About Licenses And Registration
Who We Are & What We Do
The Health Professions Council monitors the quality of healthcare professions throughout The Bahamas and oversees the delivery of healthcare in the country. The emergence of new health professions presents opportunities for health service administration and regulation to evolve while ensuring that guidelines are updated, and the required basic standards consistently met.
The HPC creates a sturdy foundation for the formation of minimum Standards or Qualification; Registration of Health Professionals; the issuance of Licences; protection of the welfare and interest of Health Professionals and the establishment and regulation of a professional Code of Conduct for Health Professionals.
Each health professional seeking to practice a regulated health profession in the jurisdiction of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas must first acquire a valid license and registration.
Period of validity and expiration
All licenses are valid from the date of issue and expire at the end of the issuing year. Each practicing health professional must renew their licenses if they wish to continue practicing in the following year.
Expired licenses and registration
If a health professional fails to renew their existing license prior to the expiration deadline, they are afforded a grace period wherein they are allowed to renew with no additional penalties. The grace period begins on the 1st day of January and ends after 31st of January. Individuals who fail to renew their license prior to the 1st day of February will incur a late fee penalty. Further, if the health professional fails to renew their license before the 1st day of March, the health professional will be removed from the gazetted list of registered health professionals.
Voluntary suspension of license
Registered health professionals seeking to suspend their license should contact the Health Professions Council directly for further instruction
Failure to hold a valid license and registration
Legal action will be taken against any individual who gains employment as a health professional
in The Bahamas without a valid license and registration
Welcome to the Health Professions Council (HPC)
Audiology and Speech
Language Pathology
Emergency Services
Technology
Medical Laboratory
Technology
Physiotherapy and Respiratory Therapy
As of January 2017, there are over 1,000 active registrants listed on the Health Professions registry.
The Health Professions Act also makes provisions for additional health professionals to join at any time.
Historical Overview
Timeline
The Health Professions Act(HPA) was approved on 6th August 1998.
The initial Act outlined twelve (12) categories of professions to be regulated:
Diagnostic and Therapeutic Radiography, Medical Laboratory Technology, Pharmacy, Optometry, Opticianry, Physiotherapy, Chiropody/ Podiatry, Chiropractic, Occupational Therapy, Clinical Psychology, Dietetics/Nutritionist, Emergency Medical Service, Acupuncture
An Interim Working Committee was appointed to draft the subsidiary legislation and formation of the Health Professions Council. Existing associations and individuals practising in the professions identified for regulation were encouraged to provide input and information to assist in forming the legislation.
The Health Professions (General) Regulations and the Health Professions (Complaints and Disciplinary Proceedings) Regulations were approved in 2000. The Health Professions Council became operational on 1st May 2000.
An Amendment Order was signed in 2001 by Minister of Health Dr. Ronald L. Knowles. Audiology and Speech Language Pathology were added as the thirteenth profession to be regulated. Additionally, sub-groups for several of the professions were also identified.
By 2002, there were 200 registrants on the Health Professions Register. Dr. Charles Diggiss became the third appointed Chairman for the Council beginning his tenure in July 2002.
The Council continued to progressand had over 400 hundred registrants. More clarity was brought to the Council’s processes for registration and licensure including prime source verification. To assist in the authentication of documents, the Apostille Process was established.
In December, the Pharmacy Act was gazetted and signed by the Minister of Health, the Honourable Hubert Minnis. The newly established Pharmacy Council assumed responsibility for the regulation of Pharmacists.
In May, anew Website for the Council was the first step in a multi-dimensional approach to modernise the Council.
The Council considered regulating other health care professions(32 new professions) to help strengthen and protect the health care system of The Bahama.
The Council began to draft legislation for the inclusion of twenty plus professions on the Professions Schedule. HPC launchedits new online registration and website platform demonstrating its commitment to maintaining standards and assurance to the public and the professional.
Meet The Council
Dr. Richard Knowles
Chairman
Dr. Juana Rodgers
Deputy Chairman
Dr. Pearl McMillan
Chief Medical Officer/Ex-Officio
Mr. Richard Darville
Member
Mr. Antoine Roberts
Member
Dr. Christina Messarra
Member
Ms. Bernadette Ellis
Registrar
Mrs. Verna Marshall
Office Manager
Mr. H Campbell Cleare III
2002 - 2002
Dr. Horizal Simmons
2007 - 2012
Dr. Richard Knowles
2017 - 2022
Dr. Earl Farrington
1999 - 2002
Dr. Charles Diggiss
2002 - 2007
Dr. Charles Diggiss
2012 - 2017
Dr. Earl Farrington
1999 - 2002
Mr. H Campbell Cleare III
2002 - 2002
Dr. Charles Diggiss
2002 - 2007
Dr. Horizal Simmons
2007 - 2012
Dr. Charles Diggiss
2012 - 2017
Dr. Richard Knowles
2017 - 2022
