On 5 March 2009 the necessary legislation to bring practitioner psychologists into statutory regulation was laid before Parliament and the Scottish Parliament.

The draft order 'The Health Care and Associated Professions (Miscellaneous Amendments and Practitioner Psychologists) Order 2009' was laid before Parliament and the Scottish Parliament under section 62 (10) of the Health Act 1999, for approval by affirmative resolution of each House of Parliament and of the Scottish Parliament.

The order sets out, among other things, that the HPC and the British Psychological Society (BPS), and the HPC and the Association of Educational Psychologists (AEP), shall enter into arrangements to facilitate statutory regulation of practitioner psychologists, for the first time, throughout the UK.

Once the Order has been approved by Parliament and the Scottish Parliament, the HPC will be able to set a date to open its Register to enable the transfer of practitioner psychologists from the both the BPS and AEP voluntary registers. The Registers that will transfer from the BPS and AEP are defined in the Section 60 Order. Subject to parliamentary approval it is anticipated that the HPC will be able to open its Register to practitioner psychologists in the summer of 2009.

HPC's Chief Executive, Marc Seale, said:

"The HPC first recommended psychologists for statutory regulation in June 2003 to the Secretary of State for Health following an application from the BPS. It's my understanding that psychologists themselves have wanted statutory regulation since the 1960s so this is great news for them and the general public.

"Statutory regulation of practitioner psychologists means that public protection will be enhanced. It enables the setting of standards to ensure safe and effective practise. Therefore the public can have greater confidence that those on the HPC Register are meeting national standards. Those who fall below the standards, including our standards for conduct, performance and ethics, may be subject to fitness to practise procedures."

The Department of Health launched its 'Health Care and Associated Professions (Miscellaneous Amendments) No 2 Order 2008' consultation paper on the 21 December 2007. On 20 March 2008 the HPC issued its response to the government consultation on the regulation of practitioner psychologists.

The consultation set out that the psychologists to be regulated by the HPC are those who use their psychological expertise to offer services to the public. This will include: clinical, counselling, educational, forensic, health, occupational and sport and exercise psychologists.

The HPC stated in its response to the consultation that the independent statutory regulation of practitioner psychologists, by the HPC, is essential in order to protect members of the public. As a multi-professional regulator, the HPC has the necessary experience of successfully taking on new professions and integrating them onto the Register. The consultation response also confirmed the HPC's support for the statutory regulation of counsellors, psychotherapists and others who deliver psychological therapies. Regulation of these groups should be dealt with in a further Order

In 2007 the HPC established a Professional Liaison Group (PLG) that included members of the psychology profession, to work on the draft standards of proficiency and education and training for psychologists in anticipation of psychologists joining its Register.

The HPC has also established a PLG in collaboration with representative counsellors and psychotherapists to explore and make recommendations regarding future regulation.

1. To see the full section 60 Order follow the below link to the Office of Public Sector Information: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/dsi05-03

2. The Department of Health launched the 'Health Care and Associated Professions (Miscellaneous Amendments) No 2 Order 2008' consultation paper on the 21 December 2007. This stemmed from the reforms identified in the 'White Paper, Trust, Assurance and Safety - the regulation of health professionals in the 21st century' and further builds on the proposals for statutory regulation of applied psychologists initially put forward in March 2005. For more information please see the Department of Health website http://www.dh.gov.uk

3. It should be noted that although the white paper has indicated that applied psychotherapists and counsellors should be regulated by HPC, the necessary legislation to allow this to happen has yet to be passed.

4. For further information about routes to registration please see the HPC website http://www.hpc-uk.org/apply/

5. The Health Professions Council is an independent, UK-wide health regulator set up by the Health Professions Order (2001). The HPC keeps a register for thirteen different health professions and only registers people who meet the standards it sets for their training, professional skills, behaviour and health. The HPC will take action against people who do not meet these standards or who use a protected title illegally.

6. HPC currently regulate the following thirteen professions. Each of these professions has one or more 'protected titles'. Anyone who uses one of these titles must register with the HPC. To see the full list of protected titles please see: http://www.hpc-uk.org/aboutregistration/protectedtitles/

· Arts therapists
· Biomedical scientists
· Chiropodists and podiatrists
· Clinical scientists
· Dietitians
· Occupational therapists
· Operating department practitioners
· Orthoptists
· Paramedics
· Physiotherapists
· Prosthetists and orthotists
· Radiographers
· Speech and language therapists

Department of Health, UK