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Allied health professions

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Allied health professionals (AHPs) are a crucial part of the NHS, making up one third of the clinical workforce.

Allied Health Professions

Allied health professions

  • art therapist
  • diagnostic radiographer
  • dietitian
  • dramatherapist
  • music therapist
  • occupational therapist
  • orthoptist
  • paramedic
  • physiotherapist
  • podiatrist
  • prosthetist
  • speech and language therapist
  • therapeutic radiographer

You can be an Allied Health Professional (AHP) from NHSScotland Careers.

You can be an Allied Health Professional - downloadable leaflet from NHS Education for Scotland.

Allied Health Professionals

Return to practice

The return to practice process enables you to re-register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) after a period of time away from your profession.

There are many reasons why you may not have practiced, such as:

  • caring or parental responsibilities
  • illness
  • travel
  • other career routes

We value the skills you have gained while you have been away and look forward to your return. Different requirements apply, depending on how long you have been out of professional practice.

NHS Careers Scotland has all the information you need about the steps to re-registration, including the links to the HCPC who manage the final step.

Now is the time to return and help to deliver safe and effective care for the people of Scotland.

AHPs at work (video)

Hayley Lapka, physiotherapist and Felicity Turnbull, occupational therapist who are part of the clinical team at the National Treatment Centre - Highland (Inverness).

Last updated: 10 April 2024

Next review date: 17 June 2024