Professional Regulators
This page provides an overview of the professional regulators relevant to roles across NHS Scotland.
Professional regulators set the standards for practice and ensure individuals are appropriately qualified, registered, and fit to practise. For many roles, candidates must hold (or be eligible for) registration with the relevant regulator before they can be appointed.
Use this guide to identify the correct regulator for your role, understand registration requirements, and support consistent and compliant recruitment decisions.
Have a question or suggestion?
If you have any questions about the information provided, or if you think additional content would be helpful, please contact the Centre for Workforce Supply at nes.cwsmarketing@nhs.scot.
Share your feedback or ideas
We’d love to hear from you! 🔗 Complete our short form to submit these instantly!
Glossary
Professional regulators are organisations that set standards for practice and ensure professionals are registered, qualified and fit to practise. Candidates may need to be registered with the relevant regulator for their role.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| GDC (General Dental Council) | Regulates dentists and dental care professionals in the UK. |
| GMC (General Medical Council) | The professional regulator for doctors practising in the UK. |
| GOC (General Optical Council) | Regulates optometrists and dispensing opticians in the UK. |
| GPhC (General Pharmaceutical Council) | The regulator for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. |
| HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council) | Regulates a wide range of health and care professions. |
| NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council) | The professional regulator for nurses, midwives and nursing associates. |
| SSSC (Scottish Social Services Council) | The regulator for social service workers in Scotland. |
Explore NHS Scotland's Hiring Manager Centre
