Healthcare professional registration requirements

If you employ healthcare professionals in the UK, or if you're setting up a healthcare business, you must ensure all clinical staff are registered with the appropriate professional regulator. This is a legal requirement - it's a criminal offence for certain professionals to practise without registration.

This guide covers the five main healthcare professional regulators in the UK. Other healthcare professions have their own regulators - for example, the General Optical Council (GOC) for optometrists and dispensing opticians, and the General Osteopathic Council and General Chiropractic Council for osteopaths and chiropractors.

Why professional registration matters

For employers:

• You must verify staff registration before they start work
• You must check registration is maintained throughout employment
• CQC/regulators will check your registration verification processes
• Employing unregistered staff can lead to prosecution and regulatory action

For professionals:

• Registration is required by law for protected titles
• Practising without registration is a criminal offence
• Revalidation requirements keep skills and knowledge current
• Registration provides public assurance of competence

GMC - Doctors

All doctors practising medicine in the UK must be registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) and hold a licence to practise. The GMC regulates around 370,000 doctors. Since December 2024 the GMC has also regulated physician associates and anaesthesia associates under the Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates Order 2024, with registration mandatory for these roles from December 2026.

NMC - Nurses and Midwives

All nurses and midwives in the UK, and nursing associates in England (the nursing associate role exists only in England), must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). The NMC regulates around 850,000 professionals.

GDC - Dentists and Dental Care Professionals

All dentists and dental care professionals (dental nurses, dental hygienists, dental therapists, dental technicians, clinical dental technicians, orthodontic therapists) must be registered with the General Dental Council (GDC).

GPhC - Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians

Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in England, Scotland, and Wales must be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). Pharmacy premises must also be registered.

HCPC - Allied Health Professionals

The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) regulates 15 health and care professions including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, paramedics, radiographers, and speech and language therapists.

Employing international healthcare professionals

If you're recruiting healthcare professionals from outside the UK, they must obtain UK registration with the relevant professional body before they can practise. Post-Brexit, EEA qualifications are no longer automatically recognised.

Immigration and visa requirements

Most healthcare professionals from outside the UK will need a Skilled Worker visa to work here. Healthcare employers must hold a sponsor licence to employ overseas workers.

The Health and Care Worker visa provides a cheaper, faster route for many healthcare roles, with reduced fees and faster processing.

Verify professional registration

All UK healthcare regulators maintain public registers that employers and the public can search to verify registration status.