Overview of The Register

The Healthcare Science workforce is an essential part of the clinical team with the potential to do real harm to patients should things go wrong.

Members of the Healthcare Science workforce perform a range of different roles depending on their qualifications, experience, and level of specialisation. Although the workforce comprises approximately 5% of the overall healthcare workforce in the UK, their work underpins 80% of all diagnoses as well as therapeutic interventions such as radiotherapy. It has been estimated that more than 65,000 individuals make up the Healthcare Science workforce.

The Academy for Healthcare Science Registration Council’s core purpose is to reduce this risk and aim to keep patients and the public safe. This is achieved through structures, processes and maintaining Registers for Healthcare Science workers who are not regulated by statute by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Applying to join the AHCS register is customarily good practice for individuals, and is seen at a national level and by employing organisations, service providers, commissioners and patients who are increasingly viewing registration, as essential for showing commitment to the quality of practice.

The AHCS register was accredited by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) and launched in December 2014 for Healthcare Science Practitioners.  The Accredited Register now consists of four parts; it was extended to include Higher Specialist Scientists in October 2015, Medical Illustrators in February 2017 and Clinical Physiologists in June 2017.

In June 2021 the business of the Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists (RCCP) was transferred to the Academy.  For the time being, registration continues with both the AHCS and RCCP and is of equal status.  However, new applications for Clinical Physiology Practitioner registration are now being accepted only through the RCCP portal.

When it becomes due, current registrants should continue to renew their registration as usual with either the RCCP or the AHCS.  However, any Clinical Physiology practitioners registered with both organisations should renew only with the AHCS.

If you have any immediate questions about your registration, please email registration@ahcs.ac.uk.

Accreditation by the PSA demonstrates that the register has achieved their high standards in governance, standard-setting, education and training, management of the register, complaints handling and information.

Joining the AHCS Accredited Register demonstrates your commitment to maintaining competency and high standards of conduct, providing assurance for employers, patients and the public. Being on the Register also helps to strengthen the profession as a whole, helping the Academy to raise the profile of all healthcare science professionals and their significant contribution to patient care, clinical excellence and healthcare advances.

What doesn’t the register show?

The Register does not show an individual’s qualifications, seniority, or skill levels.  Nor does it display a home or work address, an email address or a telephone number.  The information displayed is intended only to allow you to check that a registered practitioner has met the required standards of education, competence and conduct.

Registrants who have been removed from the register because of a fitness to practise determination will not appear in the online Register. You can find more information about individual cases here Actions & Sanctions.