Imagine starting your dream career in the UK or Ireland as a physiotherapist, occupational therapist or any other healthcare professional and realising that it can’t be possible without proper registration. That’s where the significance of this blog comes from. So, this blog will help you understand all about CORU and HCPC – your international registration, the key differences between them, which one among these suits your healthcare career the best and how to complete your Healthcare Professional Registration smoothly and successfully.
CORU registration vs HCPC registration are the two major regulatory bodies that assess whether a candidate is legally and practicably eligible to practice in their respective countries. CORU is the regulatory body for health and social care professionals in Ireland that ensures the candidate is eligible to practice in Ireland’s healthcare sector safely and effectively. Whereas HCPC is regulating the health and care professions in the United Kingdom.
Professionals coming under CORU International Registration are Physiotherapists, Radiologists, Dietitians,Biomedical or medical scientists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, Optometrists, social workers, physical therapists etc.
Registration process of CORU
Qualification and experience :- Candidates should have a bachelor’s degree and a 1000+ hours of clinical placement/internship.
Application :- candidate should gather documents such as identity proof, academic credentials, professional references and the certificate of experience. It must be ensured that the candidate has submitted the certificate of english proficiency as well as the certificate of registration or good standing along with the statutory declaration form.
Verification :- CORU verifies the documents submitted and confirms whether the applicant fits Ireland’s requirements legally, ethically and clinically.
Approval :- once it is approved the candidate will get the registration number, so that the person can start their health care profession legally in Ireland.
HCPC is the regulatory body that sets the UK’s standard of healthcare and assesses whether the candidate is legally eligible to work in the UK. Professionals under the Health and Care professions Council are Physiotherapists, Radiologists, Dietitians, paramedics, occupational therapists,biomedical therapists etc. HCPC Registration for Physiotherapists can be considered as one of the major requirements to practice as a physiotherapist in the UK.
Registration process of HCPC
Applicants must have a bachelor degree in their chosen profession. For example, in order to get HCPC Physiotherapists Registration, a candidate must have BPT along with one or two years of clinical experience. International candidates must have the English proficiency certificate.
Each and every candidate must have a copy of all documents that are certified as a true copy by a notary authority. Once the application is submitted for HCPC assessment along with a scrutiny fee and gets it successful, the candidate will be asked to pay the registration fee. After the payment of fees, HCPC will put your name in the public register of registered professionals.
Major Differences between CORU and HCPC registration
Country and jurisdiction
CORU Registration applies in Ireland whereas the jurisdiction of HCPC is in the healthcare sector of the UK.
Regulated professions
CORU regulates fewer professions compared with HCPC. Because HCPC regulates a wide range of professions. When we think about CORU registration vs HCPC registration, Some of the professions that do not come under the purview of CORU but come under the governance of HCPC are paramedics, hearing aid dispensers, orthoptists, arts therapists, clinical scientists, practitioner psychologists etc.
Application process
While earlier CORU registration was time consuming and delayed than HCPC registration, recent observation is that CORU registration is ultra-fast as early as 21 days, whereas HCPC registration is taking a little longer. However, the timeline for each application directly depends on many factors.
Required documents
Documents required for CORU are ;-
- Graduation/ Degree certificate along with official transcript
- Identification proof (Eg: Passport, Driving license etc.)
- Address proof (Eg: Bank statement, Utility bill etc.)
- Professional certificate or reference certificate
- Internship certificate or proofs of completion of any projects, thesis or dissertation.
Documents required for HCPC Registration are:-
- HCPC course information form
- Graduation/ Degree certificate along with official transcript
- Identification proof (Eg: Passport, Driving license etc.)
- Address proof (Eg: Bank statement, Utility bill etc.)
- Professional certificate or reference certificate
- Proof of english proficiency
- Certificate of name change, if applicable
Processing time
As per the standard guidance available from the regulators, the processing time of CORU is about 3-4 months depending on the profession whereas the processing time of HCPC is about 2-3 months after submission.
Cost of renewal
The renewal fee would be changed according to the chosen profession. HCPC must be renewed every two years, whereas CORU requires annual renewal.
Recognition
The registration of CORU is valid across Ireland. And the HCPC registration is valid for the whole of the UK including England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland etc. it offers a wider range of opportunities of getting employment in the healthcare system. However, some of the international countries now started accepting both HCPC and CORU registration as an eligible route to their registration/licensing programs.
Language requirement
Both CORU and HCPC require proper professional English speaking skills. HCPC requires certified proof of English fluency tests ( Eg:- IELTS and OET). Whereas, CORU has multiple options that include a valid medium of instruction letter obtained from your university.
In simple terms, CORU vs HCPC give professional competence and recognition at the international level. If you’re a candidate looking to build a health care career in Ireland, you must choose CORU as it is very much essential to practice in Ireland. But if you’re someone who is planning to migrate to the UK with your healthcare degree then you must say yes to HCPC and start your registration journey at the earliest. Though there are major differences between CORU and HCPC registration by its location, process and the list of professions governed, the international recognition it gives is remarkable.
So, both CORU and HCPC are the major gateways to start your healthcare career abroad. When it comes to CORU vs HCPC, CORU regulates professionals in Ireland and HCPC covers professionals in the entire UK. Hence, understanding the key difference between CORU and HCPC is very essential in choosing your future.
If you are applying for CORU international registration or HCPC international registration, be sure that you are an early bird and check your eligibility, meet all the requirements at the earliest, especially the preparation of documents and application process.
At Beverse Health, we mentor professionals to know all about CORU registration vs HCPC registration, choose which one suits the best for their future and fulfill their dream of getting a healthcare job abroad. We make your registration journey simple and stress free. Connect with us today and get your personalized guidance for your CORU and HCPC registration.