5 Mar 2025 ● Harmonia Careers
Health & Social Care Professions: What is statutory regulation?
The Professional Standards Authority oversees 10 UK healthcare professional regulators to make sure they are protecting the public. Find out more about the UK requirements and standards for regulated health and care professionals to help you navigate your career path.
What is a regulator?
In the UK, many health professionals are regulated by law to ensure that individuals have the necessary qualifications and experience to practise or teach others.
Regulators also ensure that organisations are aware of and comply with laws, practices, and policies, as set out in the Professional Qualifications Act.
Regulators carry out a range of functions, including:
- Establishing and implementing controls at organisations
- Assessing how organisations are complying with laws and regulations
- Identifying and taking action in areas where organisations are not complying
- Provide ways for organisations to report on their compliance
- Maintain an up-to-date register of professionals who use a specific protected title within the profession
- Set and maintain standards for education, training, and conduct
- Investigate when standards are not met or when a professional's fitness to practice is in doubt
Professional Standards Authority
The PSA oversees the 10 statutory bodies that register health and care professionals who work in occupations UK Parliament has said must be regulated.
Regulators and professions overseen by the PSA
General Chiropractic Council (GCC)
Chiropractors
Dentists and dental care professionals
Doctors, anaesthesia associates (AAs) and physician associates (PAs)
Optometrists, dispensing optician, student opticians, optical businesses
Osteopaths
General Pharmaceutical Councill (GPhC)
Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians
Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Allied health care and psychological wellbeing professionals
Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
Nurses and midwives, and nursing associates (England only)
Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI)
Pharmacists (Northern Ireland only)
Social workers (England only)
For further information about social work across the UK, visit Social Care Wales, Social Work Scotland and Northern Ireland Social Care Council.
What is a protected title?
Individuals who practice within a regulated profession will often use a 'protected title' meaning it is against the law to use the job title unless you are registered with the approved regulator.
Using a protected title without being registered is a criminal offense in the UK and may result in prosecution.
Why is professional regulation important?
Professional regulation plays a crucial role in maintaining the standards and integrity of various professions. It serves to protect the public interest by ensuring that individuals practicing in specific fields possess the necessary qualifications, skills, and ethical standards required to perform their duties effectively. This regulation is particularly vital in sectors such as healthcare, law, finance, and engineering, where the consequences of inadequate professional conduct can have severe implications for individuals and society as a whole.
Regulated professions are typically governed by established bodies or associations that set clear guidelines and standards for practice. This oversight helps to ensure that practitioners are not only qualified but also adhere to ethical practices, thereby fostering trust among clients and the general public.
As society continues to evolve and the complexities of various professions increase, the importance of robust professional regulation will only continue to grow, underscoring the necessity of maintaining high standards across all fields of practice.
Are all professions regulated by law?
No, not all occupations working with mental health and wellbeing are regulated by UK law. Find out more about professional registration in the mental health and wellbeing sector below.
Related Post: What is an accredited register?
