Citation and commencement

1.  This Order may be cited as the Health Professions Council (Registration and Fees) (Amendment) Rules 2013 Order of Council 2014 and comes into force on 1st April 2014.

Privy Council approval

2.  Their Lordships, having taken the Rules contained in the Schedule to this Order into consideration, are pleased to and do approve them.

Article 2

SCHEDULEThe Health Professions Council (Registration and Fees) (Amendment) Rules 2013

The Health and Care Professions Council makes the following Rules in exercise of the powers conferred by articles 7(1) and (2) and 41(2) of the Health and Social Work Professions Order 2001.

In accordance with articles 7(1) and (3) and 41(3) of that Order, the Health and Care Professions Council has consulted the Education and Training Committee and representatives of groups of persons it considers appropriate, including representatives of the groups listed in article 41(3) of that Order.

Citation and commencement

1.  These Rules may be cited as the Health Professions Council (Registration and Fees) (Amendment) Rules 2013 and come into force on 1st April 2014.

Amendment of the Health Professions Council (Registration and Fees) Rules 2003

2.  (1)  The Health Professions Council (Registration and Fees) Rules 2003(2) are amended as follows.

(2) For the title to the Rules, substitute "Health and Care Professions Council (Registration and Fees) Rules 2003".

(3) In rule 1 (citation and commencement), for "the Health Professions Council (Registration and Fees) Rules 2003" substitute "the Health and Care Professions Council (Registration and Fees) Rules 2003".

(4) In rule 14 (registration fee)-

(a)in paragraph (1)(a), for "£76" substitute "£80"; and

(b)in paragraph (1)(b), for "£152" substitute "£160".

(5) In rule 15 (renewal fee), in paragraph (b), for "£152" substitute "£160".

(6) In rule 15A (readmission fee), for "£267" substitute "£120 plus the registration fee prescribed by rule 14(1)(b)".

(7) In rule 16 (restoration fee), for "£267" substitute "£120 plus the registration fee prescribed by rule 14(1)(b)".

(8) In paragraph (1) of rule 16A (reduced fees), for ", readmission fee or restoration fee" substitute "or renewal fee".

(9) In rule 17 (scrutiny fees)-

(a)in paragraph (1), for "£53" substitute "£56"; and

(b)in paragraph (2), for "£420" substitute "£440".

Given under the official seal of the Health and Care Professions Council this 17^th day of December 2013.

Anna van der Gaag

Chair

Marc Seale

Registrar

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends the Health Professions Council (Registration and Fees) Rules scheduled to the Health Professions Council (Registration and Fees) Rules Order of Council 2003 (S.I. 2003/1572) ("the 2003 Order").

The Health Professions Council was renamed the Health and Care Professions Council as from 1st August 2012 (see section 214 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c.7)). The Rules scheduled to this Order amend the name of the Rules scheduled to the 2003 Order to reflect the Council's new name.

This Order approves rules made by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) that amend the fees it charges for scrutinising and processing applications for admission to its register, for renewal of registration and for readmission or restoration to its register. These fees have been raised by between 4.7% and 5.3% since they were last increased in 2009.

The standard fee for registration, or renewal of registration, is now £160 (up from £152), although this is reduced to £80 (up from £76) in the case of applicants with an approved qualification who have qualified in the previous two years. Applicants for readmission or restoration to the HCPC's register must pay £120 plus the new registration fee of £160 (a total fee of £280 and up from £267).

Additionally, the two scrutiny fees charged by the HCPC have been increased. These are separate fees paid by all applicants for registration in the HCPC register whose qualifications (and in some cases experience) need to be assessed – typically, first time registrants. The scrutiny fee is £56 (up from £53) for applicants relying on approved United Kingdom qualifications and £440 (up from £420) for all other applicants.