The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) has today launched a consultation on proposals to increase the registration fees it charges.
In the consultation, we are proposing an increase in the renewal fee from £90 to £106 per year, with a similar level of increases to the other fees we charge.
The increases are needed to support our new strategic focus of promoting professionalism and preventing fitness to practise issues from arising. We also need to continue to invest in the services we offer to registrants. The consultation takes place in the context of keeping pace with the cost of inflation and the impact on our operations and income when social workers in England transfer to Social Work England in 2019.
As an independent regulator, we are self-financing with our operating costs funded entirely by the professionals on our Register. We do not receive any regular funding from the Government and we do not hold large reserves.
Marc Seale, HCPC’s Chief Executive and Registrar said:
“The revenue we generate from our registrant fees will ensure we can significantly increase our efforts towards preventing problems rather than taking action afterwards. It will also enable us to provide up to date services through the use innovation and technology.
“The consultation sets out where the registrants’ fees are spent and why the increases are needed. It highlights how these increases compare to our existing fees and provides information on our financial performance, including the efficiencies we have already made. It also shows how the proposed increases compare with other regulators. If adopted, we would continue to have the lowest renewal fee of all the health and care regulators overseen by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).”
The consultation will close on Friday 14 December 2018.
If the proposals are adopted the changes would be effective from 1 October 2019. Existing registrants would pay the new renewal fee when their profession next renews its registration.
Social workers in England will be moving to a new regulator next year. If there is no change to this, these proposals will not affect them. However, in order to continue practising, they must renew their registration with us between 1 September and 30 November 2018.
For further information please contact Anna Hill in HCPC’s press office on 020 7840 9806 or email press@hcpc-uk.org
To find out more about the proposed fees consultation and to take part visit https://www.hcpc-uk.org/news-and-events/consultations/2018/consultation-on-hcpc-registration-fees/
Notes to editors
The Health and Care Professions Council is an independent regulator set up by the Health and Social Work Professions Order 2001. The HCPC keeps a register for 16 different health and care professions and only registers people who meet the standards it sets for their training, professional skills, behaviour and health. The HCPC will take action against professionals who do not meet these standards or who use a protected title illegally.
The HCPC currently regulates the following 16 professions. Each of these professions has one or more ‘protected titles’. Anyone who uses one of these titles must register with the HCPC. The full list of protected titles can be found below.
The HCPC regulates social workers in England. Social workers in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are separately regulated by the relevant Care Council in that country.
To contact us via social media, use the Twitter handle @The_HCPC or search the Health and Care Professions Council on Facebook or LinkedIn.
Professions and protected titles
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An arts therapist is a psychological therapist who has arts-based experience and training in psychological interventions using drama, music or art as their primary mode of communication.
Protected titles
- Art psychotherapist
- Art therapist
- Dramatherapist
- Music therapist
Check the Register to make sure a professional is registered and to see if any entitlements are annotated on their record.
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A biomedical scientist analyses specimens from patients to provide data to help doctors diagnose and treat disease.
Protected titles
- Biomedical scientist
Check the Register to make sure a professional is registered and to see if any entitlements are annotated on their record.
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A chiropodist / podiatrist diagnoses and treats disorders, diseases and deformities of the feet.
Protected titles
- Chiropodist
- Podiatrist
Annotations
- Independent prescribing (IP)
- Supplementary prescribing (SP)
- Prescription-only medicines – administration (POM–A)
- Prescription-only medicines – sale / supply (POM–S)
Check the Register to make sure a professional is registered and to see if any entitlements are annotated on their record.
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A clinical scientist oversees specialist tests for diagnosing and managing disease. They advise doctors on tests and interpreting data, and carry out research to understand diseases.
Protected titles
- Clinical scientist
Check the Register to make sure a professional is registered and to see if any entitlements are annotated on their record.
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A dietitian uses the science of nutrition to create eating plans for patients to treat medical conditions. They promote good health by helping to facilitate a positive change in food choices.
Protected titles
- Dietitian
- Dietician
Annotations
- Supplementary prescribing (SP)
Check the Register to make sure a professional is registered and to see if any entitlements are annotated on their record.
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Hearing aid dispensers work in private practice to assess, fit and provide aftercare for hearing aids.
Protected titles
- Hearing aid dispenser
We also regulate the protected function of hearing aid dispenser.
Check the Register to make sure a professional is registered and to see if any entitlements are annotated on their record.
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An occupational therapist uses specific activities to limit the effects of disability and promote independence in all aspects of daily life.
Protected titles
- Occupational therapist
Check the Register to make sure a professional is registered and to see if any entitlements are annotated on their record.
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Operating department practitioners provide individualised care and skilled support alongside medical and nursing colleagues during the anaesthetic, surgical and recovery phases of a surgical procedure.
Protected titles
- Operating department practitioner
Check the Register to make sure a professional is registered and to see if any entitlements are annotated on their record.
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An orthoptist specialises in diagnosing and treating visual problems involving eye movement and alignment.
Protected titles
- Orthoptist
Check the Register to make sure a professional is registered and to see if any entitlements are annotated on their record.
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Paramedics provide specialist care and treatment to patients who are either acutely ill or injured. They can administer a range of drugs and carry out certain surgical techniques.
Protected titles
- Paramedic
Annotations
- Independent prescribing (IP)
- Supplementary prescribing (SP)
Check the Register to make sure a professional is registered and to see if any entitlements are annotated on their record.
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Physiotherapists deal with human function and movement, and help people to achieve their full physical potential. They use physical approaches to promote, maintain and restore wellbeing.
Protected titles
- Physiotherapist
- Physical therapist
Annotations
- Independent prescribing (IP)
- Supplementary prescribing (SP)
Check the Register to make sure a professional is registered and to see if any entitlements are annotated on their record.
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Psychology is the scientific study of people, the mind and behaviour. Psychologists attempt to understand the role of mental functions in individual and social behaviour.
Protected titles
- Practitioner psychologist
- Registered psychologist
- Clinical psychologist
- Forensic psychologist
- Counselling psychologist
- Health psychologist
- Educational psychologist
- Occupational psychologist
- Sport and exercise psychologist
Check the Register to make sure a professional is registered and to see if any entitlements are annotated on their record.
See our blog: Understanding the regulation of psychologists
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Prosthetists / orthotists supply prostheses and orthoses to patients. A prosthesis is a device that replaces a missing body part. An orthosis is fitted to an existing body part.
Protected titles
- Prosthetist
- Orthotist
Check the Register to make sure a professional is registered and to see if any entitlements are annotated on their record.
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Therapeutic radiographers plan and deliver treatment using radiation.
Diagnostic radiographers produce and interpret high-quality images of the body to diagnose injuries and diseases.
Protected titles
- Radiographer
- Diagnostic radiographer
- Therapeutic radiographer
Annotations for therapeutic radiographers
- Independent prescribing (IP)
- Supplementary prescribing (SP)
Annotations for diagnostic radiographers
- Supplementary prescribing (SP)
Check the Register to make sure a professional is registered and to see if any entitlements are annotated on their record.
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A speech and language therapist assesses, treats and helps to prevent speech, language and swallowing difficulties.
Protected titles
- Speech and language therapist
- Speech therapist
Check the Register to make sure a professional is registered and to see if any entitlements are annotated on their record.