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Radiographer Β· UK registration pathway

HCPC Registration for Radiographers

To work as a radiographer in the UK you must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC); "radiographer", "diagnostic radiographer" and "therapeutic radiographer" are protected titles, so practising or using a title without registration is a criminal offence under the Health and Social Work Professions Order 2001.

Radiography is one of the 15 professions the HCPC regulates, split into two distinct fields: diagnostic radiography (medical imaging) and therapeutic radiography (radiotherapy for cancer treatment). Whether you trained in the UK or overseas, you must be on the HCPC Register before you can work under any of these titles. This page explains β€” as general information, not a job offer β€” how internationally-qualified radiographers become eligible to register.

What radiographers do in the UK

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.

The Society and College of Radiographers (SCoR) is the professional body and trade union for radiographers in the UK. As with physiotherapy, SCoR 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 radiographer registers

The HCPC route is the same across the allied health professions. Each step is covered in depth 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 a radiographer earns in the NHS

A newly HCPC-registered radiographer in the NHS in England usually starts on Agenda for Change Band 5, progressing to Band 6 (specialist), Band 7 (advanced practice, e.g. reporting radiographer) and beyond. These national bands apply wherever you trained. Use the estimator to see where a given experience level usually sits (as of July 2026).

Estimate your likely NHS pay band

Pick your profession and experience to see the Agenda for Change band a role in England would usually sit on (2024/25 scale). This is a general guide, not an offer β€” the actual band depends on the specific post and employer.

A physiotherapist at this level in the NHS in England would usually sit on

Band 5

Β£29,970 – Β£36,483/ year (full-time)

Newly HCPC-registered / entry practitioner

Source: NHS Employers β€” Agenda for Change pay scales, 2024/25. NHS pay is renegotiated annually β€” confirm the current figure at the source. Pay bands are set nationally and do not depend on where you trained.

Frequently asked questions β€” radiographers

Do I have to register with the HCPC to work as a radiographer in the UK?+

"Radiographer", "diagnostic radiographer" and "therapeutic radiographer" are protected titles. Under the Health and Social Work Professions Order 2001 it is a criminal offence to use these titles or work as a radiographer in the UK without being on the HCPC Register.

What is the difference between diagnostic and therapeutic radiography?+

Diagnostic radiographers create and interpret medical images (X-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound) to diagnose conditions. Therapeutic radiographers plan and deliver radiotherapy to treat cancer. They are separate HCPC-protected titles with different training, and you register in the field you qualified in.

I qualified as a radiographer outside the UK. How do I register?+

You apply through the HCPC international registration route, in your field (diagnostic or therapeutic). The HCPC assesses whether your education and experience meet the UK standards of proficiency. A separate international application fee and English-language evidence are required. Current details are on the HCPC website.

What English-language level does the HCPC require?+

The HCPC accepts IELTS Academic at 7.0 overall with no section below 6.5, or OET Grade B, as evidence of English proficiency. Confirm the current accepted tests and scores on the HCPC website before you apply.

What does a radiographer earn in the NHS?+

On the NHS Agenda for Change scale for England (2024/25), a newly registered radiographer typically starts on Band 5 (about Β£29,970–£36,483 full-time), rising to Band 6 and Band 7 with specialism such as CT, MRI or reporting. Confirm current bands with NHS Employers.

Is GeraClinic recruiting radiographers into the NHS?+

No. GeraClinic is a telemedicine platform, not a recruitment agency. 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.

Explore the rest of this guide

HCPC registration overviewPhysiotherapist 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.