The Health and Care Professions Council (Miscellaneous Amendments) Rules Order of Council 2025
This Order approves amendments to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) rules.
The amendments increase various registration and scrutiny fees, reflecting updated operational costs, and allow the HCPC to conduct meetings and hearings using audio or video conferencing technology improving efficiency and access.
The fee increases affect registration, renewal, readmission, and restoration fees, as well as scrutiny fees for UK and international applicants.
The changes to procedures affect multiple sets of HCPC procedural rules, specifically those concerning the Investigating, Conduct and Competence, Health, and Registration Appeals Committees.
The HCPC consulted with relevant bodies and stakeholders before implementing these changes.
Arguments For
Increased Fees: The increased fees for registration, renewal, readmission, and restoration help to cover the HCPC's operational costs, ensuring ongoing maintenance of standards and services.
Modernized Procedures: Allowing for virtual meetings and hearings through audio/video conferencing improves accessibility, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness for the HCPC, applicants, and registrants. This will reduce the logistical and financial burden of in-person meetings.
Evidence-Based Adjustments: Fee increases were likely based on a comprehensive cost analysis and consultation to determine appropriate adjustments aligning with the cost of delivering services.
Legal Basis: The amendments are made under the authority granted by the Health Professions Order 2001, ensuring legal compliance.
Arguments Against
Financial Burden: Increased fees may pose a financial burden on healthcare professionals, especially those at the beginning of their careers, potentially hindering access to the profession or requiring further financial analysis.
Accessibility Concerns: While virtual meetings offer improved geographical access, they might exclude individuals lacking reliable technology or digital literacy skills. Further evaluation on the inclusiveness and accessibility of virtual methods is needed.
Lack of Transparency: Some may argue that the decision-making process lacks full transparency, not explicitly detailing factors contributing to the specific fee amounts.
Alternative Funding: There may be alternative ways to fund the HCPC's operational costs, such as seeking more government funding or optimizing existing resources, reducing the need for significant fee increases.
At the Council Chamber, Whitehall, the 27th day of February 2025.
By the Lords of His Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council.
This introductory section states the date and location of the Privy Council meeting where the order was approved.
It also identifies the authorizing body as the Lords of His Majesty's Privy Council.
The Health and Care Professions Council has made the Health and Care Professions Council (Miscellaneous Amendments) Rules 2025 (the “Rules”), which are set out in the Schedule to this Order, in exercise of powers conferred by articles 7(1) and (2)(c), 26(3), 32(1), (2) and (4), 37(4) and (5) and 41(2) of the Health Professions Order 20011.
In accordance with articles 7(1) and (3) and 41(3) of that Order, the Health and Care Professions Council has consulted the Education and Training Committee and representatives of any group of persons it considers appropriate or likely to be affected by the proposed Rules, including representatives of the groups referred to in articles 7(3) and 41(3) of that Order.
In accordance with articles 41(1) and 42(1) of that Order, the Rules shall not come into force until approved by Order of the Privy Council.
This section explains the origin and authorization of the rules.
The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) created the rules under specific articles of the Health Professions Order 2001.
The HCPC consulted with appropriate stakeholders before proposing the rules, and the Privy Council's approval is required before the rules can take effect.
This Order may be cited as the Health and Care Professions Council (Miscellaneous Amendments) Rules Order of Council 2025 and comes into force on 29th April 2025.
This Order extends to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
This section provides the official citation for the Order and its effective date (April 29th, 2025).
It also specifies the geographical extent of the Order's applicability across the UK.
Their Lordships, having taken into consideration the Rules set out in the Schedule to this Order, are pleased to, and do approve them.
This section confirms the Privy Council's approval of the rules detailed in the Schedule to the Order.
Richard Tilbrook Clerk of the Privy Council
This section contains the signature and title of the Clerk of the Privy Council, formally indicating the Order's approval.
The Health and Care Professions Council makes the following Rules in exercise of the powers conferred by articles 7(1) and (2)(c), 26(3), 32(1), (2) and (4), 37(4) and (5) and 41(2) of the Health Professions Order 2001.
In accordance with articles 7(1) and (3) and 41(3) of that Order, the Health and Care Professions Council has consulted the Education and Training Committee and representatives of any group of persons it considers appropriate or likely to be affected by the proposed Rules, including representatives of the groups referred to in articles 7(3) and 41(3) of that Order.
This section reiterates the HCPC's authority to make these rules and confirms the consultation process undertaken before their creation in accordance with the Health Professions Order 2001.
These Rules may be cited as the Health and Care Professions Council (Miscellaneous Amendments) Rules 2025 and come into force on 29th April 2025.
This section provides the citation and effective date of the rules themselves.
The Health and Care Professions Council (Registration and Fees) Rules 20032 are amended as follows.
In rule 14 (registration fee)—
in paragraph (a), for “£116.36” substitute “£123.34”
;
in paragraph (b), for “£232.72” substitute “£246.68”
.
In rule 15 (renewal fee), for “£232.72” substitute “£246.68”
.
In rule 15A (readmission fee), for “£174.54” substitute “£185.01”
.
In rule 16 (restoration fee), for “£174.54” substitute “£185.01”
.
In rule 17 (scrutiny fees)—
in paragraph (1), for “£81.45” substitute “£86.34”
;
in paragraph (2), for “£639.98” substitute “£678.38”
.
This section details specific amendments to the HCPC's 2003 Registration and Fees Rules increasing various fees.
The fee updates include increases for initial registration, annual renewal, readmission to the register, and restoration to the register; it also specifies increases to two different levels of application scrutiny fees.
In the Health and Care Professions Council (Investigating Committee) (Procedure) Rules 20033, for rule 8B substitute— “Meetings and hearings 8B. (1) In the case of— (a) a preliminary meeting under these Rules, the Committee or Chair may arrange for a preliminary meeting to be conducted using audio or video conferencing facilities; and (b) a hearing under these Rules, the Committee may arrange for a hearing to be conducted using audio or video conferencing facilities. (2) Where a meeting or hearing uses audio or video conferencing facilities any notice sent under these Rules giving notice of the meeting or hearing must include the details of any audio or video conferencing arrangements required to access that meeting or hearing.”
This section describes amendments to the 2003 Investigating Committee procedural rules.
The amendment allows for the use of audio or video conferencing facilities for both preliminary meetings and hearings held by the committee.
In the Health and Care Professions Council (Conduct and Competence Committee) (Procedure) Rules 20034, for rule 10B substitute— “Meetings and hearings 10B. (1) In the case of— (a) a preliminary meeting under these Rules, the Committee or Chair may arrange for a preliminary meeting to be conducted using audio or video conferencing facilities; and (b) a hearing under these Rules, the Committee may arrange for a hearing to be conducted using audio or video conferencing facilities. (2) Where a meeting or hearing uses audio or video conferencing facilities any notice sent under these Rules giving notice of the meeting or hearing must include the details of any audio or video conferencing arrangements required to access that meeting or hearing.”
This section mirrors the previous one, detailing identical amendments to the 2003 Conduct and Competence Committee procedural rules, enabling the use of virtual meeting and hearing technology.
In the Health and Care Professions Council (Health Committee) (Procedure) Rules 20035, for rule 10B substitute— “Meetings and hearings 10B. (1) In the case of— (a) a preliminary meeting under these Rules, the Committee or Chair may arrange for a preliminary meeting to be conducted using audio or video conferencing facilities; and (b) a hearing under these Rules, the Committee may arrange for a hearing to be conducted using audio or video conferencing facilities. (2) Where a meeting or hearing uses audio or video conferencing facilities any notice sent under these Rules giving notice of the meeting or hearing must include the details of any audio or video conferencing arrangements required to access that meeting or hearing.”
This section replicates the amendment to the procedural rules for the Health Committee, again enabling the use of virtual meeting and hearing technology as presented in the previous two sections.
In the Health Professions Council (Registration Appeals) Rules 20036, for rule 14A substitute— “Meetings and hearings 14A. (1) In the case of— (a) a preliminary meeting under these Rules, the Appeal Panel or Chair may arrange for a preliminary meeting to be conducted using audio or video conferencing facilities; and (b) a hearing under these Rules, the Appeal Panel, Chair or the Council may arrange for a hearing to be conducted using audio or video conferencing facilities. (2) Where a meeting or hearing uses audio or video conferencing facilities any notice sent under these Rules giving notice of the meeting or hearing must include the details of any audio or video conferencing arrangements required to access that meeting or hearing.”
This section describes amendments to the 2003 Registration Appeals Rules.
Similar to amendments described previously, this amendment allows for the use of audio or video conferencing for preliminary meetings and hearings in a registration appeals context.
Given under the seal of the Health and Care Professions Council this 11th day of February 2025. Christine Elliott Chair Andrew Smith Deputy Registrar
This concluding section confirms the issuance of the Rules under the HCPC seal and includes the signatures of the Chair and Deputy Registrar.
This Order approves various rules made by the Health and Care Professions Council (“HCPC”).
The rules set out in rule 2 of the Schedule to this Order amend the Health and Care Professions Council (Registration and Fees) Rules 2003. These rules amend the fees which the HCPC charges for processing and scrutinising applications for admission to its register, for renewal of registration and for readmission or restoration to the register.
Rule 2(2) of the Schedule to this Order increases the two-yearly fee for registration in the register maintained under the Health Professions Order 2002 (S.I. 2002/254) to £123.34 (an increase of £6.98) for those qualified for up to two years; and to £246.68 (an increase of £13.96) for everyone else.
Rule 2(3) increases the renewal fee to £246.68 (an increase of £13.96).
Rules 2(4) and (5) increase fees for readmission and restoration to the register from £174.54 to £185.01 (an increase of £10.47).
Rule 2(6) increases the scrutiny fees paid by all new applicants, whose qualifications, and in some cases experience, needs to be assessed. The scrutiny fee for applicants who have successfully completed an approved UK programme of education and training is increased to £86.34 (an increase of £4.89). The scrutiny fee for international applicants is increased to £678.38 (an increase of £38.40).
Rules 3 to 5 of the Schedule to this Order make amendments to the procedural rules for the HCPC to allow the committee or chair to arrange for a preliminary meeting to be conducted using audio or video conferencing facilities, and for the committee to arrange for a hearing under the rules to be conducted using audio or video conferencing facilities. The rules being amended are the Health and Care Professions Council (Investigating Committee) (Procedure) Rules 2003, the Health and Care Professions Council (Conduct and Competence Committee) (Procedure) Rules 2003 and the Health and Care Professions Council (Health Committee) (Procedure) Rules 2003. The amendments to all three sets of procedural rules are in the same format and involve the same change.
Rule 6 of the Schedule to this Order make amendments to the procedural rules for the HCPC to allow the appeal panel or chair to arrange for a preliminary meeting to be conducted using audio or video conferencing facilities, and for the appeal panel, chair or the council, where the council considers an appeal hearing itself, to arrange for a hearing under the rules to be conducted using audio or video conferencing facilities. The rules being amended are the Health Professions Council (Registration Appeals) Rules 2003.
A full impact assessment of the effect that the change of fees under this instrument will have on the costs of business, the voluntary sector and the public sector is at—
https://www.hcpc-uk.org/globalassets/resources/external-consultations/2024/fees-consultation-analysis-and-outcomes-paper-october-2024.pdf
A physical copy of the impact assessment can also be requested by email or telephone to the HCPC at [email protected] or 0300 500 6184.
This explanatory note summarizes the Order's key changes.
It details the fee increases and clarifies that the changes enable the use of audio/video conferencing for meetings and hearings.
A link to a full impact assessment of these changes is also provided.