HCPC International Application: Document Certification by a UK Solicitor

International health and care professionals often need certified documents when they apply for HCPC registration.

The Health and Care Professions Council accepts certification from several recognised professionals. Importantly, its list includes solicitors.

However, HCPC sets strict rules for document certification. The solicitor must inspect the original document. They must then certify each copy separately and use the correct handwritten wording.

As a result, an incorrect signature, missing date or separate certification page may delay your application.

Ginkgo Advisory provides HCPC document certification by a UK solicitor for applicants in the UK and overseas. We can certify suitable identity, address, qualification and translation documents.

Can a UK solicitor certify documents for HCPC?

Yes. HCPC allows a solicitor to certify documents for an international application.

HCPC also accepts certification from certain other professionals, including lawyers, notaries, accountants and teachers.

However, the certifier must remain independent. Therefore, they cannot:

• Be related to you
• Live at your address
• Be your spouse or partner
• Be your patient
• Be your employee

An employer may certify your documents if they meet all other HCPC requirements.

Who should use the HCPC international application route?

You will normally use the international route if you completed your professional training outside the United Kingdom.

In addition, your qualification must relate to a profession that HCPC regulates.

For example, international applicants may work in the following professions:

• Physiotherapy
• Radiography
• Biomedical science
• Occupational therapy
• Paramedic practice
• Practitioner psychology
• Dietetics
• Speech and language therapy
• Clinical science
• Podiatry
• Operating department practice
• Orthoptics
• Arts therapy
• Hearing aid dispensing
• Prosthetics and orthotics

However, this route does not suit every applicant.

For instance, former HCPC registrants will usually need to apply through the readmission route. Applicants who trained in the UK will normally use the UK application route instead.

Which HCPC documents may need certification?

The exact document list depends on your profession, qualifications and personal circumstances.

Therefore, you should check the latest HCPC guidance and follow the instructions in your online application.

Common documents include the following.

Proof of identity

HCPC asks international applicants to provide a certified copy of one of these documents:

• A current passport
• A current national identity card

The copy should clearly show your personal details and photograph.

In addition, you should use a current document. An expired passport may not satisfy the identity requirement.

Proof of address

You must provide a separate document that shows your full name and current address.

HCPC currently accepts documents such as:

• A household gas, electricity, water or fixed-line telephone bill from the previous six months
• A current full driving licence
• A bank, credit card, building society or mortgage statement from the previous six months
• A local government tax bill for the current year
• An HM Revenue & Customs tax assessment, account statement or coding notice from the previous six months

However, HCPC does not accept a P45 or P60 as proof of address for this purpose.

Evidence of a name change

Sometimes, your passport name may differ from the name on your qualification certificate.

In that situation, HCPC will normally ask you to explain the difference.

For example, you may need to provide a certified marriage certificate, deed poll or other official name-change document.

Therefore, you should review all names before submitting your application.

Professional qualification certificates

Your primary professional qualification is usually the award that first allowed you to practise your profession outside the UK.

HCPC requires a certified copy of the relevant degree, diploma or qualification certificate.

In addition, you may include further qualifications if they support your application.

However, each certificate should meet the relevant certification rules. You may also need to provide reliable contact details for the awarding institution.

Official translations

HCPC requires an official English translation for each document that does not appear in English.

First, an authorised professional translator should prepare the translation.

Next, you must arrange certification of the translated document.

However, solicitor certification does not turn an informal translation into an official translation. Therefore, you should not translate the document yourself or ask an unqualified person to do so.

What certification wording does HCPC require?

HCPC requires the certifier to inspect the original document.

The certifier should then handwrite the following statement on the copy:

“I certify that this is a true copy of the original document seen by me.”

The certified copy should also include:

• The certifier’s handwritten signature
• The certifier’s full name
• The full professional title
• A telephone number or email address
• The date of certification

For example, our solicitor uses the professional title:

Solicitor, England and Wales

In addition, current HCPC guidance states that the signature should carry a date from within the previous six months.

HCPC requires handwritten certification

HCPC does not accept typed certification wording on its own.

Therefore, the certifier must handwrite the required statement directly on the photocopy or printed document.

Similarly, the certifier must add a handwritten signature.

A typed name, digital signature or pasted image of a signature may not meet the requirement.

Furthermore, HCPC does not accept batch certification.

This means that one certificate cannot cover several different documents. Instead, the solicitor must certify each document separately.

The certification should also appear on the document copy itself. A separate certificate placed beside the copy may cause problems.

After certification, you can scan the document and upload it to your HCPC application. HCPC generally accepts common file formats such as PDF, JPG and PNG.

The Course Information Form follows different rules

A solicitor cannot complete the HCPC Course Information Form on behalf of your university or training provider.

Instead, the institution that delivered your primary qualification must complete the form.

The education provider should include:

• Course content
• Learning outcomes
• Theoretical training hours
• Practical training hours
• Assessment methods
• Its official stamp or seal
• Contact details
• An authorised signature

Therefore, you should contact your university or training institution as early as possible.

In addition, the completed Course Information Form should normally appear as one machine-readable document.

For example, HCPC may have difficulty processing several separate image files. A searchable PDF usually works better.

Our service can help you identify which documents need solicitor certification and which documents require action from your university.

Certified copies and machine-readable files are different

Document certification confirms that the copy matches the original document.

By contrast, machine readability allows HCPC’s system to read and process the text.

Identity cards, passports and certificates may work as image-based files.

However, longer documents should normally use searchable text. These may include:

• Course Information Forms
• Professional references
• Job descriptions
• Case studies
• Employment evidence
• Training records

Therefore, you should avoid password-protected files.

If you only have a scanned document, optical character recognition may help create a searchable PDF.

How our HCPC solicitor certification service works

1. Send us your documents

First, send clear scans of the documents you plan to use.

You should also tell us which HCPC profession you are applying for.

We can then check for obvious problems, such as:

• Expired identification
• Old proof of address
• Missing pages
• Different names
• Poor image quality
• Unofficial translations

2. Complete the original-document check

The solicitor must inspect the original document before certifying the copy.

For suitable documents, we may offer a live remote verification process together with identity checks.

However, remote verification does not suit every document.

Therefore, we may ask you to send the original document by post or attend an appointment when necessary.

3. Certify each document separately

After completing the checks, the solicitor prepares each certified copy.

The solicitor handwrites the HCPC wording and adds:

• A wet-ink signature
• The certification date
• Their full name
• Their professional title
• Their professional contact details

4. Receive your certified documents

Finally, we can provide a clear digital scan for your HCPC upload.

We can also return the wet-ink hard copies by post or courier when required.

Common HCPC certification mistakes

Small errors can lead to document replacement requests.

Therefore, you should check each certified copy carefully.

Common mistakes include:

• Using typed certification wording
• Using an electronic or pasted signature
• Certifying several documents with one statement
• Placing the certification on a separate page
• Leaving out the professional title
• Using an abbreviated professional title
• Leaving out contact details
• Using certification that is more than six months old
• Providing outdated proof of address
• Failing to explain a name difference
• Uploading an unofficial translation
• Uploading an image-only Course Information Form

A document review before certification can reduce these risks.

Does HCPC require a notary?

No. HCPC does not require every applicant to use a notary.

Instead, HCPC accepts several types of certifier, including solicitors and notaries.

Therefore, a UK solicitor can certify suitable documents when they follow HCPC’s rules.

Does HCPC require an apostille?

An apostille and solicitor certification serve different purposes.

A solicitor certifies that a copy matches the original document.

By contrast, an apostille authenticates a UK public document or an official signature for use overseas.

HCPC’s standard international application guidance focuses on certified copies. It does not normally require an apostille for the certification process.

Therefore, you should not arrange an apostille unless HCPC or another authority specifically asks for one.

Frequently asked questions

Can I certify my own HCPC documents?

No. HCPC does not allow self-certification.

You must ask an acceptable and independent professional to certify the copies.

Can my spouse or relative certify my documents?

No. Your spouse, partner or relative should not certify your HCPC documents.

Likewise, someone who lives at your address should not act as the certifier.

Can one certification cover my passport and degree?

No. HCPC does not accept batch certification.

Therefore, the solicitor must certify your passport, degree and other documents separately.

Does the solicitor need to use a stamp?

HCPC mainly focuses on the handwritten statement, signature, full name, professional title, contact details and date.

A solicitor may add a professional stamp. However, the stamp does not replace the required information.

How recent must the certification be?

Current HCPC guidance states that signatures should carry a date from within the previous six months.

Therefore, you should avoid arranging certification too early.

Can the solicitor type the certification wording?

No. HCPC requires handwritten certification wording.

The solicitor should write the statement directly on the document copy.

Do translations need certification?

Yes. First, an authorised translator must prepare the official English translation.

After that, you should arrange certification of the translation.

Can a solicitor complete the Course Information Form?

No. Your university or training provider must complete that form.

However, a solicitor may certify other suitable documents in your application.

Does certification guarantee HCPC registration?

No. Certification only confirms that a copy matches the original document.

HCPC will still assess your training, qualifications, professional experience, English language evidence and overall eligibility.

Can I complete the certification process remotely?

In suitable cases, yes.

However, the solicitor must remain satisfied that they have properly inspected the original document and verified your identity.

As a result, some applicants may need to send original documents or attend an appointment.

Arrange HCPC document certification by a UK solicitor

Correct certification forms an important part of your HCPC international application.

Although the process may look simple, HCPC applies specific rules. Each document needs the correct wording, signature, date and professional details.

Ginkgo Advisory provides HCPC document certification by a UK solicitor for applicants in the UK and overseas.

Our service may include:

• Reviewing your proposed documents
• Checking identity and address evidence
• Identifying name differences
• Inspecting suitable original documents
• Certifying each copy separately
• Providing digital scans
• Returning wet-ink hard copies
• Identifying documents that need action from a translator or university

Ginkgo Advisory provides an independent solicitor certification service. We have no affiliation with HCPC and cannot influence its decisions.

In addition, certification does not guarantee registration. Therefore, applicants should always check the latest official HCPC guidance before submitting an application.

---