Quick Answer:
To verify an agency nurse, search the public NMC register by name or PIN; for allied health professionals, search the HCPC register. Confirm the status is "registered" with no restrictions or conditions, match the name and profession to your worker, save a dated record, and re-check at every renewal date and on a regular schedule.
Why Registration Checks Matter for Care and Staffing Agencies
Nurses must be on the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register to practise in the UK. Physiotherapists, occupational therapists, paramedics, radiographers, and other allied health professionals must be on the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) register. Placing someone who is not registered, suspended, or working outside their conditions exposes your agency to regulatory, contractual, and safeguarding risk.
Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) expect providers to show how they confirm that professionals are fit and properly registered. A dated verification record in each staff file is the simplest evidence.
How to Check the NMC Register
- Open the public NMC register search on the NMC website.
- Search by name or by NMC PIN (the personal identification number issued on registration).
- Open the entry and confirm:
- The name matches the candidate's identity documents.
- The registration status is current.
- The entry shows the correct part of the register (nurse, midwife, specialist community public health nurse, or nursing associate).
- There are no conditions, restrictions, or suspension notes.
- Capture a screenshot or PDF with the date and time, and store it in the worker's compliance file.
[!NOTE] Registrations must be renewed and nurses revalidate on a cycle. Record the renewal or revalidation date shown, and diarise a re-check before it.
How to Check the HCPC Register
- Open the HCPC register search on the HCPC website.
- Search by name, profession, or registration number.
- Confirm the profession title, registration status, and any conditions of practice or sanctions.
- Save a dated record in the staff file.
HCPC registration is renewed on a fixed cycle by profession, so store the registration expiry or renewal date and set an alert.
Registration Check Checklist for Your Staff File
| Item | What to record |
|---|---|
| Register checked | NMC or HCPC |
| Registration number / PIN | As shown on the register |
| Name and profession | Matches ID and application |
| Status | Registered, with date of check |
| Conditions or sanctions | None, or details and risk assessment |
| Renewal / revalidation date | Diarised with alert |
| Checked by | Name of staff member, date, and evidence |
Common Mistakes Agencies Make
- Accepting a PIN without searching the register. A number on a CV is not verification.
- One-off checks. Status can change. Check at onboarding, before renewal dates, and periodically.
- Not checking conditions. A person may be registered but restricted in what they can do.
- Checking the wrong register. A nursing associate, nurse, and midwife appear differently on the NMC register.
- No evidence retained. If it is not recorded, an inspector cannot see that you checked.
These checks sit alongside Enhanced DBS, right-to-work, references, and training records. See our guide to the care agency compliance guide and the CQC mock inspection guide for the full staff-file standard.
How AsanWork Helps Automate Registration Monitoring
With AsanWork compliance software and compliance management tools, you can:
- Store registration numbers, renewal dates, and evidence against each worker.
- Receive expiry alerts before registrations or checks lapse.
- Block shifts being offered to staff whose compliance has expired.
- Produce an audit-ready staff file for inspections in minutes.
Use our free CQC Compliance Checklist to review the rest of your staff-file process.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if a nurse is registered with the NMC?
Search the public NMC register online by name or PIN, confirm the entry matches the nurse's identity, check the status and any restrictions, and save a dated record.
How do I check HCPC registration?
Use the HCPC register search by name, profession, or number. Confirm status and conditions, and record the check in the staff file.
How often should agencies re-check registration?
At onboarding, before each recorded renewal or revalidation date, and on a regular schedule set in your policy. Many agencies use automated alerts.
Is a registration check enough to place agency staff?
No. You also need identity, right-to-work, an Enhanced DBS check, references, training evidence, and any role-specific competency checks.
[!TIP] Stop chasing registration dates in spreadsheets.
See how AsanWork's care agency software tracks registrations and alerts you in advance. Book a Live 15-Minute Demo.