The Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (AIQS) is the regulatory body of the profession.  Through its leadership, standards and code of ethics, it ensures that practising Quantity Surveyors are dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of professional excellence.

The Institute’s primary functions are to:

• ensure the necessary standards of education and training which lead to membership,

• support the education of trainees,

• encourage and provide continuing professional development,

• maintain standards and methods of procedure,

• uphold ethical standards of practice,

• encourage and support appropriate research,

• represent the profession at government, industry and public forums,

• lob by for and encourage economic use of building and construction resources.

• produce policies and position statements on professional and industry matters.

Membership of the Institute is restricted to those with appropriate educational qualifications and who have demonstrated the required level of professional competence after a statutory work experience period. Corporate membership is open to Quantity Surveyors, Building or Construction Economists, Cost Engineers, Cost Estimators and others with appropriate degree qualifications. Students and other related professionals are eligible for non-corporate membership.  The Institute actively encourages excellence in the profession by awarding annual prizes to top students in Quantity Surveying degree courses and peer recognition of senior members by the awarding of the title "Fellow of the Institute".

The Institute is a national organisation with Chapters and Divisions in all States and Territories. It also has a strong overseas membership and is the Australian peak body to the International Cost Engineering Council and the Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors.

As the Quantity Surveyor is an important member of the building and construction team, the Institute is an active participant in all the industry major forums and lobby groups, e.g.,The Australian Council of Building Design Professions, the Australian Construction Industry Forum and the Australian Council of Professions.

The Institute plays an important role in industry research through the collection of cost data and the publishing of the Current Construction Costs. It also publishes,The Australian Standard Method of Measurement of Building Works (5th Edition) and cooperates with tertiary institutions on research programs.

The AIQS has formal links with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the New Zealand Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NZIQS), the Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers (SISV), the International Cost Engineering Council (ICEC) and the Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors (PAQS).

The Institute publishes the quarterly journal The Building Economist which was first produced in 1961.The Institute’s other major publications are the Current Construction Costs (printed in The Building Economist) and the Australian Cost Management Manual and a series of useful technical guides and textbooks, as well as videos, CDs and Practice Notes.The Institute also publishes two national membership newsletters (Overseas Members News and Information—OMNI: and the Institute News Supplement—INS), as well as Chapter Newsletters.

The AIQS National Office is located in Canberra at National Surveyors House which was built by the members and opened in April 1990.