphics and Design
- Civil Technology
- Electrical Technology
Skills that may help
- Cost estimation
- Construction cost monitoring
- Feasibility analysis
- Tender preparation
- Attention to detail
- Numerical reasoning
- Budget awareness
- Understanding of construction work