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When you make your HCPC application, you’ll be asked to upload copies of documents that confirm your details, skills, and qualifications. It’s very important that you upload copies of all the necessary documents, and that the copies are all correctly certified, to avoid significant delays to your application.
1. Proof of identity and address
To verify your identity, you’ll need one proof of identity document and one proof of address document. You must upload certified copies of these documents.
a. Proof of identity
This document must show your photographic ID. You can upload:
- Your current passport, or
- Your current national identification card
b. Proof of Address
This document must show your full name and current address. You can upload:
- A household utility bill for electricity, gas, water, or a fixed telephone line (the utility bill cannot be more than six months old; mobile telephone bills from outside of the UK are not accepted);
- A current full driving license issued in the UK, another EEA State, or Switzerland;
- A bank, building society, credit card, or mortgage statement that is no more than six months old (PDF/online statements are not accepted);
- A local government tax bill (eg council tax) valid for the current year;
- An HM Revenue & Customs tax document, such as a tax assessment, statement of account, or notice of coding is no more than six months old (forms P45 and P60 are not accepted).
c. Name and name change
If your application is made in a name that differs from that on your identity documents or qualifications, you will need also to provide HCPC with certified copies of the documents that explain that difference (for example, your marriage certificate).
d. Keeping your details up to date
It is important that the personal and contact information you provide HCPC is up to date.
For security reasons, HCPC is unable to accept changes by email. If your personal or contact information needs to be updated contact HCPC by telephone. You may be asked to confirm some changes in writing or to provide HCPC with supporting evidence.
certifying your documents (How to certify your documents correctly)
You’ll be asked to upload a number of documents during your application. These must be certified copies of the original documents.
2. Certify your documents
All uploads to the online form must be certified copies of the original documents. This means they are photocopies or scans of the originals, which are signed by someone who can verify this (see below). All signatures must be dated within the last six months.
If your uploaded documents aren’t certified, HCPC will contact you to request replacements. This will extend the processing time of your application.
a. How to certify a document
- Take a photocopy of your original document, or scan and print it (this is to preserve and protect the original)
- Show the original document to the person who is certifying it
- Ask the person certifying the document to write on the copy the Certifying Text.
- Scan the certified copy, so that you have a digital file (PDF, JPG, or PNG)
- Upload this file to your application
NOTE
The certification must be hand-written on the photocopy or printed copy of the original document.
The certification must not be written on a separate piece of paper and scanned alongside the original document.
This is because we need to be sure that the copy we see is genuine. To do this, we ask that the certifier views the original document, and then confirms that the photocopy or scan is a true copy of it.
b. Certification text
Certification is to ensure that the individual document provided is genuine and not forged. A certified document must show the hand-written certification text. This must be provided on each individual copy – we cannot accept batch certifications.
The certifier should hand-write the following on each individual copy of the document:
- The words “I certify that this is a true copy of the original document seen by me”
- The certifier’s signature and the date
- The certifier’s name, professional title, and contact details
c. Who can certify your HCPC Application documents?
The person certifying your documents must be a person of standing in the community with an appropriate relationship with you.
(i). Person of standing:
Most individuals who hold positions of professional responsibility are considered a person of standing. Examples include:
- Registered health and care professionals
- Professionals such as lawyers, solicitors, accountants, and notaries
- Teachers and lecturers
- Bank managers, investment managers, stockbrokers
- Officers in the British Armed Forces
- Justices of the Peace, consular officers, or other judicial officials
- Religious officials such as ministers of the Church of England, rabbis, imams, and others
- Members of Parliament
HCPC accepts certification from services such as the Post Office. If you are unsure whether HCPC will accept your certification, please contact HCPC.
(ii) Appropriate relationship:
The person of standing must NOT be:
- related to you;
- living at the same address as you;
- in a relationship with you; or
- Your patient or employee.
As long as they meet all of the other requirements for someone certifying documents, the person certifying your documents may be your employer.
Read: UK restricts recruitment of health workers from Nigeria, other countries
3. Issues uploading documents
If your document doesn’t upload correctly or displays in a different section, this may signify that you’ve already submitted an application for registration using a paper form. You’ll need to contact the HCPC team to let them know which of these applications you wish to continue and which should be withdrawn.
You can do this by emailing [email protected] with your application numbers if you have them.
4. Course information form, and professional qualification certificate
The Course Information Form should be sent to your university or training institution for completion and uploaded as part of your online application.
The Course Information Form provides us with details of the theoretical and practical content of the courses you have successfully completed.
We will use it to determine whether your qualifications are comparable to our standards of proficiency for the profession you are applying to join.
The information provided should include:
- Details of the course content;
- The number of theoretical and practical hours for each module or subject; and
- The assessment methods used.
This information may be taken from a syllabus, but must only include parts of the course that you studied.
a. The Course Information Form must:
- Bear the stamp or seal of the university or training institution; and
- Include contact details for the course administrator or another appropriate member of staff who may be contacted as part of the verification process.
Making sure your form includes all necessary details and certification as listed above is crucial to avoid any delays in your application process.
Course Information Form Download
b. Professional qualification certificate
You also need to provide HCPC with details of your relevant training. This is the degree, diploma, or other qualification which enables you to practice your profession outside the United Kingdom.
You must also provide a certified copy of your professional qualification certificate and, where appropriate, a certified copy of an official English translation.
You may also include details of any additional qualifications which you consider relevant to your application in this section.
You do not need to provide details of your general (school) education unless it is directly relevant to your practice as a health and care professional.
Read: What You Need To Know Before Applying For HCPC
5. Certificate of English language proficiency
HCPC asks all applicants applying through the international route to confirm their proficiency with the English language. The ability to communicate effectively in English is crucial to working as a health professional in the UK.
To demonstrate this, as part of your application, you’ll be asked to provide a certificate from an English language proficiency test that shows your score. HCPC accepts the following certificates of English language proficiency, providing they are no more than two years old when your application is received. HCPC cannot accept any TOEFL test score undertaken in the UK.
a. All professions except speech and language therapists
| Test | Minimum score |
|---|---|
| International English Language Testing System (IELTS) | 7.0 with no element below 6.5 |
| Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Internet Based Test (IBT)* | A minimum score of 100/120 |
b. Speech and language therapists
| Test | Minimum score |
|---|---|
| International English Language Testing System (IELTS) | 8.0 with no element below 7.5 |
| Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Internet Based Test (IBT)* | Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Internet-Based Test (IBT)* |
6. Providing translations
For any documents which are not in English, you will also need to provide a certified copy of an official translation
If you are applying from abroad, the British Embassy, Consulate, or High Commission may be able to help you find a translator. In the UK, your own Embassy, Consulate, or High Commission may be able to help.
7. Declaration
You’ll be asked to sign a declaration regarding background checks.
In order to be sure you meet the standards for registration, HCPC will need to be sure of your identity, your qualifications, and that you are of good character.
The declaration will give HCPC permission to:
- Verify your identity documents
- Confirm your qualifications
- Confirm your good standing and character
HCPC does recognize that regulation varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and that, for example, it may not be normal practice to issue certificates of current professional status or letters of good standing.
However, HCPC does ask that you send whatever information you are able to provide.
Lastly, for international applicants who are applying to join the HCPC, attached is guidance for online
applicants and the Application for Registration Form.
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