To protect patients and the public, the GCC has a duty to check that all chiropractors are properly qualified and able to deliver the highest standards of patient care. This page outlines the steps to take if you are applying for GCC registration but have not qualified from a GCC approved course.
If you hold a chiropractic qualification that the GCC has not approved and would like to practise in the UK, you may be eligible to apply for registration, but you must first pass our Test of Competence (TOC). This is an interview to demonstrate to a panel of chiropractors that you meet the standards set out in The Code and can practise safely in the UK.
Before applying for the Test of Competence we recommend reviewing what is needed in order to complete your application for registration. To learn more about the Test of Competence click here.
Important: it is an offence to practise as a chiropractor in the UK without first gaining GCC registration. We strongly recommend not booking any patients until you have received confirmation that your registration has been granted.
If you are a Swiss national, the spouse of a Swiss national or if you are eligible to apply for registration based on the UK-Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein Free Trade Agreement please take a look at our frequently asked questions page.
Please note: if you pass the Test of Competence but delay your registration for more than two years, you will be asked to complete the Return to Practice in the UK programme before applying for registration.
Although you cannot register with us until you pass our Test of Competence, it is worth checking the list of documents required for registration. This is because some documents, for example those linked to some police checks, can take up to four months to arrive.
We recommend that you start your application for registration in good time. All documents will need to be up to date, as specified in the application information, at the point they are submitted.
Please provide a reference from someone of professional standing, who has known you for at least four years. They cannot be a patient, relative or employee.
You will need to enter the referee's email address into the online application so please make sure the person consents to being a referee before you provide their information. They will be sent questions to answer online. The process should take less than 5 minutes.
Before becoming a registered chiropractor, we will need to see evidence that you are both physically and mentally fit.
There are three ways that your GP can provide a medical report, but you’ll need to discuss the best way with your MD. Providing a copy of our guidance may be helpful so that they understand what we need from them.
Provide an email address for your GP surgery when you complete the online application, and an email will then be sent to them.
Please enter your indemnity details online and upload a copy of your insurance policy schedule.
Your insurance must begin before we register you. If possible, arrange your insurance a few days before you want to start practising, so we can register you in advance. This will make it less stressful for you and easier for the office.
Having a conviction, caution or reprimand does not debar you from registration. However, we do consider these to be serious and will investigate to ensure there are no potential risks to patients before we grant you registration.
If you have a conviction and are concerned that it may prevent you from achieving registration, please get in touch with us before you take the Test of Competence.
To complete your application, we require a report from the national repository of criminal records to cover every jurisdiction in which you have practiced or have lived since the age of 18 for more than 12 months in total. These must be original documents no more than one year old from the date of issue and be emailed to the GCC directly by the provider.
If you have ever practised in any regulated profession in any country, please provide details of any regulator with whom you are or have been registered. To complete your application, we require a Certificate of Current Professional Status to understand whether you have had any disciplinary matters against you. Please ask the regulator to email the certificate to us.
You can find more information about a Certificate of Current Professional Status here.
If any of your documents are not in English, you must enclose a certified translation of the document with the original. For the purposes of registration, certified translations can only be provided by translators who are members of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting, consular officials or similar.
Your fees help fund the important work of the GCC to maintain high standards across the chiropractic profession in the UK and ensure the safety of patients receiving chiropractic treatment.
The GCC is financially independent of government, which means that we do not receive funding. We see our independence as an important part of maintaining standards of the chiropractic profession.
Full payment of the registration fee is required in advance of joining the GCC register, regardless of joining date i.e. if you join the register in January, May or August.
The GCC's full registration year is from 1 January to 31 December. The end date (31 December) remains the same regardless of whether you are registering, transferring, restoring or retaining GCC registration. We do not allow pro-rata payments. This means your fee is the same regardless of the point in the year that you apply to join.
Our registration fees are:
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Initial registration fee | £750 |
| Annual retention fee | £800 |
| Test of Competence | £2,250 |
Please note - the initial fee carries your registration to December only and, if you wish to remain registered for the following year, you must also pay the retention fee before 30 November and also complete a retention application.
The easiest way to pay your initial GCC registration is by credit or debit card through the GCC registrant portal All fees must be paid before registration can be granted.
There are other ways to pay which can be found in the registrant portal.
Once you have submitted your online application, we will review the information provided. Before making a decision, the Registrar must be satisfied that sufficient evidence has been obtained to enable a fair decision to be made and that you, as the applicant, have had an opportunity to comment on all documents that form part of the application file.
If your application to join the GCC’s Register is turned down, you have the right to appeal the Registrar’s decision. If this happens you will have 28 days to appeal the Registrar's decision, starting from the date of the Registrar's letter or refusal to grant registration.
All decisions of the Registrar are recorded with reasons. If the Registrar decides to refuse an application, you will be informed of the process for appealing the decision through the Registration Appeals Committee.
