Charts the progress of the TechRICS qualification since its launch in late 1998 and looks at its future. After promising growth in the first three years, TechRICS numbers have been declining but the qualification is not going to die out because of new sources of potential applicants. The main growth is likely to be linked to the new certified home inspector qualifications due to come into force in 2007. Some 7 000 home inspectors will be needed to prepare home condition reports. Other sources of technical surveyors will include HM Land Registry, large estate agency chains and the biggest branch of the TechRICS pipeline, the 200 NVQ candidates emerging from assessment centres around the UK. Outside the UK, there is a strong interest in the technical qualification in Hong Kong. Graph covers technical surveyor numbers from 1998 with predictions to 2008. View the article at www.rics.org.