Who does the HCPC regulate?

By Gemma Raw

​The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) is the regulator for 15 protected healthcare professions in the UK. But what does the HCPC do? Its role is to make sure that specific healthcare professionals are safe to practise in the UK. It manages a practice register and oversees education and training. As well as making sure those on the register are safe to practice, the HCPC also has approved standards that every registrant must follow. These standards cover everything from conduct and ethics to proficiency, performance and continuing professional development (CPD).

Who does the HCPC regulate?

The HCPC regulates a wide range of healthcare professions, including:

• Art therapists

• Biomedical scientists

• Chiropodists/podiatrists

• Clinical scientists

• Dietitians

• Hearing aid dispensers

• Occupational therapists

• Operating department practitioners

• Orthoptists

• Paramedics

• Physiotherapists

• Practitioner psychologists

• Prosthetists

• Radiographers

• Speech and language therapists

To work in any of the protected titles listed above, you must have completed the accepted professional training, and have received confirmation of your registration from the HCPC. You will also need to pay registration fees, and if you are applying from aboard a scrutiny fee (please see below).

Joining the HCPC register

How you join the register depends on whether you completed your training in the UK or overseas. If applying from abroad, you will need to make a postal application to the HCPC. As you would expect, the HCPC may ask for further information by email, but this is usually only to clarify information. Along with filling in the registration forms, you will be expected to pay a scrutiny fee of £539.65 before the HCPC can assess your application. The whole registration process usually takes around 60 working days, but it can sometimes take a little more time depending on demand. Therefore, it’s a good idea to get you application in as soon as possible and make sure you have all the documentation to hand.

Here are a few tips to help the application process run as smoothly as possible:

1.    If you are submitting qualification documents that are not in English, you must also provide certified official translations. If you’re struggling to find a translator, we may be able to help, or you can seek advice from the British Embassy, Consulate or High Commission.

2.    Take care to read and understand the HCPC’s Standards of Proficiency for your profession. It’s important that you do this since your application will be assessed on whether you meet them.

3.    Include as much evidence as possible, especially when it comes to your experience, education and training.

4.    Be very detailed with your experience and double-check the contact details for previous employers.

5.    Don’t forget to reference and document relevant training since shortfalls in experience may be compensated by courses you have attended.

The HCPC has lots of useful information on its website and very much welcomes international healthcare professionals to join the register. Our advice is to feel comfortable with the process and know what to expect before completing any forms. 

For more information about overseas worker requirements, please feel free to read our collection of blogs.