Registering as a Healthcare Professional In Ireland
As a healthcare professional in Ireland, one of the most important and essential steps you need to take is registering with the appropriate regulatory body for your profession. Not only does registration give you licence to work it also endorses you as a trusted professional who delivers safe and quality services. So, which regulatory body relates to your specific profession? To make it easy, we’ve gathered all the information together for you…
Registering as a Nurse
As a Nurse or Midwife in Ireland you must register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) which is the independent, statutory organisation regulating the Nursing and Midwifery professions in Ireland. The role of the body is to protect the public and the integrity of the Nursing and Midwifery professions by setting the standard for education and providing guidance on professional conduct and ethics. The NMBI maintains the Register of Nurses and Midwives and a Candidate Register for Student Nurses and Midwives – and the law requires those working in these roles to be on the list with an active registration and PIN number.
Your route to registration will depend on where you did your Nursing or Midwifery training (within EU or outside EU). You will also need to renew your registration annually. You can find more information here.
Registering as a Social Care Professional or Allied Healthcare Professional
CORU is the regulator which oversees over 20,000 Health Workers and Social Care professionals in Ireland and the body is responsible for ensuring exacting standards of professional conduct, education, training and competence. It is a statutory requirement that all Health and Social Care professionals register with the body. CORU currently manages 12 professions and keeps a register for each of the professions under its remit.
These professions are: Dietitians, Dispensing Opticians, Medical Scientists, Occupational Therapists, Optometrists, Physical Therapists, Physiotherapists, Podiatrists, Radiographers/Radiation Therapists, Social Workers, Speech and Language Therapists.
From November 2023 it became a new requirement for Social Care Workers to also register with CORU. You can find out more here
Important to Remember:
Once a register opens, there is a two-year transitional period after which only those professionals on the Register are legally allowed to use the professional title. You will need to renew your registration annually.
It is planned that statutory registration will eventually also apply to the following health and social care professions: Clinical Biochemists, Counsellors, Orthoptists, Psychologists, Psychotherapists.
Registering as a Dentist
The Irish Dental Council is the industry body that regulates Dentists in Ireland. It was established in 1985 to promote high standards of professional education and conduct among Dentists in Ireland. The body maintains and publishes registers relating to Dentistry, namely: Register of Dentists, Register of Dental Specialists, Register of Dental Hygienists, Register of Dental Nurses and Register of Clinical Dental Technicians.
Your route to registration will depend on where you are from and in which country you studied your Dentistry qualification – within the EU, in the UK, or elsewhere. You need to renew your registration annually.
You can find out more about registration here.
Registering as a Pharmacist
If you wish to practice as a Pharmacist in Ireland, you must register with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI). This public body was established to protect the health, safety of patients and the public by regulating Pharmacists as well as Pharmacies in this country. The PSI ensures pharmacy services are delivered in a competent, professional and ethical manner and to the highest standards of quality, care, and best practice.
When registering for the first time, the route you take will depend on where you graduated and trained as a Pharmacist – in Ireland, within the EU or outside of the EU. You will need to renew your registration each year and you will also be required to complete an annual declaration that you agree to maintain appropriate experience in Pharmacy practice and keep up to date with continuing education and professional development.
Learn more about registering with the PSI here.
We’re Here for You
Whichever regulating body applies to your role, and whether you’re registering for the first time or applying for annual renewal – your TTM consultant is here to help, advise and smooth your way forward.
