How overseas allied health professionals can enter the UK for work

Allied health professionals who have trained and qualified overseas will need to register with the Health and Care Professions Council before they can practice under a protected title in the UK

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on gov.uk

In making the application, candidates will need to demonstrate that they meet the standards of proficiency for their profession. Each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis and assessment normally takes around 60 working days. A fee of £539.65 is currently paid by the applicant.

Once registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) is obtained, HCPC will issue the candidate with a registration number. This number will be needed when employers apply for a certificate of sponsorship (CoS). Once a CoS is issued, the candidate can apply for a health and care worker visa. 

Employers can email [email protected] for further support related to the Health and Care Worker visa.

Shortage occupations

Five allied health professional (AHP) roles are listed on the Shortage Occupation List:

• occupational therapist;
• paramedic;
• physiotherapist;
• radiographer;
• speech and language therapist.

Language assessment requirements

Applicants must provide certification of their proficiency in the English language in order to gain HCPC registration. They must have achieved level 7.0 in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), with no element below 6.5, or certification comparable to this. Speech and language therapists need to have attained a level 8.0 in IELTS with no element below 7.5, or a comparable certification.

HCPC also accepts the Test of English as for Foreign Language (TOEFL) Internet based Test (IBT) undertaken in a candidate’s home country. All professions must have achieved a minimum score of 100/120, except speech and language therapists who must achieve a minimum score of 118/120.

If applicants propose to rely upon a non-IELTS test score, they are strongly advised to ensure the test is comparable and meets HCPC standards of proficiency. Failure to do so may delay the processing of applications. HCPC has announced that they are planning to hold a review of English language proficiency evidence this year. More information can be found on the HCPC website. 

Considerations for employers

It is particularly important to adhere to a values-based recruitment process when recruiting international AHPs. These candidates will not have prior experience of working in the NHS and so will not be able to demonstrate experience of this during the recruitment process. Values-based recruitment will allow international applicants a fair opportunity to demonstrate their own range of skills and experience.

The Code of Practice for Ethical International Recruitment applies to all health and social care professions, including AHPs. Employing organisations and recruitment agencies should not actively recruit from any of the countries on the World Health Organisation Support and Safeguard List, 2020 and must adhere to its guiding principles and best practice benchmarks. If you are working with a recruitment agency, be sure they are on the agency list as adhering to the code.  

Return to practice

Health Education England runs a return to practice programme to support AHPs who have been out of their profession for two or more years, as well those who did not register with the HCPC within five years of qualification. This programme is also available for overseas qualified clinicians living in England who already hold HCPC registration. 

Continuing professional development 

There is no requirement for AHPs to attend formal training for a specified length of time. However, continuing professional development is still important for this group of professionals and they will need to keep their skills up-to-date in order to practice safely and effectively. HCPC advises that employers are not responsible for AHPs’ CPD, but recommends that they encourage their staff to engage in the CPD process. More information, including about CPD activities, standards and audits, can be found on the HCPC website. Evidence of CPD and its impact on practice is an important element of the bi-annual HCPC re-registration process.

The HCPC has a case study written by a HCPC-registered dietitian who shares some tips on applying via their international route.

As part of their application to join the HCPC register, applicants will sign to say that will comply with HCPC’s standards of conduct, performance and ethics, standards of proficiency, and that they have a professional indemnity arrangement in place.  

The HCPC has compiled some of the questions and answers which registrants commonly ask about professional indemnity which might be useful.