Differene between HPC & CSP

[visjig]

Hello,

I am in the UK as my spouse is a UK citizen. I recently finished my Bachelors in Physiotherapy from India.

Before I go about registering myself with the HPC & CSP, I would like to know from the experianced members here the difference between the two organizations. This is so that I do not waste money, time and energy in registering with both the HPC and CSP.

Any inputs and comments and/or opinions would be appreciated.

Regards

[qschishty]

you need to register with HPC to be eligible to work. csp is just organisation help physio in there matters and is their voice. if you work in private sector then they provide you indemnity cover

[physiobob]

Originally Posted by visjig

Hello,

I am in the UK as my spouse is a UK citizen. I recently finished my Bachelors in Physiotherapy from India.

Before I go about registering myself with the HPC & CSP, I would like to know from the experianced members here the difference between the two organizations. This is so that I do not waste money, time and energy in registering with both the HPC and CSP.

Any inputs and comments and/or opinions would be appreciated.

Regards

As the person above suggested the HPC is the Health Professions Council. As physio is now a protected title you must be registered with the HPC to be able to work as a physio in this country. This is the difficult part and the step where your credentials are evaluated.

The CSP or Chartered Society of Physiotherapy is the UK's main physio association. You do not have to be a member and one could argue strongly as to whether there is any value in being a member. The main reason people join is for the access to affordable insurance cover. With no main competitor at this stage they are in a similar position to the Australian Association about 8 years back. Once a competitor came into the market many left the APA and took up insurance elsewhere. I would suggest that the same might happen in the not to distant future as the financial position of the CSP is rather weak.

As we have seen in Australia this was a good thing as it forced the APA to get their house in order and today they promote a strong and well led organization. A mass exodus may be the only way for the CSP to kick out the cobwebs and more with the new millennium

Sorry for going perhaps a bit off topic

[visjig]

Many thanks physiobob for the great reply. You have touched my question to the heart.

So now I can set about applying for the HPC.

Once again thanks for your reply.

[tiger7372]

Hi

Although the question has been answered I feel obliged to defend the CSP somewhat. The CSP provides much more than just indemnity insurance et cetera. It is the voice of the profession to the media, scientific organisations, government, academic bodies, and other heath professionals. The CSP provide essential negotiation and reasoning for all of us when the government come up with their plans for the future of the NHS / health and so on.

The HPC do not do this at all - they are there to act if practitioners step out of line and to prosecute those using the title 'physiotherapist' or 'physical therapist' illegally.

The CSP also have discussion and exchange for members - iCSP (interactiveCSP) where by members can join a clinical group of their choice and partake in all sorts of interesting conversations.

Yes there is change afoot but if we loose the CSP the profession will be vulnerable to fragmentation and we will all find ourselvee fighting for our selves rather than having solidarity and other professionals to support us.

I suggest you visit the CSP website The CSP for more advice. Sorry to burst in with this but if we all did a little research we'd soon realise how much the CSP have done for the profession.

I wish you the very best in your career in the UK

Nick