In a news article in February, we wrote that HCPC’s proposed fee rise was starting the approval process in both the UK and Scottish Parliaments, following extensive engagement with registrants, trade unions, professional bodies and policy makers.
The increase has now passed through both parliaments and will come into force as law in July.
For registrants, this means that:
- Renewal fees will be increased by £8.12.
- The first professions to be affected by this rise are: Clinical scientists, prosthetists and orthotists and speech and language therapists, who have renewal periods beginning on the 1st July 2021.
- The final professions affected by the rise will be paramedics and orthoptists, when they renew in June 2023.
- The rise will also affect application scrutiny fees and application fees for new and readmitting applicants across all professions from 1 July 2021. A full breakdown of the fee increases can be found here.
- Although the rise has been approved, it will not affect professions already in renewal, or those whose renewal period begins before 1st July 2021.
The increase, the first since 2015, will affect all applicants to the Register and all our registrants. We would encourage professionals to check when to renew.
Registrants and applicants will be able to reduce the cost of their fees by claiming tax relief, and they are able to pay in instalments if they choose. We have also decided to keep the 50% discount graduate that applicants applying via the UK application route receive during their first two years of registration.
If you would like to know more about the reasons behind the fee increase, take a look at this blog from Christine Elliott, Chair of the HCPC.
