Workers – Physiotherapists – United Kingdom

Updated : 12/2012

Recognition of professional qualifications

Only if you want to work abroad, not for study purposes.

If you obtained your professional qualifications outside the EU, you should check with the relevant authority whether you must apply to have them recognised.

Permanent stay
Temporary stay

Documents you must provide [permanent stay]

If you wish to work as a physiotherapist in United Kingdom on a permanent basis, you must submit the following documents:

completed and signed application form [302 KB]
certified photocopy of passport
certified copy of a document confirming your home address (bank statement, utility bill, mobile phone bills, credit card statements no older than 6 months are accepted)
certified copy of your qualification certificates
course information form completed by the institution you attended, providing details of your professional training (e.g. subject modules, module content and assessment method)
certificate (less than 3 months old) of current professional status/good standing, from the relevant health authorities in your most recent country of work and residence, confirming that you:
– are legally entitled to practice as a physiotherapist
– have not been suspended, disqualified or prohibited from practicing
if the profession is not regulated in your home country: certificate, issued by the relevant authority in the country where you obtained your qualifications, confirming that:
- they comply with article 3, paragraph 1 (e) of Directive EC/2005/36 (for qualifications obtained in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland)
- you are therefore able to practise as physiotherapist in your home country
if neither the profession of physiotherapist nor the related training is regulated in your home country: proof that you have worked as a physiotherapist for at least 2 years during the last 10 – submit copies of social security documents, working contracts or attestations from employers stating that you've been working as physiotherapist and for how long.

Any documents that you submit which are copies must be certified – by the relevant authorities in your home country or in the United Kingdom.

All documents must be either English originals or translated into English. Translations must be certified, provided by an officially recognised translator in the United Kingdom or in any other EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.

You may be able to find an officially recognised translator by contacting the relevant national translation body.

You must send your application by post. We recommend you use registered post, to avoid any lost documents. Do not send original documents or cash. Keep a copy of your application for your records.

Responsible authority [permanent stay]

Health and Care Professions Council

Registration Department
Park House,
184 Kennington Park Road
London
SE11 4BU

Tel.: +44 (0) 845 3004 472 or +44 (0) 20 7582 5460
registration@hcpc-uk.org
Health and Care Professions Council

When can you expect an answer? [permanent stay]

Once you have sent your documents, the authorities have:

1 month – from the moment they receive your application – to acknowledge receipt and request any other documents they require
3 months to take an initial decision, once your application is complete.

Cost [permanent stay]

£420 to be sent with the application. To pay by credit card, enter your details on page 20 of the application form. Alternatively, you can send by post a cheque, postal order or bankers draft made out in pounds sterling and payable to ‘Health and Care Professions Council’. Do NOT send cash through the postal system.

Documents you must provide [temporary stay]

If you wish to work as a physiotherapist in the United Kingdom on a temporary or occasional basis, you must submit the following documents:

a completed Declaration to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) concerning the temporary provision of services
certified copy of a document(s) proving that you are a citizen of another EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland or have equivalent rights
certified copy of a document(s) attesting to your professional qualifications
original document(s) proving that you are legally established as a practitioner of your profession in another EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland
if the profession is not regulated in your home country: certificate, issued by the relevant authority in the country where you obtained your qualifications, confirming that:
- they comply with article 3, paragraph 1 (e) of Directive EC/2005/36 (for qualifications obtained in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland)
- you are therefore able to practise as physiotherapist in your home country
if neither the profession of physiotherapist nor the related training is regulated in your home country: proof that you have worked as a physiotherapist for at least 2 years during the last 10 – submit copies of social security documents, working contracts or attestations from employers stating that you've been working as physiotherapist and for how long.

Any documents that you submit which are copies must be certified – by the relevant authorities in your home country or in the United Kingdom.

All documents must be either English originals or translated into English. Translations must be certified, provided by an officially recognised translator in the United Kingdom or in any other EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.

You may be able to find an officially recognised translator by contacting the relevant national translation body.

You must send your application by post. We recommend you use registered post, to avoid any lost documents.

Responsible authority [temporary stay]

Health and Care Professions Council
Registration Department

Park House,
184 Kennington Park Road
London
SE11 4BU

Tel.: +44 (0) 845 300 4472 or +44 (0) 20 7582 5460
registration@hcpc-uk.org
Health and Care Professions Council

When can you expect an answer? [temporary stay]

Once you have sent your documents, the authorities have:

1 month – from the moment they receive your application – to acknowledge receipt and request any other documents they require.

Cost [temporary stay]

No charge.

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