Professional Registrations Position Statement

This statement sets out Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM)’s position on professional registration for the Medical Physics, Clinical Engineering and Clinical Technology workforce. It is written for patients and the public, employers and commissioners, the wider healthcare workforce, and current and aspiring members of the profession.

Professional registration: An independent assessment of a professional’s education, competence and conduct against defined standards, with requirements to maintain competence through continuing professional development (CPD).

Statutory regulation: Registration required by law for the use of certain protected titles, with a statutory regulator able to investigate concerns and apply binding sanctions.

Protected title: A professional title that is legally restricted to people registered with the relevant statutory regulator (e.g., “Clinical scientist” with the HCPC).

Voluntary register / chartered status: Registration that is not mandated by law for certain roles but sets recognised standards of professional competence, verified skills, knowledge and a commitment to ethics and continuous development (e.g., RCT; Engineering Council Chartered status).

IPEM advocates that all practicing Medical Physicists, Clinical Engineers and Clinical Technologists who undertake work that can directly impact patient safety including patient facing activity should hold, or be actively working towards, professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), Engineering Council, Science Council, Register of Clinical Technologists (RCT), the Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS), or others, as appropriate to their scope of practice and level of responsibility.
Where a role is undertaken under a protected title (for example, Clinical Scientists working in Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering), the Institute strongly supports statutory regulation as the primary mechanism for public protection.

Although professional registration for all MPCE professionals is not currently a legal (statutory) requirement, it is usually a professional expectation. IPEM believes that registration represents a vital commitment from the profession to safeguard patients by providing a proof of competence and credibility, as well as a device for ensuring strong and consistent standards of practice across the sector.

Why professional registration matters

• Assurance of safe practice: Registered professionals must demonstrate competence in safety critical areas such as radiation protection, device risk management, and clinical governance.
• Accountability mechanisms: Registration bodies enforce codes of conduct and can intervene if standards are compromised.
• Continuous quality improvement: Ongoing audits and revalidation help to maintain high standards in clinical environments.

2. Professional Credibility and Recognition

• Validated expertise: Registration demonstrates that an individual meets nationally recognised standards of knowledge, competence, and ethical practice.
• Enhanced professional identity: It distinguishes practitioners from unregulated or unverified technical staff.
• Public and employer trust: Patients, clinicians, and managers gain confidence, knowing the practitioner is independently assessed.

3. Contribution to Healthcare System Integrity

• Standardisation of practice: Registration harmonises competencies across difference workplaces and regions.
• Improved multidisciplinary collaboration: Clinicians recognise and respect the registered status of Physicists and Engineers, improving teamwork.
• Support for innovation and research: Registered professionals are often required for regulated research, device trials, and advanced clinical services.

• Clear ethical and professional standards framework: Registrants must adhere to defined standards of behaviour and decision making.
• Legal protection for practitioners: Registration clarifies scope of practice and reduces personal liability when working within approved standards.
• Support during incidents: Registered professionals have access to formal processes if clinical concerns arise.

• Access to senior roles: Many NHS and international posts require registration (e.g., HCPC for Clinical Scientists) as well as access to CPD funding within the NHS.
• Mobility across sectors: Registration supports movement between clinical, academic, and industry roles.
• Competitive advantage: Employers often prioritise registered professionals for leadership and specialist positions.

• Structured CPD requirements: Registration ensures ongoing learning, keeping practitioners aligned with evolving technologies, professional practices and regulations.
• Reflective practice: Professionals must document and reflect on their development, strengthening clinical judgement.
• Through membership of the associated Professional Body, access to professional networks: Registration provides links to membership that provide training, conferences, and peer support.

Which registration applies to which role?

The table below is intended as practical guidance. Individuals and employers should consider scope of practice, responsibility and local role design when applying it.

 

What we expect of employers and commissioners

• Specify appropriate registration expectations in job descriptions for safety-critical roles (e.g., RCT Registration for Clinical Technologist).
• Provide supervision and training support for staff who are working towards registration (protected time, access to training routes, and qualified assessors) including for those for whom registration is voluntary, not just those where it is mandatory.
• Maintain governance arrangements that recognise professional scopes of practice and ensure accountable decision-making in clinical services.

What IPEM will do

• Promote and support professional registration across the Medical Physics, Clinical Engineering and Clinical Technology workforce, including clear guidance on routes and standards.
• Continue to advocate for statutory regulation of Clinical Technologists as a proportionate public-protection measure for patient-facing and safety-critical technology practice.
• Ensure that expectations for professional registration are appropriately reflected in the Institute’s own governance, leadership and recognition processes.
• Support members to navigate registration and CPD through Institute resources (including the Institute’s professional development framework).

How patients and the public can check professional registration

Patients and employers can verify registrations via theses bodies:

• Clinical Scientists - via the HCPC Register
• Engineering Registrations, via RegCheck
• Scientific Registrations, via the Science Council Professional Register
• Clinical Technologists via the Register of Clinical Technologists (RCT) Directory