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Registration with the HPCSA is a pre-requisite for professional practice and it is also a legal requirement to keep all personal details up to date at all times.

Registration

Overview
Qualifying in any of the health care professions is an important personal responsibility and, as a practitioner, there are several legal obligations.  Registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) is a pre-requisite for professional practice, and it is also a legal requirement to keep all personal details up to date at all times. 
 
An annual fee is payable for this registration and failure to pay this fee could result in suspension from the register. If, for some reason a practitioner is suspended from the register, they can redeem themselves by applying for restoration and paying the restoration fee. Voluntary erasure from the register is possible if the practitioner does not intend to practice his/her profession in South Africa for a given period.  
 
A request must be submitted in writing before 31 March of the year voluntary erasure is requested. 

There are nine main registration categories (not all categories apply to all professions), namely:
  • Student
  • Internship
  • Student Intern
  • Public Service - Community Service
  • Supervised Practice
  • Independent Practice
  • Private Practice
  • Specialised Practice
  • Sub-Specialised Practice
 
Other categories for temporary or restricted registration include:
  • Education
  • Post-Graduate
  • Volunteer
 
After completing the requirements of each of the registration categories, the onus is on the individual to formally apply for registration in the next category. Penalty fees are charged upon application for a new registration category if the individual has not been registered as student in the required category. 
 
 
Registration Requirements
Professional Board Requirements
Dental Assisting, Dental Therapy & Oral Hygiene View document 
Dietetics & Nutrition View document
Emergency Care View document
Environmental Health Practitioners  View document
Medical, Dental & Medical Science  View document
Medical Technology View document
Optometry and Dispensing Opticians View document
Occupational Therapy and Medical Orthotics/Prosthetics View document
Physiotherapy, Podiatry and Biokinetics  View document
Psychology View document
Radiography and Clinical Technology View document
Speech, Language and Hearing View document
 
Registration Forms
Professional Boards are co-ordinating bodies for healthcare practitioners registered with the HPCSA. The respective boards that are established for a specific profession, deal with matters relating to a specific profession.
 
Dental Assisting, Dental Therapy and Oral Hygiene
Form 8 - Visiting Student
Form 19 - Additional Qualification
Form 19 - Additional Qualification Dental Assistant
Form 23 - Application for Registration
Form 23 - Application for Registration (DA)
Form 24 TT - Dental Therapist
Form 24 DA - Dental Assistant
Form 27 - Independent Practice
Form 53 - Dental Assistant
Form 53 - Student Dental Therapy
Form 53 - Student Oral Hygiene

Form 189 - TT Independent Practice

Form 189A - OH Independent Practice
 
Dietetics and Nutrition
Form 8 - Visiting Student
Form 19 - Additional Qualification
Form 23 - Application for Registration
Form 27 - Independent Practice

Form 53 - DNB Student
Form 53 - Student Dietician

Form 176 NT - Foreign Qualified Nutritionists

Checklist for compliance - Nutrition

Form 176 DT - Foreign Qualified Dietitian

Checklist for compliance - Dietetics
Form 176 DoH FWMP - Application Form
 
Emergency Care
Form 8 - Visiting Student
Form 19 - Additional Qualification
Form 23 - Application for Registration
Form 24 - EMB
Form 53 - EMB Students
Form 315 - Foreign Qualified
 Download form
Form 348
 Download form
 
Environmental Health
Form 8 - Visiting Student
Form 19 - Additional Qualification
Form 23 - To perform Community Service
Form 23 - Environmental Health Assistant
Form 27 - Independent Practice
Form 53 - Student
Form 176 - EHP Foreign Qualified
 
Medical & Dental 
Internship Logbook
 
Form 8 - Visiting Student

Form 9 - Application for registration as a Registrar / Sub-speciality Trainee

Form 10 A MDB - Intern in Medicine
Form 11 A - Medical Practitioner Community Service
Form 11 B - Independent Practice  (General Practitioner) Download form
Form 11 C - Independent Practice (Medical Practitioner) Download form
Form 14 A - Dentist (DP) to perform Community Service
Form 19 - Additional Qualification
Form 21 MDB - Specialist/ Subspecialist SA Qualified
Form 23 MDB - CA
Form 23 MDB - Intern in Medicine SA Qualified

Form 23 - Community Service

Form 23 MSIN; PHIN and GCIN - Medical Biological Scientist, Medical Physicist and Genetic Counsellor only 
Form 24 GC - Application for registration as Genetic Counselor
Form 24 MS - Application for registration as Medical Biological Scientist
Form 24 PH - Application for registration as Medical Physicist
Form 26 PHIN - Intern Medical Physicist
Form 26 GCIN - Intern Genetic Counsellor
Form 26 MSIN - Intern Medical Biological Scientist
Form 27 - Independent Practice
Form 39 - Student Intern
Form 53 - Student
Form 57 - Application for registration: Independent practice – (Medical Practitioner)
 Download form
 
Medical Technology
Form 8 - Visiting Student
Form 19 - Additional Qualification
Form 23 - Medical Technologist
Form 23 - Lab Assistant
Form 23 MLS - Medical Laboratory Scientists 
Form 23 - Medical Technician
Form 24 - Medical Technologist
Form 24 - Medical Technician 
Form 24 LA - Application for registration as Lab Assistant
Form 25 - Medical Technology
 Download form
Form 26 MTIN - Application for Registration as an Intern Medical Technologist
Form 27 - Independent Practice
Form 53 - Student
Form 53 - Student GTS/LAS
Form 133
 
Occupational Therapy, Medical Orthotics, Prosthetics & Arts Therapy
Form 8 - Visiting Student
Form 18 A - OCP - Occupational Therapy, Medical Orthotics & Prosthetics & Arts Therapy Application for restoration
Form 18 C - OCP - Occupational Therapy, Medical Orthotics & Prosthetics & Arts Therapy Undertaking by Supervisor
Form 18 D - OCP - Occupational Therapy, Medical Orthotics & Prosthetics & Arts Therapy Supervisory report
Form 18 F - OCP - Occupational Therapy, Medical Orthotics & Prosthetics & Arts Therapy Portfolio
Form 18 G - OCP - Occupational Therapy, Medical Orthotics & Prosthetics & Arts Therapy Portfolio marking guide
Form 19 - Additional Qualification
Form 23 - Occupational Therapy Assistant
Form 23 OCP - Community Service
Form 24 OTT - Occupational Therapy Technician
Form 24 OS - Medical Orthotics and Prosthetics
Form 26 OSIN - Medical Orthotist and Prosthetist
Form 26 ATIN - Arts Therapy Intern in Drama
Form 26 A AT - Placement of Arts Therapy Intern in Drama
Form 27 OS - Intern duty certificate
Form 27 AT - Intern Duty Certificate
Form 27 OB/OSA - Intern duty certificate - Medical Orthotists & Prosthetics
Form 53 - Student
Form 53 - Student Occupational Therapist
Form 176 - OT Foreign Qualified
Form 176 - AT Foreign Qualified
Form 176 - MOP Foreign Qualified
 
Optometry & Dispensing Opticians
Form 8 - Visiting Student
Form 18 - Restoration
Form 19 - Additional Qualification
Form 23 - Dispensing Optician
Form 23 - Optometrist
Form 27 - Independent Practice
Form 53 - Student
Form 176 - OT Foreign Qualified
Form 176 - AT Foreign Qualified
Form 176 - MOP Foreign Qualified
 
Physiotherapy, Podiatry and Biokinetics
Form 8 - Visiting Student
Form 19 - Additional Qualification
Form 23 - Application for Registration Biokineticist 
Form 23 - Application for Registration Podiatrist 
Form 23 - Community Service Podiatrist
Form 23 - Physiotherapist Community Service
Form 24 BK - Application for Registration
Form 26 BKIN
Form 27 - Independent Practice

Form 27 BK - Biokineticist for Intern Duty Certificates
Form 49 PT - Physiotherapist Foreign Graduates
Form 53 BKS - Biokinetics in Training
Form 53 - Student Physiotherapist
 
Psychology 
Form 8 - Visiting Student
Form 19 - Additional Qualification
Form 24 PS - Registration as Psychologist
Form 24 RC - Registration as Registered Counsellor
Form 24 PMT - Application for Registration
Form 26 PSIN - Intern Psychologist
Form 27 - Independent Practice
Form 53 PSS - Psychology Student
Form 53 SRC & PMTS
 
Radiography & Clinical Technology 
Form 8 - Visiting Student
Form 19 - Additional Qualification
Form 23 - Community Service Radiographer
Form 24 KT - Clinical Technologist
Form 24 KT - G- Clinical Technologist
Form 27 - Independent Practise
Form 53 - Student Clinical Technology
Form 53 - Student Radiographer
 
Speech, Language and Hearing
Form 8 - Visiting Student Speech Therapist
Form 19 - Additional Qualification
Form 23 - Community Service Audiology
Form 23 - Community Service Speech Therapist
Form 27 - Independent Practice
Form 53 - Student Audiology
Form 53 - Student Speech Therapy
 
Restoration
 
Professional Board Restoration
Dental Assisting, Dental Therapy & Oral Hygiene View document
Dietetics & Nutrition View document
Emergency Care View document
Environmental Health Practitioners  View document
Medical, Dental & Medical Science  View document
Medical Technology View document
Optometry and Dispensing Opticians View document
Occupational Therapy and Medical Orthotics/Prosthetics View document
Physiotherapy, Podiatry and Biokinetics  View document
Psychology View document
Radiography and Clinical Technology View document
Speech, Language and Hearing View document
 
 
Voluntary Erasure
Any health professional may apply for voluntary erasure from the register in writing before 31 March. If application is made on or after 01 April of that year the annual fee for that year must first be paid and then voluntary erasure be requested with effect from the following year. Should the professional request restoration of his/her name to the register the following will apply:
  • The application for restoration form, form 18, must be completed.
  • The applicable annual fee should be paid.
 
Sworn Affidavit application for voluntary removal in terms of Section 19 (1)(C) of the Health Professions Act, 1974 (ACT NO. 56 0F 1974 AS AMENDED) click here
 
 
 
 
Exemptions
A health professional may apply for exemption of payment of the annual fee if he/she turns seventy-one (71) before 01 April of the year, otherwise the practitioner will only be exempted from the following year. The request must be submitted in writing and supported with a copy of the ID document.

The following registers are exceptions and practitioners may apply for exemption if they turn 66 before 01 April of the year:
  • Environmental Health Practitioners
  • Medical Technologists
  • Medical Technicians
  • Radiographers
  • Supplementary Diagnostic Radiographers
  • Dietitians.
 

 

Certificates by the Registrar issued in terms of Section 23 of the Act
The HPCSA may also send the certificate electronically as per our agreement between certain authorities.  
List of regulators we have agreement/s with and electronic copy of COS to be emailed directly to them and not accepted from clients:
  • General Medical Council (GMC), Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and most other regulatory bodies in the UK, except General Dental Council (GDC)
  • Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) and all other bodies except New Zealand Dental Council (NZDC).
  • All Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons in Canada (CPSA, CPSBC, CPSPEI, CPSNS, CPSS, CPSNB, CPSO etc) and other regulatory bodies in Canada (clients to confirm)
  • Qatar Medical Council
  • Saudi Commission of Health Specialties (SCFHS)
  • BIG Netherlands
  • The Spanish Medical Colleges Organization (Organización Médical Colegial or OMC) 

 

Certificate of Status for all Registers
The following certification related services are available to all practitioners who meet the minimum requirements as set out below:
  • To name a few, please however confirm with that regulatory body or HPCSA when making the application as well. The HPCSA dispatches the certificate as per practitioner’s request. Courier costs are carried by the applicant.
  • In terms of section 23 of the Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974) the Registrar may only issue an HPCSA Certificate of Status to registered practitioners (registration status must be active and up to date) and those that are expired as they have limited registration or voluntarily erased from the register.
  • Certificate of Status will be issued to a Practitioner after submission of an affidavit that no criminal or unprofessional conduct proceedings are pending against him/her.
  • Please refer to the gazette fees click here
  • The should practitioner send a written request to hpcsacgs@hpcsa.co.za with proof of payment and full details of where the certificate should be sent/posted or delivered to. To have certificate delivered by courier the following fee is payable for delivery in SA – click here for fees payable and for any overseas delivery click here for fees payable including vat. The certificate can also be sent electronically as per understanding between certain authorities, GMC included.
NB: Please do not send requests to any other email address as the COS team only has access to the hpcsacgs@hpcsa.co.za
  • if no courier fee is paid the certificate will be sent electronically and the original filed at the HPCSA. Please note that the certificate of status is valid for 6 months from the date of issue.
  • If a practitioner’s name was voluntary erased a certificate letter of good standing would be issued.

Types of endorsement:

  • such person’s registration under this Act;
  • whether or not the person is disqualified in part or totally from practicing his or her profession;
  • whether or not any steps pertaining to unprofessional conduct are pending against the person concerned at the time of the issuing of the certificate;
  • whether or not the person concerned was, in the past, found guilty of any unprofessional conduct, and if so:
- the date of such finding;
- the nature of such unprofessional conduct; 
- the penalty imposed;
  • whether or not the person concerned has been found to be impaired and, if so:
- the date of such finding; and
- he nature of the conditions of registration and practice that may be in place at the time of the issuing of the certificate.
The Departments of Legal Services and Registrations will however strive to issue the certificates as quickly as possible.
 
Certified Extract from the Register (Duplicate Registration Certificate)
Please click here for the applicable fees.
 
COS AFFIDAVIT Sect 23 of the Act
Foreign Graduates
Important Notice to All Foreign Qualified Medical Practitioners:
  • Verification of Qualifications of Foreign Medical Qualified Practitioners read more
 
The following are the application forms you need to complete:
Education
Checklist for ECFMG Epic Report verifications Education
 View document
Documents required for registration in the category Education
 View document
Military Service
Checklist for ECFMG Epic Report verifications Military Service
 View document
Documents required for registration in the category Military Service
 View document
Postgraduate Studies
Checklist for ECFMG Epic Report verifications Postgraduate Studies
 View document
Documents required for registration in the category Postgraduate Studies
 View document
Volunteer Service
Checklist for ECFMG Epic Report verifications Volunteer Service
 View document
Documents required for registration in the category Volunteer Service
 View document
Public Service Specialist
Documents required for registration in the category Public Service Specialist
 View document
Checklist for ECFMG Epic Report verifications Public Service Specialist
 View document
Medical Practitioner
Checklist for ECFMG Epic Report verifications MP
 View document
Documents required for registration in the category Medical Practitioner
 View document
Year-end Registration 2023
 
HPCSA offices do not close for the festive break except on actual public holiday, that is, staff will not be working on December 15 (Celebrating SA Rugby World Cup win), December 25 (Christmas Day) and December 26 (Family Day). 
 
Please click the appropriate link to find out about the registration process applicable to you:
 
Graduates completing university studies and registering as interns in medicine, community service, independent practice or supervised practice Click here
Practitioners commencing community service after completing 24 months’ internship in medicine Click here
Practitioners commencing community service after completing 12 months’ internship in clinical psychology Click here
Practitioners commencing independent practice after completing 12 months of community service
Practitioners seeking other services
Payable Registrations Fees Including Pro-Rata Annual Fees
 
 
IMPORTANT NOTE
The amounts stated above are applicable for registration with the HPCSA for the period ending 31 March 2024. Practitioners are expected to renew their registration annually on 1 April by paying the annual fee and updating their contact details.
NB: Compliance with CPD is required in relevant categories of registration.


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