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UK registration pathway Β· Information guide

HCPC Registration for Physiotherapists & Radiographers

To work as a physiotherapist or radiographer in the UK you must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). These are protected titles: practising or using the title without registration is a criminal offence. This guide explains, in plain English, how internationally-qualified physiotherapists and radiographers become eligible to register β€” the route, the evidence, the English-language requirement, the NHS pay context, and the ethical-recruitment rules that shape the whole system.

Start with your profession

Physiotherapists

Physiotherapists assess, diagnose and treat problems with movement caused by injury, illness, ageing or disability. In the UK they work across the NHS, private practice, sport, occupational health and community rehabilitation β€” from post-operative recovery and respiratory care to musculoskeletal outpatient clinics and neurological rehabilitation. Many roles now combine in-person treatment with remote follow-up and exercise-programme supervision.

Read the physiotherapist pathway β†’

Radiographers

Diagnostic radiographers produce and interpret medical images using X-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound and fluoroscopy to help diagnose injury and disease. Therapeutic radiographers plan and deliver radiotherapy for people with cancer, working closely with oncologists and physicists. Both fields sit at the centre of NHS diagnostic and cancer pathways, where demand and waiting-list pressure are consistently high.

Read the radiographer pathway β†’

The pathway at a glance

The route is the same for both professions. Each step is explained in full on the international application guide.

  1. 1

    Confirm your profession is HCPC-regulated

    Physiotherapists and radiographers (diagnostic and therapeutic) are among the 15 professions the HCPC regulates. Check that your exact profession and title are on the HCPC list before you begin.

  2. 2

    Gather your qualification and experience evidence

    You will need certified proof of your professional qualification, a detailed breakdown of your training (curriculum, hours, clinical placements) and evidence of your professional experience. The HCPC compares this against the UK standards of proficiency for your profession.

  3. 3

    Meet the English-language requirement

    Provide evidence of English proficiency β€” the HCPC accepts IELTS Academic 7.0 (no section below 6.5) or OET Grade B. Some applicants are exempt where they trained and practised in English; the HCPC website sets out who qualifies.

  4. 4

    Submit your international application and pay the fee

    Complete the HCPC international application and pay the international application (scrutiny) fee. The HCPC then assesses whether your education and experience meet UK standards. Confirm the current fee on the HCPC fees page before you apply.

  5. 5

    Respond to any assessment outcome

    The HCPC may approve your application, or ask for more information, or require you to address a shortfall (for example through further study or supervised practice) before it can register you. Follow the decision letter carefully.

  6. 6

    Join the Register and arrange the right to work

    Once registered you may use the protected title and practise. Working in the UK also requires the right to work β€” many applicants use the Health and Care Worker visa, which needs a job offer from a Home Office-licensed sponsor. HCPC registration and immigration are separate processes.

What these roles pay in the NHS

NHS pay in England follows the national Agenda for Change framework. Physiotherapists and radiographers are paid on the same national bands regardless of where they trained. The figures below are the 2024/25 full-time ranges (as of July 2026); NHS pay is renegotiated annually, so confirm the current figure before relying on it.

BandTypical roleFull-time range (2024/25)
Band 5Newly HCPC-registered / entry practitionerΒ£29,970 – Β£36,483
Band 6Specialist practitionerΒ£37,338 – Β£44,962
Band 7Advanced / clinical specialist / team leadΒ£46,148 – Β£52,809
Band 8aConsultant practitioner / clinical leadΒ£53,755 – Β£60,504

Source: NHS Employers, Agenda for Change pay scales 2024/25 (England). Private practice, locum and non-NHS rates differ. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland set their own equivalent scales.

Country-specific information

The UK operates an ethical-recruitment framework that restricts how employers and agencies may recruit from countries facing severe health-workforce shortages. We explain that framework openly on the ethical-recruitment page. Our country pages are provided as neutral information for people who independently want to understand the pathway from a specific place β€” currently:

Pathway from IndiaPathway from the Philippines

Frequently asked questions

What is the HCPC?+

The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) is the UK statutory regulator for 15 health and care professions, including physiotherapists and radiographers. You must be on the HCPC Register to lawfully use these protected titles or practise in the UK.

How does an internationally-qualified physiotherapist or radiographer register?+

Through the HCPC international application route. The HCPC assesses whether your overseas education and experience meet the UK standards of proficiency for your profession, alongside evidence of your English-language ability. There is a separate international application fee.

What English-language evidence does the HCPC require?+

The HCPC accepts IELTS Academic 7.0 overall with no section below 6.5, or OET Grade B, unless you meet a specific exemption. Confirm the current accepted tests on the HCPC website before applying.

What do these roles pay in the NHS?+

On the NHS Agenda for Change scale for England (2024/25), newly registered physiotherapists and radiographers usually start on Band 5 (about Β£29,970–£36,483 full-time), rising to Band 6 and Band 7 with specialism and experience.

Is GeraClinic recruiting for the NHS?+

No. GeraClinic is a telemedicine platform, not a recruitment agency. This guide is general information for people who independently want to understand the UK registration pathway. GeraClinic does not recruit, sponsor, place or supply staff to the NHS, and never charges an applicant a fee.

Explore the rest of this guide

Physiotherapist pathwayRadiographer pathwayThe international application, step by stepEthical recruitment & the red listPathway from IndiaPathway from the Philippines

Related on the wider Gera network: allied-health roles on GeraClinic and healthcare jobs on GeraJobs. Applying to any specific vacancy is always done directly with the advertising employer.

Sources & further reading

These are the primary, official sources for everything on this page. Where figures appear, confirm the current value at the source before relying on it.