New rules require all allied health workers to register for unique ID before practice

New Registration Rules

All allied and healthcare professionals across India must now register in State and Central registers to practise their chosen fields. The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare notified the new regulations on August 31, 2026. These rules cover 57 vocations across 10 broad disciplines, including physiotherapists, dietitians, lab technologists, and forensic psychologists. Professionals will receive a digital certificate featuring a Unique Identification number and a secure QR code through a dedicated online portal. Practising without registration carries a jail term of six months up to two years under the NCAHP Act-21.

Practising and Foreign Rules

NCAHP chairperson Dr. Yagna Unmesh Shukla stated that the system brings uniformity and separates qualified professionals from non-qualified ones. Registered workers can practise in a different state by informing their home state, and they can also obtain a Good Standing Certificate to pursue foreign education or jobs. Foreign-qualified Indian professionals can apply for registration if their qualification is recognised or through equivalency evaluation and exit exams, while temporary registration is available for specific time-bound purposes. Registrations remain valid for five years and require renewal by completing 15 hours per year of Continuing Professional Development. Workers lacking primary qualifications can get provisional registration by taking a bridge course, and students doing internships can get free interim registration.