How we check physiotherapists

Why the HCPC register

“Physiotherapist” is a protected title in the UK. To call themselves a physiotherapist, someone must be registered with the HCPC. Registration means they have met the HCPC’s standards, and that the HCPC can act on their registration if something goes wrong. The register is public, which means you can check it as easily as we can.

What we check

When a physiotherapist completes their profile, we look them up on the HCPC register and check that:

1. the registration number they gave us is on the register;
2. it is registered to the profession of physiotherapist;
3. the name on the register matches the name they told us they are registered under;
4. the register shows them as registered today;
5. their registration period is current, and we note the date it ends.

Their profile goes live only after this check.

How to check a physio yourself

You can check any physiotherapist yourself, whether or not you found them on Limberly:

1. Go to the HCPC register.
2. Choose physiotherapist as the profession.
3. Search by their surname, or by their registration number, which starts with PH.
4. Open their entry and read their status and their registration period.

If someone says they are a physiotherapist and you cannot find them on the register, ask them why before you book.

When we check again

Physiotherapists renew their HCPC registration every two years, and the deadline is 30 April in even-numbered years. The next one is 30 April 2028. Anyone who does not renew can be removed from the register, so after each deadline we check every physiotherapist on Limberly again.

If a registration lapses

If the register no longer shows a physiotherapist as registered, their profile comes off Limberly and patients cannot book them. It goes back up once the register shows them as registered again.

A lapse is often something simple, such as a renewal that was missed. It does not by itself mean anything is wrong with someone’s practice. It does mean they should not be treating patients as a physiotherapist until it is sorted.

What we do not check

A check is only worth what it covers, so here is what ours does not:

• Chartered status. “Chartered” means membership of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP). There is no public register of CSP members we can check, so Limberly does not label anyone as Chartered.
• How good someone is at their job. Registration sets a minimum standard. It does not rank physiotherapists, and neither do we.
• Training and special interests. What a physio says about their training, courses and special interests is theirs to state. Ask them about it before you book.
• Insurance documents. The HCPC requires every registrant to have professional indemnity cover as a condition of registration. We do not collect insurance certificates ourselves.

If you are a physiotherapist

All you need is your HCPC registration number and the name you are registered under. Create your free account, complete your profile and we check your HCPC registration before your profile goes live. We check again after each renewal deadline, so keep your registration current and your profile stays up.

Listing on Limberly is free. See Limberly for physiotherapists for how it works and what it costs.

If something is wrong

If you think a physiotherapist on Limberly is not who they say they are, or should not be listed, email support@limberly.co.uk. You can also raise a concern with the HCPC directly. The HCPC is independent of us and can act on someone’s registration, and that route is open to you whether or not you tell us.

Common questions