What is qp qs

Last updated: April 1, 2026

Quick Answer: QP (Qualified Person) and QS (Quantity Surveyor) are professional roles in construction and engineering. A QP oversees safety and compliance, while a QS manages project costs and contracts.

Key Facts

Understanding QP and QS

In construction and engineering industries, QP and QS represent two distinct professional roles that are critical to project success. While they work toward different objectives, both are essential for delivering safe, compliant, and cost-effective projects.

Qualified Person (QP)

A Qualified Person is a professional who has demonstrated competence and holds appropriate qualifications to manage specific technical or safety responsibilities on a project. The QP must have relevant experience, formal qualifications, and often professional certification. In construction, a QP might oversee structural integrity, electrical systems, or health and safety compliance. QPs are required by law in many jurisdictions when working with hazardous materials, confined spaces, or complex technical systems. They ensure that work meets industry standards, codes, and regulations.

Quantity Surveyor (QS)

A Quantity Surveyor is a construction professional responsible for financial and contractual aspects of projects. QSs manage project budgets, prepare cost estimates, manage contracts, process variation orders, and track expenses throughout the project lifecycle. They act as intermediaries between clients and contractors, ensuring financial transparency and protecting interests. QSs use their expertise to forecast costs, manage claims, and optimize spending without compromising quality or safety.

Key Differences

While both QPs and QSs are essential professionals, they focus on different aspects: QPs prioritize compliance and technical safety, while QSs prioritize financial management and contracts. A project typically requires both roles working collaboratively to ensure it is delivered safely, to specification, on time, and within budget.

Related Questions

What qualifications does a Qualified Person need?

A QP typically requires relevant industry experience (usually 3-5+ years), formal educational qualifications in their field, and professional certification from recognized bodies. Specific requirements vary by jurisdiction and industry sector.

What does a Quantity Surveyor do on a daily basis?

QSs review contracts, prepare cost reports, manage budgets, process invoices and variations, track project expenses, and communicate financial updates to stakeholders throughout the project.

Can one person be both a QP and QS?

While uncommon, some professionals hold both qualifications through additional training, though they typically specialize in one role on any given project to avoid conflicts of interest.

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Sources

  1. Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors proprietary
  2. UK Health and Safety Executive OGL