Post by Deborah Udy Okusaga Akanne (@deborah_udy_okusaga)

A Physiotherapist I know scored IELTS 6.5 in Writing.

Everything else was above 7.0. The HCPC froze her application — and she lost £400 in fees she cannot get back.

There is no "close enough" with English proficiency for HCPC registration.

Unlike some regulatory pathways, the HCPC holds a hard line: OET Grade B across all four components, or IELTS 7.0 in every band — not on average, in every individual score.

A single 6.5 stops everything.

What makes this worse is timing.

English results have an expiry window. I've seen AHPs who passed their test, started their application, and watched their scores expire mid-process because the scrutiny phase took longer than expected.

My rule for every client: we do not open the HCPC portal until the English certificate is in hand and the timeline is mapped.

The application fee is not the expensive part. The wasted months are.

Secure the score first. Then move.

💬 Not sure whether OET or IELTS is the right route for you?

Comment OET and I'll send you the 2026 comparison guide for Physios.

#IELTS7 #OET #PhysioMigration #sovereignstrategy

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