Press Release

Health Professions Council launches new standards of proficiency

1 November 2007

The Health Professions Council (HPC) today launched updated standards of proficiency for twelve of the thirteen professions it regulates.

The standards of proficiency are the threshold standards the HPC consider necessary for the safe and effective practice of the professions they regulate. The generic standards are the same for every profession, as well as profession-specific standards.

The review of the standards came about for a number of reasons; it has now been five years since they were launched in July 2003 along with the standards of conduct, performance and ethics. A professional liaison group (PLG) was set up to review the existing standards of proficiency in October 2005.  The standards were reviewed to make sure they were working, and that they continued to reflect current practice of registrants, employers, educators and others. The group included members of our Council as well representatives from professional bodies.

The standards play a vital role in a number of key HPC functions. The HPC approve education and training programmes that allow students to meet these standards when they graduate. They also assess applications from people who have trained overseas against these standards. If an applicant meets these standards they are eligible to be registered.

The standards are also used if a registrant’s competence is called into question. The HPC will look at these standards in deciding whether they need to take any action to protect members of the public.

A consultation ran from 2 October 2006 to 16 February 2007, it resulted in 70 responses, 31 from individuals and 39 from organisations.

Anna van der Gaag, President of the HPC commented…..”We would like to thank all those who provided their input during the review and consultation. We received a lot of helpful feedback on our proposals which has shaped the new standards. The changes to the standards are not substantial – to correct errors or omissions or to elaborate on the existing standards. We believe the standards are now a better reflection of registrant’s current practise. The standards also include a new introduction which explains their role more clearly.”

The Health Professions Council is an independent, UK-wide health regulator set up by the Health Professions Order (2001).  The HPC keeps a register for thirteen different health professions and only  registers people who meet the standards it sets for their training, professional skills, behaviour and health. The HPC will take action against people who do not meet these standards or who use a protected title illegally.