New Delhi, Oct 7 (PTI) The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) has notified a set of regulations to strengthen quality, assessment and transparency in allied and healthcare education and professional practice, including setting up Autonomous Boards and a Central Assessment Committee.
The new regulations also introduce digital registration with unique identification (UID) numbers and QR-coded certificates for professionals.
The measures notified under the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021 provide for institutional assessment and quality assurance, competency-based education and training, and a structured system for registration and verification of allied and healthcare professionals.
The NCAHP has notified the Registration of Allied and Healthcare Professionals Regulations, 2026, and the Autonomous Boards and Central Assessment Committee (Establishment, Constitution, Functions and Powers) Regulations, 2026.
The regulations provide for the establishment of Autonomous Boards under State Allied and Healthcare Councils, with responsibilities covering education, institutional assessment, professional ethics and registration.
The autonomous boards will have 10-20 members, with representation from recognised allied and healthcare professional categories.
The undergraduate and postgraduate boards will facilitate the implementation of standards for recognised courses, competency-based frameworks, faculty development, training and research, and submit reports and recommendations to the state council.
An Assessment and Rating Board will evaluate applications for recognition and Letters of Permission, undertake institutional inspections, review annual disclosures, empanel assessors and assess and rate institutions.
Assessment and rating information will also be made available in the public domain through the state council website.
The Ethics and Registration Board will verify documents of professionals and recommend their registration. It will also support maintenance of state registers and implementation of professional ethics and conduct standards, besides evaluating complaints and violations and making recommendations concerning professional registration.
For states where a functional state council does not exist, the regulations provide for a Central Assessment Committee (CAC) under the overall supervision of NCAHP and assisted by its secretariat.
The CAC will perform the functions of the Autonomous Boards and follow prescribed verification, inspection and rating procedures.
It will comprise 10-30 members, with representation from professional categories and additional representation, where required, to ensure appropriate state and Union territory coverage, particularly for areas without functional state councils.
The regulations also prescribe grounds and due process for removal of CAC members, including conflict of interest, breach of code and abuse of position, with an opportunity of hearing.
Separately, the NCAHP has notified a competency-based curriculum for the Diploma in Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology (D.MRIT) under the “One Nation One Curriculum” initiative for the allied and healthcare sector.
The curriculum was notified on September 30 and will be mandatory for institutions imparting or intending to impart the D.MRIT course from the academic year 2027-28. Institutions can adopt it from the 2026-27 academic year if they wish to implement it earlier.
The two-year diploma programme is open to students who have completed Class 12 in the science stream with Physics, Chemistry and Biology from a recognised board or equivalent.
A key component of the programme is a six-month clinical internship, which will provide students with structured hands-on exposure and opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world healthcare settings.
The internship is intended to help students develop practical skills, professional competencies, patient-care practices, radiation safety practices and familiarity with imaging procedures and equipment under appropriate supervision.
The curriculum covers the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes required for safe, effective and ethical practice in medical radiology and imaging services.
It is aimed at preparing professionals to contribute to diagnostic services such as X-rays, CT scans, sonography, mammography and fluoroscopy while adhering to prescribed standards of patient safety, radiation protection, quality assurance and professional practice.
The new registration framework seeks to bring professionals under a transparent online registration system covering both state registers and the central register.
The Registration of Allied and Healthcare Professionals Regulations, 2026, notified by the NCAHP and published in the Gazette of India on September 15, provide for issuance of certificates of registration with UIDs through an online system.
A person will be entitled to practise a recognised allied and healthcare profession only after obtaining registration in accordance with the regulations. The eligibility requirement includes holding a recognised primary qualification.
Professionals residing in a state or Union territory where a functional state council has not yet been established may register directly with the central register.
Registration will remain valid for five years and may be renewed on the fulfilment of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements through approved online and offline modes.
The regulations provide for real-time synchronisation between state registers and the central register through an integrated online system.
The central and state registers will be accessible to the public through the websites of the commission and respective state councils, displaying prescribed particulars of registered professionals and enabling verification of their registration status.
“Every registered professional will be issued a UID number through the centralised system,” the release said.
Registration certificates, including digital certificates featuring the UID and a secure QR code, will be issued by the commission or respective state council, facilitating identification and verification of registered professionals.
The regulations also provide for interim registration for students enrolled in recognised institutions who are undertaking internships, clinical training, observerships or practical coursework required to complete their qualifications.
Interim registration will be initiated by the recognised institution and obtained from the concerned state council, with no fee charged for interim registration applications.
The framework also provides a pathway for Indian citizens holding foreign qualifications in allied and healthcare professions who will be eligible to apply for registration if their qualification is recognised by the commission or the prescribed credential equivalency evaluation has been completed, along with the relevant exit examination where applicable.
Temporary registration has also been provided for eligible foreign-qualified Indian professionals for specific purposes, including postgraduate or speciality education and fellowships.
The regulations permit temporary registration for sponsored foreign professionals for specific, time-bound purposes and provide for ‘Good Standing Certificates’ for registered professionals pursuing foreign education or professional activities outside India.
The commission is also undertaking efforts to introduce provisional registration for professionals currently practising in the allied and healthcare sector without the prescribed primary qualifications.
Such professionals will be provided an option to undergo a bridge course to attain eligibility for regular registration.
“The registration and payment of fee will be processed through an online portal,” the release said, adding that the move would support a more streamlined registration process and greater transparency in the allied and healthcare workforce.
The framework also seeks to support quality education and training and enable patients and service users to verify the registration of allied and healthcare professionals. PTI PLB SKY
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