How to apply for HCPC UK?
For health and care professionals trained outside the UK, registering with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) is a vital step toward practising in the UK. The HCPC is the regulatory body responsible for maintaining professional standards across 15 professions, including physiotherapists, biomedical scientists, radiographers, and occupational therapists. The full list is below:
Arts therapists; Biomedical scientists; Chiropodists / podiatrists; Clinical scientists; Dietitians; Hearing aid dispensers; Occupational therapists; Operating department practitioners; Orthoptists; Paramedics; Physiotherapists; Practitioner psychologists; Prosthetists / orthotists; Radiographers; Speech and language therapists
If you’re applying from outside the UK, your route to registration is the international application route. This process is detailed and documentation-heavy—but with the right preparation, it’s entirely manageable. This guide walks you through each stage of the application and highlights what you need to get it right the first time.
Understanding Eligibility
Before applying, it’s essential to make sure you’re eligible to use the international route. You must have completed your training and received a professional qualification outside the UK, and your profession must be one regulated by the HCPC.
If you've previously been registered with the HCPC, you’ll need to apply for readmission instead. Similarly, if you're applying under a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), have refugee or humanitarian protection status, or are from Switzerland, you may need to follow a different process.
Prepare Before You Apply
To avoid delays and ensure your application is assessed efficiently, preparation is key. Before even beginning your application, international applicants must:
Carefully read the HCPC guidance on international applications.
Understand the standards of proficiency for your specific profession.
Review the standards of conduct, performance and ethics, and standards for continuing professional development (CPD).
Prepare and certify all required documents, including identification, qualifications, and proof of address.
All applicants are expected to demonstrate how they meet the standards of proficiency through their education and professional experience. You are encouraged to submit as much relevant information as possible, including optional documents that support your application.
The Online Application Process
Creating Your Account
To begin the application, you must first create an account on the HCPC registration portal. Use a personal, long-term email address—not one issued by a university or temporary employer—as this will be your main point of contact throughout your career.
Once signed up, you can log in and start a new international application. Your dashboard will show all applications you’ve created and their current status (e.g., In Progress or Submitted).
Starting Your Application
When you begin, you’ll select "International" as your application type. You’ll be asked whether you’ve applied or registered with the HCPC (or its predecessor, the HPC) before. If so, you’ll need to provide your previous registration or application number.
You must then declare that you have read all relevant standards and guidance. This includes confirming that you understand the standards of proficiency and professional conduct.
Profession and Modalities
In this section, you will confirm your profession and, where applicable, choose your modality (a specialism within the profession). For example, clinical scientists must choose their specialism from a provided list.
Required Documentation
Identification and Address
To verify your identity and residency, you must upload certified copies of:
A photo ID (passport or national ID card), and
A proof of address, such as a utility bill (within 6 months), driving licence, bank statement, tax letter, or council tax bill.
If your name differs from that on your documents, you’ll need certified evidence (e.g., marriage certificate) explaining the change.
Certifying Your Documents
Each uploaded document must be a certified copy, not the original. A certified copy is a photocopy signed and dated within the last six months by a “person of standing”—someone such as a lawyer, teacher, health professional, religious official, or justice of the peace. The certifier must write:
“I certify that this is a true copy of the original document seen by me.”
They must also include their name, title, and contact details. The certification must be handwritten on the document itself, not on a separate sheet.
Your Qualification
You’ll need to submit information about the qualification that first enabled you to practise your profession. This includes:
A certified copy of your qualification certificate, and
A Course Information Form, completed by your university or training provider.
This form outlines the course’s structure, content, learning outcomes, assessment methods, and theoretical/practical hours. It must be stamped, signed (not just typed), and include contact details of an academic administrator. Upload this form as one readable PDF or document file—not as separate images.
If you have multiple qualifications, you must complete a separate Course Information Form for each, though you are only required to submit one if only one qualification enabled you to practise.
Professional Experience
The HCPC requires a detailed overview of your work experience. You should:
List your experience in reverse chronological order (most recent first).
Explain any career gaps longer than six months.
Include references and official contact details for each employer—only institutional email addresses are accepted unless independently verifiable.
Upload any supporting documents that demonstrate your professional experience.
You must include at least one example of work experience, and your referees should be supervisors or others responsible for you in a professional capacity.
English Language Proficiency
If your primary qualification was delivered in an English-speaking country listed by the HCPC, you don’t need to provide further proof of English. Otherwise, you’ll need to submit a valid certificate (less than 2 years old) from:
IELTS – minimum overall 7.0 with no sub-score below 6.5 (8.0 for speech and language therapists)
TOEFL iBT
OET (Occupational English Test)
One-skill retakes for IELTS are accepted if done within six months of the original test.
Professional Registration and Membership
You must disclose all current and past registrations with regulatory or professional bodies outside the UK. Include any memberships or licences to practise in other countries.
Character, Health and Legal Declarations
The HCPC assesses your character and fitness to practise by reviewing any criminal history, professional conduct issues, or health conditions that may impair your ability to work safely. Even spent convictions must be declared (with exceptions for protected cautions and convictions under UK law). You’ll also be asked whether you’ve ever been barred from working with vulnerable adults or children.
Having a health condition or disability does not prevent you from registering, but full disclosure is required.
Final Steps: Submission and Payment
Before you can submit your application, all required documents must be uploaded and certified correctly. Once everything is complete, you’ll be able to click the “Submit” button.
You’ll then be prompted to pay the scrutiny fee of £639.98 using Worldpay. To ensure your payment goes through:
Check you have sufficient funds.
Inform your bank of the international payment.
Use a card that hasn’t expired.
Avoid using browsers or cards that have had unusual transaction histories.
If your payment fails, try a different card or contact your bank. Your application is not considered submitted until payment has been made.
What Happens After Submission?
After submission, your application undergoes a verification and assessment process. HCPC may contact your referees, training institution, or regulatory bodies to confirm your credentials. If any issues arise—such as unverifiable email addresses or missing documents—they will contact you for clarification.
Processing times can vary, but ensuring your application is complete, accurate, and well-documented will greatly improve your chances of a timely outcome.
Three Final Tips for a Successful Application
Don’t Rush the Process
Read everything carefully and follow the HCPC’s instructions to the letter. A thorough application is better than a fast one.
Triple-Check Your Documents
Missing certifications, unofficial translations, or incorrect formats are the top reasons for delay. Prepare a checklist to stay on track.
Be Proactive with Your Referees
Make sure your academic and professional referees know they may be contacted. Delays in their responses can hold up your entire application.
Final Thoughts
The HCPC international application process can seem daunting at first, but it is ultimately about ensuring that health and care professionals entering the UK meet consistent standards of education, ethics, and competence. By preparing your documents carefully, understanding the requirements, and staying organised throughout the process, you'll set yourself up for success.
This step is more than a formality—it’s your entry into a trusted system that values the safety of patients and the integrity of healthcare professionals. Take it seriously, and it will open doors to a rewarding career in the UK.
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