How to register with health care professional council (HCPC) to work as a radiographer in the United Kingdom + salary
Are you looking to work as a diagnostic radiographer in the United Kingdom? or wondering how to register with the health care professional council (HCPC),Interested in knowing how much radiographers earn in the United Kingdom.
In this article, I will cover requirements needed to work as a diagnostic radiographer in the United Kingdom, focus will be for those who have studied in other continents like Asia, Africa and Europe who want to work in the UK.
To provide you with comprehensive information, I rely on in-depth research with different UK health organisations in charge of radiography, and I also draw insights from my own experience as a radiographer who studied and worked in the United Kingdom . (All references provided at the end of the article).
Feel free to leave any comments or questions in the comments section at the end of the article!
▶️How to practise as a diagnostic radiographer in the United Kingdom?
In the United Kingdom radiography is a regulated profession. This means that there are certain requirements to practise it. Otherwise, it would be considered illegal. You have two options:
1️⃣Having obtained a Bsc in diagnostic radiography.
Or a Bachelor of science in therapeutic radiography.
To work as a radiographer in the UK, you need to be registered with the HCPC (health care professions council). The HCPC will consider each case individually and will look at the length and level of the training leading to qualification and experience gained working as a radiographer overseas.
Having a radiography qualification from overseas is not sufficient to work as a radiographer in the United Kingdom.
▶️Conditions to work in the UK as a radiographer when you have graduated from outside the UK.
You need to hold a qualification in radiography, The HCPC recognise a range of other countries qualifications but there are condition checks on the quality of training to ensure it meets the UK standards.
1️⃣To do this ,the first step is to register with the health care professional council (HCPC). You can do this online on www.hcpc-uk.org
or give them a call on +44 (0)300 500 4472. However, the best number to reach the HCPC on if you’re calling from overseas is +44 (0)20 75825460 between 8am to 6pm UK time zone.
2️⃣Check if your qualification was acquired in English. If not you will have to demonstrate the English language skills via the appropriate test.
3️⃣Criminal checks to ensure you have no criminal records hindering you from working in the healthcare environment.
When applying for HCPC registration, by law you must declare any convictions or police cautions that you have received (even if they are ‘spent’). The only exemptions to this are protected cautions or protected convictions. This wording comes from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. (registration@hcpc-uk.org)
▶️Documents required to work as a radiographer in the UK from overseas.
Assessing your qualifications by the HCPC
Stages of International application document processing times
According to the health care professional council (hcpc) in the last 12 months the number of applicants who want to come to the UK to work as radiographers has increased by over 60%. This slows the normal processing times than usual.
Before you think of making an application to the hcpc you need to have obtained a BSc diagnostic or therapeutic radiography degree.
The first step is to complete your application. You can do this online or send it as a paper document. Immediately you submit and pay a non-refundable scrutiny fee which is currently £ 639.98, the hcpc then starts to review your application.
As an international applicant before you start an application online make sure you have information in the sections below ready.
Section 1️⃣ – Your details
Proof of identity e.g., passport, proof of address in form of bank statement, driving licence.
Section 2️⃣ – Your qualification
Proof of your certified copy of all your professional qualification certificates.
Section 3️⃣ – Professional experience
You must give details of your professional experience to help the hcpc determine whether you meet their standards of proficiency.
You must complete the HCPC course information new version form which can be found on the www.hcpc-uk.org.
Section 4️⃣ – Professional registration and membership
If you have registration or membership with any regulatory body, professional association or similar organisation in other countries. You will have to mention it in this section.
Section 5️⃣– English language proficiency
The ability to communicate effectively in English is crucial to working as a radiographer in the UK.
To demonstrate this, as part of your application you’ll be asked to provide a certificate from an English language proficiency test that shows your score. Details of the score are on the www.hcpc-uk.org website.
Section 6️⃣ – Declarations
You will be asked to sign a declaration regarding background checks in order to be sure you meet the standards for registration.
The declaration will give hcpc permission to:
♦️ Verify your identity documents!
♦️Confirm your qualifications!
♦️Confirm your good standing and character!
Section 7️⃣- Submitting your application.
Before you submit your application, please make sure that you’ve provided all necessary information and that your documents are certified correctly.
Section 8️⃣- Paying your scrutiny fee.
Immediately you submit and pay a scrutiny fee which is currently £ 639.98 GBP, a one-off non- refundable payment, Then the assessment process of your application will begin.
How will you know that they have received your application if you decide to post your documents?
You will receive an email which will confirm that they have received it and it usually takes 10 working days to review your application.
During this stage your application will be checked for any mistakes, plagiarism and any missing information, you will be contacted to provide any missing detail. To avoid delays it is important you include all the necessary certified documents.
With in 15 working days for both online and paper application you will know if you can proceed with the application process or not
The next step will be verifying and assessing your regulated education and training and any other relevant education, training or experience. Your education provider and any relevant regulatory professional body will be contacted to verify the information you provided in your application.
▶️How long does this assessment process take?
When you have successfully completed the assessment process, it will at this point take a further 3 months to complete any outstanding verification checks.
These checks must be completed before you’re invited to pay your registration fee.
🟢At this stage, it will be a waiting game until you are notified of the outcome of your verification checks.
🟢Once the hcpc is satisfied that your education, training and experience meet the standards of proficiency for working as a radiographer in the UK, you will then be sent an email to confirm you have been accepted for entry to the register and a WorldPay link will be emailed to you on how to pay your registration fee which is currently £232.72 for two years and £116.36 GBP for one year.
🟢Your name will now be on the register, and you will be given a registration number and a letter will be sent to you to confirm your registration. Once you have been registered, you will need to renew your registration every two years.
Radiographers working in the UK can register to contribute to the society of radiographers (SOR), but this is an option though in my opinion it has its advantages when you decide to do so! 🙂sounds good!
Society of radiographers (SoR) Membership Benefits
The Society of Radiographers is the professional body and trade union for radiographers in the United Kingdom. When registered you will be able to access the memberships benefits such as:
🟢They look after your educational and workplace interests when you start work.
🟢They provide advice and represent you when needed.
🟢Provide authoritative guidance on all areas of practice.
🟢funding research grants, awards, conferences and event programmes lobbying government
🙂sounds good!
Source: https://www.sor.org
▶️How much does a diagnostic or therapeutic radiographer earn in the United Kingdom?
The national careers UK radiographer service report an average salary (a year) If working for the national health service (NHS) government hospitals starting from
£ 28,000 starter to £43,000 experienced ,where typical hours a week are between 37 to 40 a week.
It’s important to consider these figures in relation to which band of experience you are on; it does increase from a starting band 5 to a band 8 based on your progression and working experience.
▶️How much does an agency (locum) radiographer earn in the United Kingdom?
If you decide to work for a private health care agency as a locum radiographer, the pay differs from each company, and it is usually paid per hour. Ranging from £20 pounds per hour to £50 pounds on average. This is also based on which part of the United Kingdom you are working.
According to Uk talent.com a locum radiographer in the United Kingdom earns on average salary from £53,625 per year or £27.50 per hour. Entry level positions start at £47,775 per year while most experienced workers make up to £68,250 per year.
Agency locum pay sounds more interesting than the NHS average pay but based on my experience who has worked for the NHS and locum. I will outline pros and cons for both roots. It’s up to you to decide which one to try.
Advantages of working as a radiographer for the NHS in the United Kingdom (government hospital)
As a diagnostic radiographer, you’ll be paid on the Agenda for Change (AFC) pay system, typically starting on band 5.
🟢 You’ll also have access to the pension scheme.
🟢You are entitled to health service discounts.
🟢You are entitled to 27 days of annual leave plus bank holidays.
🟢You are entitled to sick pay, and maternity leave pay, your payments will continue for nearly a full year or more if you fall sick working for the NHS.
🙂sounds good!
Disadvantages
Now the truth is I have worked for the NHS for 6 years, but it is difficult for me to find disadvantages for working with the NHS. The reason being all the cons we face in our daily life even outside work are nearly the same when working for the NHS or locum.
🟢Workload and long hours. Radiographers often face heavy workloads, especially in busy healthcare settings.
🟢High stress and pressure to meet targets.
🟢Limited patient interaction.
🟢Not being satisfied with the annual pay 🙂which can be the case for must jobs!
All these disadvantages are things we can deal with in life if we decide to get help, which is fully available when you are working with the NHS, you can request time off work if you are stressed to work on your mental mind and yet still be paid.
Advantages of working as a radiographer for locum (agency worker)
🔶The pay is better than the NHS on average.
🔶You can choose your hours and availability.
🔶 Regularly moving to different placements allows you to experience different environments and learn other systems so that you always feel stimulated and can be constantly expanding your knowledge.
🔶 Financial Flexibility because you are paid weekly and you can increase your hours as when you want it.
Disadvantages
🔶 The main disadvantage to working locum is that you have no job guarantees.
🔶As with any other self-employed role, you have no guarantee that you will get as much work as you had hoped or that practices will pay the rates that you set, especially if you’re not willing to travel far and don’t live in a central location.
🔶 Not as much financial stability
🔶No feeling of being a part of a team
▶️How to find a job as a radiographer in the United Kingdom?
Finding a job in the United Kingdom is like finding one in most European countries. You can:
⚫ Check job offer websites like indeed, LinkedIn, the NHS, agencies such as globe locums, Medi placements, maxxima group, cv-library and health jobs. And so many others.
⚫ Word of mouth to network and seek opportunities.
⚫Health care nhs hospitals.
After you have identified a suitable job opportunity, you can apply by sending the necessary requested documents and when selected you attend interviews as part of the application process.
Here’s what I wanted to tell you about working in the UK as an overseas radiographer! Do you have any comments or questions please do not insist on asking. I will try to find answers to all your questions 🙂! Thanks for reading my blog.
Written by Juliet Semakula
I love writing articles based on my experience as a diagnostic radiographer (since 2021), I love being informed and I do research on different topics to educate myself and share my knowledge too.
📚Sources:
The Society of Radiographers. As a trade union and UK professional body for the diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy workforce www.sor.org
The health and care professions council (HCPC) www.hcpc-uk.org
International applications https://www.hcpc-uk.org/registration/getting-on-the-register/international-applications/
Radiographer national careers www.nationalcareers.serice.gov.uk
Radiographer average salary in United Kingdom,2024 http://uktalent.com