
Professional Registration
Find out more about the requirements and standards for health and wellbeing practitioners in the UK to help you navigate your career journey.
What is a Professional Regulator?
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In the UK, many professions are regulated by law to ensure that individuals have the necessary qualifications and experience to practice or teach others. Regulators also ensure that organisations are aware of and comply with laws, practices, and policies, as set out in the Professional Qualifications Act.
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​Regulators carry out a range of functions, including:
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Establishing and implementing controls at organisationsÂ
Assessing how organisations are complying with laws and regulationsÂ
Identifying and taking action in areas where organisations are not complyingÂ
Provide ways for organisations to report on their complianceÂ
Maintain an up-to-date register of professionals who use a specific protected title within the profession
Set and maintain standards for education, training, and conductÂ
Investigate when standards are not met or when a professional's fitness to practice is in doubt​
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​The Professional Standards Authority (PSA) is responsible for overseeing the work of professional regulators in the UK.
What is a Protected Title?
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Individuals who practice within a regulated profession will often use a 'protected title' meaning it is against the law to use the job title unless you are registered with the approved regulator.
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Using a protected title without being registered is a criminal offense in the UK and may result in prosecution.
Are all professions regulated?
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No, not all mental health and wellbeing occupations are regulated by UK law, such as counselling, psychotherapy, hypnotherapy and public health. There are many independent professional associations, or professional bodies, that work tirelessly to maintain standards across the industry. ​
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​​​​​​​​Most complementary and alternative therapies (CAM) are not regulated by UK law with the exception of osteopathy and chiropractic. 'Osteopath' and 'Chiropractor' are both protected titles, and practitioners must register with the relevant statutory regulator before they can practice.​​​​​​
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Some professional associations for CAM therapies have voluntary registers that are accredited with the PSA, or are regulated by the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) which is a voluntary regulator of complementary healthcare practitioners and is an 'Accredited Register' for the PSA.
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Some CAM therapies are self-regulated, such as acupuncture. For example, the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) is a self-regulatory body for traditional acupuncture.​
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Professional Standards Authority
The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) oversees the ten statutory bodies that regulate health professionals in the United Kingdom and social care in England. Where occupations are not subject to statutory regulation, the PSA sets standards for organisations that hold voluntary registers and accredits those that meet them.
What is a Professional Association?
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A professional association is an organisations that oversees the knowledge, skills, conduct, and practice of a profession or occupation.
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The Science Council defines a professional body in the UK as "an organisation with individual members practicing a profession or occupation in which the organisation maintains an oversight of the knowledge, skills, conduct and practice of that profession or occupation".
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Professional associations, also known as professional bodies or professional institutes, have several functions, including:
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Membership and professional status: Advocating for a "gold standard" within a profession
Support: Providing practical help, career development, and guidance
Collective voice: Providing a stronger entity than the sum of its individual members
Advocacy: Influencing stakeholders and the government on key policy areas.​
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