New Fee Changes for Health and Care Professionals: What You Need to Know

The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) is set to implement changes that could affect thousands of healthcare professionals across the UK. Here's a breakdown of what's happening and why it matters to you.

Fee Increases on the Horizon

Starting in 2025, the HCPC will gradually increase the fees it charges for various registration processes. This includes the costs for joining the register, renewing your registration, and being readmitted if you've left. The changes aim to help the HCPC continue to deliver essential services and support the development of healthcare professionals.

• Registration Fee: Currently set at £116.36, this will rise to £123.34, phased in over two years. This is roughly an additional 13p per week.
• Renewal Fee: Going up from £232.72 to £246.68.
• Restoration and Readmittance Fee: Increasing from £174.54 to £185.01.
• UK Applicant Scrutiny Fee: From £81.45 to £86.34.
• International Applicant Scrutiny Fee: Rising from £639.98 to £678.38.

Despite the increases, the HCPC will maintain a 50% discount for graduates in their first two years of professional registration.

Why the Increase?

The HCPC argues that the fee hikes are necessary to maintain and improve its services, which include registration, education, and ongoing professional development. These changes will ensure the HCPC can meet its statutory obligations and support healthcare professionals effectively.

Virtual Meetings Made Easier

In response to previous errors in procedural rules, the HCPC is also updating its regulations to allow more flexibility in how meetings and hearings are conducted. Specifically, practice committees and appeal panels will now have the power to hold virtual preliminary meetings, making it easier to manage these processes and adapt to current technological capabilities.

Consultation and Feedback

The fee increase proposal was met with resistance during a public consultation, where 98% of the 1,040 respondents, predominantly HCPC registrants, opposed the hike. Despite understanding the financial pressures faced by healthcare professionals, the HCPC Council has decided to proceed with the increase to ensure continued service quality and improvements.

Impact and Considerations

While the fee changes will not have a direct financial impact on the Scottish Government or local businesses, they reflect the HCPC's ongoing commitment to align with both UK-wide and international standards for healthcare professional regulation.

For more detailed insights, you can access the HCPC consultation analysis paper and equalities impact assessment through their website. These documents provide a comprehensive overview of the consultation outcomes and the considerations taken into account during the decision-making process.

Stay informed and prepared for these upcoming changes to ensure a smooth transition and continued compliance with HCPC regulations.