Changing standards of proficiency

Abstract

The Health Professions Council (HPC) is charged with establishing standards of proficiency that are prerequisites for entry to each part of the register. As well as ensuring safe and effective practice, these standards are the minimum standards expected of registrants. Changes are being proposed to the generic standards to ensure that they are applicable to all professions they regulate. A consultation process is now underway that will impact on the wording and the structure of the standards-currently there are 26 overarching generic standards and 53 detailed generic standards with a different number of profession specific standards. The proposal also aims to reduce the current generic standards to 15, with the express intention of ensuring that they are overarching and applicable to all professions.