HCPC Registration for Orthoptists
To work as an orthoptist in the UK you must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC); "orthoptist" is a protected title, so practising or using the title without registration is a criminal offence under the Health and Social Work Professions Order 2001.
Orthoptics is one of the professions the HCPC regulates. Whether you trained in the UK or overseas, you must be on the HCPC Register before you can work under the title "orthoptist". This page explains β as general information, not a job offer β how internationally-qualified orthoptists become eligible to register, and what the work typically pays in the NHS.
What orthoptists do in the UK
Orthoptists diagnose and manage disorders of eye movement and problems with the way the two eyes work together (binocular vision) β including squint (strabismus), lazy eye (amblyopia) and double vision (diplopia). In the UK they work mainly in hospital eye departments and increasingly across paediatrics, stroke rehabilitation, neuro-ophthalmology, glaucoma clinics and diabetic eye screening. Much of the profession sits within the NHS.
The British and Irish Orthoptic Society (BIOS) is the professional body for orthoptists in the UK and Ireland. BIOS membership is separate from β and not a substitute for β statutory HCPC registration, which is the legal requirement to practise.
How an internationally-qualified orthoptist registers
The HCPC route is the same across the allied health professions. Each step is covered in depth on the international application guide.
- 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
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
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
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
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
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 a orthoptist earns in the NHS
A newly HCPC-registered orthoptist in the NHS in England usually starts on Agenda for Change Band 5, progressing to Band 6 (specialist) and Band 7 (advanced/clinical specialist, e.g. in glaucoma or paediatrics) with experience and further training.
| Band | Full-time range (per year) | Typical role |
|---|---|---|
| Band 5 | Β£29,970 β Β£36,483 | Newly HCPC-registered / entry practitioner |
| Band 6 | Β£37,338 β Β£44,962 | Specialist practitioner |
| Band 7 | Β£46,148 β Β£52,809 | Advanced / clinical specialist / team lead |
| Band 8a | Β£53,755 β Β£60,504 | Consultant practitioner / clinical lead |
Source: NHS Employers β Agenda for Change pay scales, 2024/25. Pay is set nationally, is renegotiated annually, and does not depend on where you trained β confirm the current figure at the source.
A newly HCPC-registered orthoptist in the NHS in England is typically appointed at Agenda for Change Band 5 β about Β£29,970 rising to Β£36,483 full-time (2024/25).
- Band 5 β Newly HCPC-registered / entry practitioner
- Β£29,970βΒ£36,483
- Band 6 β Specialist practitioner
- Β£37,338βΒ£44,962
- Band 7 β Advanced / clinical specialist / team lead
- Β£46,148βΒ£52,809
- Band 8a β Consultant practitioner / clinical lead
- Β£53,755βΒ£60,504
As of 2024/25. Source: NHS Employers, Agenda for Change.
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Frequently asked questions β orthoptists
Do I have to register with the HCPC to work as an orthoptist in the UK?+
Yes. "Orthoptist" is a protected title. Under the Health and Social Work Professions Order 2001 it is a criminal offence to use the title or work as an orthoptist in the UK without being on the HCPC Register.
What does an orthoptist actually do?+
Orthoptists specialise in eye movement and binocular vision. They assess and manage conditions such as squint, lazy eye and double vision, and work across hospital eye services, paediatrics, stroke and neuro-ophthalmology, glaucoma clinics and diabetic eye screening.
I qualified as an orthoptist outside the UK. How do I register?+
You apply through the HCPC international registration route. The HCPC assesses whether your education and professional experience meet the UK standards of proficiency for orthoptists β scope of practice varies internationally, so this comparison matters. A separate international application fee and English-language evidence are required. Confirm current details on the HCPC website.
What English-language level does the HCPC require?+
The HCPC accepts IELTS Academic 7.0 (no section below 6.5) or OET Grade B. Some applicants who trained and practised in English are exempt. Confirm the current accepted tests and scores on the HCPC website.
What does an orthoptist earn in the NHS?+
On the NHS Agenda for Change scale for England (2024/25), a newly registered orthoptist typically starts on Band 5 (about Β£29,970βΒ£36,483 full-time), rising to Band 6 and Band 7 with specialism and experience. Confirm current bands with NHS Employers.
Is GeraClinic a recruitment agency that will place me in the NHS?+
No. GeraClinic is a telemedicine platform. These pages are general educational information about the UK registration pathway. GeraClinic does not recruit, sponsor, place or supply staff to the NHS, and never charges applicants a placement fee.
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Related on the wider Gera network: healthcare jobs on GeraJobs. Applying to any specific vacancy is always done directly with the advertising employer β GeraClinic does not place, sponsor or match candidates.
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.
- Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
UK statutory regulator for 15 health and care professions, including physiotherapists and radiographers.
- HCPC β International registration
Application route and assessment process for professionals qualified outside the UK.
- HCPC β Fees
Current application, scrutiny and renewal fees.
- British and Irish Orthoptic Society (BIOS)
Professional body for orthoptists in the UK and Ireland. Optional membership; the statutory regulator is the HCPC.
- NHS Employers β Agenda for Change pay scales
National NHS pay bands for England, 2024/25.
- GOV.UK β Health and Care Worker visa
Immigration route for eligible medical and social-care roles with a Home Office-licensed sponsor.