New Delhi, Nov 11: The Centre has proposed a new regulatory framework to govern the provisional registration of allied and healthcare professionals, linking professional recognition to verified qualifications, competency assessments and prescribed training requirements. The proposed rules seek to establish uniform registration standards across States and Union Territories while providing eligible practitioners a defined route to secure regular registration through additional training and examinations.
The draft regulations, framed by the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, seek to bring greater consistency and accountability to the registration process under the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021.
Under the proposed system, applicants would have to meet specified eligibility conditions and undergo verification of their educational credentials before receiving provisional registration. The framework lays down procedures for assessing applications and determining eligibility, with professional recognition tied to statutory requirements and prescribed competency standards.
A significant provision in the draft allows provisionally registered professionals to improve their qualifications and skills through designated bridge courses. Depending on the applicable requirements, candidates may also have to complete supervised clinical training and clear minimum qualifying examinations before becoming eligible for regular registration.
The proposed pathway is intended to address differences in professional qualifications and competencies through a structured process rather than granting automatic regular registration. It also establishes a framework for assessing whether applicants have met the requirements necessary for full professional recognition.
The regulations place competency assessment and continued skill development at the centre of professional progression. An official statement said the proposed approach would support professional development and career advancement while seeking to strengthen the quality of allied and healthcare services.
The registration process is also expected to undergo digitisation through an integrated online system. Under the draft, applicants would be able to submit applications, undergo credential verification and eligibility assessment, and receive provisional registration certificates through the proposed digital mechanism.
Professionals granted provisional registration would be assigned a Provisional Registration Unique Identification Number (PR UID). The identification system would enable authorities to maintain a structured record of registered practitioners and facilitate regulatory monitoring.
The proposed online mechanism is intended to make registration procedures more accessible while improving transparency, administrative efficiency and consistency in the handling of applications across the country.
The NCAHP has invited members of the public and stakeholders to submit comments and suggestions on the Draft Provisional Registration of Allied and Healthcare Professionals Regulations, 2026, by December 4.
The proposed framework is currently at the draft stage, with the public consultation process providing an opportunity to submit feedback before the regulations are finalised.
