The purpose of the Bill is to:
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● Create a new framework to recognise professional
qualifications from across the world to ensure the UK can
access professionals in areas of a workforce shortage. This
will replace the interim system that gives preference to
professional qualifications from the EU, Switzerland, Norway,
Iceland and Liechtenstein.
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● Enable the Government to provide UK regulators with a
consistent set of powers to enter into agreements with
regulators overseas to recognise professional qualifications.
The main benefits of the Bill would be:
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● Ensuring there is a clearly identified set of priority
professions where there is demand for skills from overseas,
such as nurses and teachers and enabling qualifications from
around the world to be recognised.
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● Supporting our key regulated professions to attract the
brightest and best talent from around the world by creating a
new framework for recognising qualifications from overseas.
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● Allowing regulators to continue to set and maintain high
professional standards.
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● Strengthening the UK’s global trading status, supporting
the UK and regulators in realising opportunities for UK
professionals to deliver services in markets overseas.
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● Improving the transparency around the entry and practice
requirements of regulated professions, such as medicine,
nursing and teaching.
The main elements of the Bill are:
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● Enabling the UK to implement its international agreements
on professional qualifications and to allow regulators to
enter into reciprocal agreements with their international
counterparts to facilitate the recognition of professional
qualifications. This will support UK professionals to deliver
services in markets overseas.
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● Making sure regulators have the information and flexibility
they need to regulate professionals effectively who have
qualified in a different part of the UK.
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● Requiring regulators to publish details about entry and
practice requirements making information about careers more
accessible and raising public confidence in regulated
professions.
● Introducing a new system for recognising all architects who
qualified overseas. This will expedite new international entrants
to the Architects Register in the UK while requiring them to
demonstrate an understanding of the specific UK landscape.
Territorial extent and application
● The provisions in this Bill will extend and apply to the whole
of the UK.
Key facts
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● In the UK there are over 160 professions that are regulated
in law by over 50 regulators.
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● Qualified professionals provide key services, including
important public services in the fight against COVID-19, and
are crucial to the UK’s world-leading services sector. An
effective regulatory framework for professions makes sure
high standards are maintained and services are delivered
safely.
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● In 2020, UK exports of services were £267.1 billion,
representing 46.2 per cent of total UK exports.
