Having listened carefully to our registrants we have decided to make significant changes. These include reducing the increase in the registration fee from £16.00 to £8.12 and retaining the 50% discount graduate applicants receive for the first two professional years of registration.
We are now in the process of engaging with professional bodies and unions on this proposal.
The revised increase was calculated using year on year percentage raises given to Band 5 NHS professionals since 2015, whilst ensuring that HCPC remains resourced to carry out its statutory functions.
We have considred that many professionals’ salaries have not increased substantially for some time, so as a result we are finding new ways of working as well as continuing to manage our costs to minimise the burden on our registrants.
This rise will still allow us to invest in smarter technology to help us support registrants and the public we protect. It will also allow us to prepare for the Government reform of regulation, resulting in an improved approach to fitness to practise and greater work with stakeholders on how to prevent harm before it takes place.
A final proposal will be discussed by our Council at its meeting on 25 March 2020, and, subject to the necessary government approvals, we anticipate the new fee may take effect from 1 September 2020.