The professional standards all registrants must meet in order to become registered, and remain on the Register
The standards of proficiency have been revised, and the updates come into effect on 1 September 2023. Make sure you understand the changes and are ready to meet them as far as they relate to your scope of practice. Read more and download >
What is the role of the standards of proficiency
- they set out the threshold standards we consider necessary to protect the public (unique to each of our registered professions)
- they set clear expectations of our registrants’ knowledge and abilities when they start practising
- registrants must continue to meet the standards of proficiency that apply to their scope of practice
- HCPC approved programmes equip graduates to meet these standards
- they outline what service users and the public should expect from their health and care professional
- we use them if someone raises a concern about a registrant’s practice
View the standards of proficiency for your chosen profession:
Reviewing the standards of proficiency
We keep our standards under continual review, to look at how they are working and check whether they continue to reflect current practice. We also conduct a periodic review of the standards every five years.
In August 2022, we updated our standards of proficiency for the first time since 2015. The changes, which will come into effect on 1 September 2023, have been made following an extensive period of engagement with a wide range of stakeholders.
We will provide a host of resources and activities which will assist different stakeholder groups prepare ahead of the implementation date.
The revised standards set clear expectations of registrants’ knowledge and ability in a healthcare landscape which has changed and evolved in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Updating them is a crucial component in fulfilling our purpose to promote excellence in the professions we regulate, and championing high quality care that the public can access safely and with confidence.
