HCPC international registration guide 2026
Prepare your English evidence for HCPC registration
Check whether your primary qualification is enough, compare accepted English tests and understand how language evidence fits into the wider HCPC international application.
Content reviewed and updated: 3 August 2026
The starting decision
Do you need to submit an English test certificate?
All applicants using the HCPC international route must confirm that they meet the English language proficiency requirement. The evidence route depends on where the qualification that first enabled you to practise was gained.
HCPC-regulated professions
Which professions does the HCPC regulate?
The HCPC regulates 15 health and care professions. The international route is generally for eligible applicants who trained and practised outside the UK and have not previously been registered with the HCPC. Each profession has its own standards of proficiency.
Therapy professions
Physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, arts therapists and chiropodists or podiatrists.
Diagnostic and scientific professions
Radiographers, biomedical scientists, clinical scientists, hearing aid dispensers and orthoptists.
Emergency and perioperative professions
Paramedics and operating department practitioners.
Other regulated professions
Dietitians, practitioner psychologists, prosthetists and orthotists, and other professions listed by the HCPC.
English evidence route
Primary qualification or recognised language test?
Qualification gained in a qualifying country
The HCPC treats the qualification that first enabled you to practise as evidence that you can practise effectively in English, so no further English language document is required for this part of the application.
Qualification not gained in a qualifying country
You must upload a certificate from an HCPC-recognised English test provider. The certificate must be no more than two years old when the HCPC receives your application.
Accepted English tests
HCPC score requirements at a glance
Most professions
Overall 7.0, with no element below 6.5.
Speech and language therapists
Overall 8.0, with no element below 7.5.
Certificate age
The certificate must be no more than two years old when the HCPC receives it.
Detailed comparison
IELTS, TOEFL and OET requirements
| Test | Most professions | Speech and language therapists | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS | 7.0 overall, no element below 6.5 | 8.0 overall, no element below 7.5 | Academic or General Training; UKVI or non-UKVI; official test centre only; at-home tests are not accepted. |
| TOEFL before 21 January 2026 | 100/120 | 118/120 | Not accepted if taken in the UK. Official test centre only. No combined scores, superscores or MyBest scores. |
| TOEFL from 21 January 2026 | Reading 4.5, Listening 5, Writing 4.5, Speaking 5, Overall 5 | Reading 5.5, Listening 5.5, Writing 6, Speaking 6, Overall 6 | Official test centre only; at-home tests are not accepted. |
| OET | 1400, with no element below 300, for listed professions | 1800, with no element below 400 | Profession-specific OET only; official test centre only; at-home tests are not accepted. |
Profession-specific OET
Which HCPC professions can currently use OET?
| Profession | OET test | Minimum score |
|---|---|---|
| Chiropodists and podiatrists | Podiatry | 1400, with no element below 300 |
| Dietitians | Dietary | 1400, with no element below 300 |
| Occupational therapists | Occupational Therapy | 1400, with no element below 300 |
| Physiotherapists | Physiotherapy | 1400, with no element below 300 |
| Radiographers | Radiography | 1400, with no element below 300 |
| Speech and language therapists | Speech and Language | 1800, with no element below 400 |
The wider international application
English evidence is only one part of registration
Check eligibility
Confirm that the international route applies to your professional training and practice.
Prepare certified documents
Gather identity, qualification, registration, course and professional-experience evidence.
Upload English evidence
Provide the accepted certificate if your qualification does not meet the qualifying-country route.
Complete standards mapping
Show where your qualifications, further training and professional experience demonstrate that you meet each profession-specific standard.
Continue your preparation
Use the right TEO pathway
IELTS preparation
Explore test types, scoring, section formats and preparation strategies.
Read the IELTS guide →OET preparation
Understand profession-specific healthcare English and OET preparation.
Read the OET guide →Choose the right test
Compare English tests by registration, study, work and destination.
Use the test guide →Medical communication
Develop patient, colleague, handover and workplace communication beyond the score.
Explore coaching →Healthcare English tutors
Compare tutors for IELTS, OET and healthcare communication.
Browse tutors →Professional Learning Hub
Find free test, healthcare and professional English resources.
Visit the Hub →Questions answered
HCPC English language FAQs
What IELTS score does the HCPC require?
For most professions, 7.0 overall with no element below 6.5. Speech and language therapists need 8.0 overall with no element below 7.5.
Does the HCPC accept IELTS General Training?
Yes. The HCPC accepts IELTS Academic and General Training, including UKVI and non-UKVI versions, taken at an official test centre.
Does the HCPC accept OET?
Yes, for the profession-specific OET tests listed by the HCPC.
Can I use TOEFL taken in the UK?
No. The HCPC states that TOEFL results from tests taken in the United Kingdom are not accepted.
Does passing IELTS, TOEFL or OET guarantee registration?
No. English language evidence is one part of the application. The HCPC also assesses qualifications, training, professional experience and evidence against the standards of proficiency.
Prepare the right evidence before you submit
Browse specialist tutors directly or use free TEO Tutor Match. TEO may recommend up to three suitable tutor profiles, with no obligation to book. Always confirm your current registration requirements directly with the HCPC.