To establish the Health Professions Council of South Africa; to provide for control over the training, registration and practices of practitioners of health professions; and to provide for matters incidental thereto.

Latest developments:

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974), has been updated with Amendments to the Rules - insertions to Rules 2 and 3 under Board Notice 35 of 1999, as per Board Notice 687 of GG51256, dated 8 November 2024.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974), has been updated with the Regulations relating to the Qualifications for Registration of Medical Orthotists and Prosthetists, as per Notice No. 5365 of GG51352, dated 4 October 2024.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974), has been updated with the Regulations Defining the Scope of the Profession of Orthopaedic Footwear Technicians, as per Notice No. 5363 of GG51352, dated 4 October 2024.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974), has been updated with the Regulations relating to the Registration by Dental Therapists and Oral Hygienists of Additional Qualifications, as per Notice No. 5362 of GG51352, dated 4 October 2024.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974), has been updated with the Repeal of Notice 4407 of 2024 and new Regulations Defining the Scope of the Profession of Dietitians, 2024, as per Notice No. 2985 of GG50840, dated 21 June 2024.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974), has been updated with the Amendment to Regulation 2 of the Regulations relating to the Names that may not be used in relation to the Profession of Optometry under N1212 of 2004, as per Notice No. 4499 of GG50292, dated 15 March 2024.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974), has been updated with Regulations Defining the Scope of the Profession of Dietitians, 2024, as per Notice No. 4407 of GG50164, dated 23 February 2024.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974), has been updated with the Repeal of Notice No. 3562, GG48838, dated 23 June 2023 and new Regulations Relating to the Names that May Not be Used in Relation to the Profession of Dietetics or Nutrition, 2023, as per Notice No. 3972 of GG49518, dated 20 October 2023.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974), has been updated with Regulations Relating to the Names that May Not be Used is Relation to the Profession of Dietetics or Nutrition, 2023, as per Notice No. R3562 of GG48838, dated 23 June 2023.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974), has been updated with Regulations Defining the Scope of the Profession of Clinical Technology, 2023, as per Notice No. 3510 of GG48758, dated 9 June 2023.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974), has been updated with Regulations relating to the Registration of Technicians in Clinical Technology, 2023, as per Notice No. 3460 of GG48660, dated 26 May 2023.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974), has been updated with Regulations relating to the Qualifications for Registration of Arts Therapists, 2023, as per Notice No. R. 3103 of GG48158, dated 3 March 2023.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974), has been updated with Annual fees payable by registered practitioners, as per Board Notice 399 of GG48035, dated 13 February 2023.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974), has been updated with Rules relating to Fees Payable to Council, as per Board Notice 398 of GG48035, dated 13 February 2023.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974), has been updated with Amendments to Rules under BN35 of 1999: Rules relating to the Registration by Medical Practitioners and Dentists of Additional Qualifications, as per Board Notice 363 of GG47489, dated 11 November 2022.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974), has been updated with Regulations relating to the Qualifications for the Registration of Dispensing Opticians, 2022, as per Notice No. 2633 of GG47302, dated 14 October 2022.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974), has been updated with Regulations relating to the Qualifications for the Registration of Optometrists, 2022, as per Notice No. 2554 of GG46991, dated 30 September 2022.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974), has been updated with the Repeal of Rules for the Registration of Audiometricians, as per Board Notice 325 of GG46884, dated 9 September 2022.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974), has been updated with the Repeal of Rules for the Registration of Speech and Hearing Correctionists, as per Board Notice 324 of GG46884, dated 9 September 2022.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974), has been updated with Rules relating to Fees Payable to Council, as per Board Notice 235 of GG46237, dated 14 April 2022.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974), has been updated with Annual Fees payable by Registered Practitioners, as per Board Notice 234 of GG46236, dated 14 April 2022.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974), has been updated with Regulations relating to the Registration of Forensic Pathology Officers, 2021, as per Notice No. 1927 of GG46088, dated 25 March 2022.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974), has been updated with Amendments to Rule 2(b) of Board Notice 35 of 1999, as per Board Notice 224 of GG 46032, dated 11 March 2022.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974) has been updated by the publication of Regulations relating to the Qualifications for the Registration of Dispensing Opticians, as per Board Notices 664 of GG 44908, dated 30 July 2021.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974) has been updated by the publication of Regulations to the Constitution of the Professional Board for Emergency Care Practitioners, as per Notices 642 of GG 44881, dated 23 July 2021.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974) has been updated by Board Notices Repealing the Rules for the Registration of Speech and Hearing Correctionists, as per Board Notices 76 of GG 44857, dated 15 July 2021.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974) has been updated by Board Notices Repealing the Rules for the Registration of Speech and Hearing Assistants (BN51) as well as the repealing of the Rules for the Registration of Community Speech and Hearing Workers (BN52), as per Board Notices 51 and 52 of GG 44636, dated 28 May 2021.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974) has been updated by Board Notices relating to the Rules relating to fees payable to Council, amending Board Notice 11, as per GG 43145, per Board Notice No. 49 dated 27 March 2020.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974) regulations have been updated amending Regulation R590 of 2001,relating to the Specialties and sub-specialties in Medicine and Dentistry, as per GG 43145, per Notice 376 dated 27 March 2020.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974) has been updated by Board Notices relating to the Rules relating to fees payable to Council, as per GG 43024, Board Notices No. 10 and 11 dated 17 February 2020.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974) has been updated by Board Notices relating to the Rules relating to fees payable to Council, as per GG 42240, Notice No. 21 dated 22 February 2019.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974) has been updated by Board Notices, Rules for the Registration of Orthoptists : Repeal, as per GG 41445, Notice No. 19 dated 16 February 2018.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974) has been amended by Regulations Defining the Scope of the Profession of Speech-Language Therapy, Notice No. 1459, Government Gazette 41350, dated 22 December 2017.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974) has been updated by Board Notices, List of Classified and Certified Psychological Tests as per GG 41100,  Board Notice 155 of 2017, dated 8 September 2017.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974) has been amended by Regulations Relating to the Scope of Practice of Profession of Oral Hygiene, Notice No. 713, Government Gazette 40996, dated 21 July 2017.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974) has been amended by Regulations Relating to the Registration of Audiology Students, Notice No. 329, dated 7 April 2017.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974) regulations have been updated amending Regulation R590 of 2001,relating to the Specialties and subspecialties in Medicine and Dentistry, as per GG 40243, per Regulation R971 dated 2 September 2016.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974) has been amended by Government Gazette 35773, dated 9 October 2012 – Notice R. 827; Regulations relating to Students as registered Counsellors.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974) regulations have been updated amending Regulation R590 of 2001,relating to the Specialties and subspecialties in Medicine and Dentistry, as per GG 35612, per Regulation R645 dated 22 August 2012.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974) has been amended by;

Government Gazette 35517, dated 20 July 2012 – Board Notice 122; Rules Relating to the Registration by Medical Practitioners and Dentists of Additional Qualifications: Amendment

Government Gazette 35353 dated 15 May 2012 – Notice R.390; Regulations Relating to the Registration by Medical Technicians in the Category Immunology

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974) has been updated by:

Government Gazette 35362 dated 21 May 2012 - Notice R.394; Regulations relating to the Registration of Intern Psychologists

Government Gazette 35363 dated 21 May 2012 - Notice R.395; Regulations relating to the Registration of Student Dental Assistants: Amendment

Government Gazette 35364 dated 21 May 2012 - Notice R.396; Regulations relating to the Registration of Dental Assistants

Government Gazette 35367 dated 21 May 2012 - Notice R.399; Regulations relating to the Registration of Medical Technicians in the Category Tuberculosis (Bacterium)

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974) Government Gazette 35296 dated 4 May 2012 – Board Notice 78; Rules Relating to Fees Payable to Council

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974) has now been updated from 1998 up to 2008 and amended by notice 803 from Government Gazette 34632 – Amendment to Act

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974) regulations have been updated relating to the Specialties and subspecialties in Medicine and Dentistry, as per GG 22420, per Regulation R590 dated 29 June 2001.

The Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974) has been added to the site, and amended up to 1998.