HCPC update on advanced levels of practice
The IBMS welcomes the publication of a new shared update from the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) on the regulation of advanced levels of practice.
The document provides clearer information on how existing regulation applies to HCPC and GOsC registrants working at enhanced or specialist, advanced and consultant levels of practice. It also reinforces the role of education, training, qualifications, governance and professional support in enabling safe and effective development across these levels.
For the IBMS, the update is a helpful and timely clarification. The Institute has consistently advocated for clear advanced practice routes for biomedical scientists and has developed Advanced Specialist Diploma qualifications to support members progressing into advanced and consultant level practice.
The update makes clear that registrants working at advanced levels are already regulated and must continue to meet the standards relevant to their scope of practice. It also recognises that safe and effective practice depends not only on regulation, but on the wider framework around the professional - including training, supervision, continuing professional development, organisational oversight and profession-specific guidance from professional bodies.
As services continue to evolve, employers and workforce leaders need confidence that advanced practice can be developed safely, supported by the right training, qualifications and governance arrangements. The clarification published by the HCPC helps reinforce that confidence and supports more consistent understanding across the system. The document also states that registrants, managers and organisations should be able to evidence the knowledge, skills and qualifications gained to support scope of practice.
Dr Sarah Pitt, President of the Institute of Biomedical Science, said:
The IBMS welcomes this update from the HCPC, which provides important clarity on advanced levels of practice and how existing regulation applies to registrants working in these roles.
For biomedical scientists, that clarity is important. The profession has long recognised the value of structured training and qualifications in supporting safe progression into advanced and consultant level practice, and the IBMS has been a strong advocate for clear routes that enable members to develop their expertise with confidence.
It is particularly helpful that this update reinforces the wider conditions that support safe and effective practice - not only regulation, but also training, qualifications, continuing professional development, supervision and organisational oversight.
This should give greater assurance to employers, workforce leaders and registrants that advanced practice can be developed in a way that is safe, robust and implementable, while continuing to protect the public and support high-quality patient care.
The IBMS will continue to support members through Advanced Specialist Diploma qualifications, professional guidance and leadership for the profession as advanced and consultant level practice continues to develop across healthcare.