National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions issues draft regulations for Registration
Doctors
New Delhi: The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) has issued the draft “Registration of Allied and Healthcare Professionals Regulations, 2025” for public feedback, with the approval of the central government.
According to the draft rules, no healthcare professionals will be allowed to practice in any recognised category of allied and healthcare professions without formal registration. Healthcare professionals will first have to register with their State Council and then with the Central Register. Once approved, they will receive a Unique Identification (UID) number, which will allow them to practice anywhere in the country.
"Any person who is a resident of any Union Territory or a State where a State Council has not yet been established shall only register with the Central Register in the manner prescribed under Rule 13 of the Rules. Any person who offers their services in any of the recognised categories of allied and healthcare professions on or before the commencement of the Act, but does not possess the recognized qualification, will be entitled for provisional registration as prescribed under Provisional Registration Regulations 2025. A foreign qualified allied and healthcare professional shall be allowed to obtain the registration to practice a recognized profession in India only in the manner prescribed under these Regulations," mentioned the draft.
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The eligibility criteria include obtaining a recognised qualification from an approved institution and clearing the exit examination. Until a separate exit exam is introduced, the final qualifying exam conducted by recognised institutions will serve the purpose. Healthcare professionals must also be residents of the state where they apply for registration.
The draft further stated that the State Councils will process applications within 30 days, and registration fees will not exceed Rs 2,000. The applicants will then have to submit proof of qualifications, internship completion, transcripts, ID proof, and evidence of experience.
"The State Council shall consider the application for grant of registration to the State Register and verify all such documents and details as is necessary to satisfy themselves that the applicant is appropriate for grant of registration in accordance with the criteria set out in Regulation 4(a) above. The State Council shall forward the approved applications to the Commission for issuance of a UID Number. The UID will be unique to each allied and healthcare professional and contain the country code - state abbreviation - professional category number - year of registration and unique number", reads the draft.
The draft allows healthcare professionals to add additional qualifications to their records by applying to the Commission with a fee of Rs 1,000. These qualifications will automatically be updated in the Central and State Registers, allowing them to practice in the respective specialisation.
Registrations of the healthcare professionals will be valid for five years, after which renewal is mandatory. Renewal will only be granted if professionals complete at least 15 hours of continuous professional development every year, totalling 75 hours over five years.
The continuous professional development education may be in the form of attendance at conferences, workshops, seminars, training programmes and faculty development programmes, and only 50% of such attendance may be in online mode.
Regarding the renewal fees, the draft mentioned that the amount should not exceed Rs 1,000. The application for renewal of registration under the State Register may be made three months before the expiration of the validity of registration, said the draft. If no renewal application is received within three months before the expiration of the validity of registration, the registration will be reflected as ‘inactive’, during which practice is not permitted.
In case of rejection of applications, the draft stated that the State Councils must issue a written order with reasons to the applicants who can then appeal to the Commission within 30 days by paying a processing fee of Rs 5,000. The relevant Professional Council under NCAHP will then review and decide the appeal within 90 days.
The draft also provides for duplicate certificates in case of loss or damage, with fees capped at Rs 2,000. All registrations, renewals, removals, or restorations must be updated in both the State and Central Registers.
Foreign-qualified professionals will be eligible for registration only after obtaining a foreign allied and healthcare qualification recognised by the Commission in the Recognition of Institutions Regulations under Section 39(1) of the Act and after an equivalency evaluation, as per the Act. Provisional and temporary registrations have also been provided for certain cases.
Once approved, they can apply for registration with the Commission and may be granted either permanent registration or a temporary registration for a specific purpose and time period.
"Whoever contravenes any provisions of these Regulations shall be subject to the relevant penalties prescribed under the Act and where no such appropriate penalty has been prescribed, then under Section 59 of the Act," stated the draft.
