How to apply for CORU registration: Process and Costs

The Health and Social Care Professionals Council (CORU) is the regulatory body for health and social care professionals in Ireland. If you want to practice a regulated profession in Ireland, you must be registered with CORU.

CORU's official guidelines for international applicants necessitate the completion of documentation under the classification of a Section 38 (S38) applicant. A Section 38 applicant is defined as an individual who falls into one of the following categories:

1. Embarking on the practice of their profession within the Republic of Ireland

2. Has graduated from University

3. Currently engaged in professional practice abroad (will apply to most international applicants)

4. Re-entering the profession after a period of absence.

International applicants who qualified outside of Ireland will need to Apply for Recognition of International Qualifications through the CORU website.

The official CORU website details three distinct application stages, each demanding thorough preparation. We strongly advise completing this preparation before initiating your application. The primary rationale behind this recommendation is to proactively mitigate processing delays stemming from potential challenges in acquiring the necessary documents.

The stages are:

• Stage 1 - create your user account. Create and complete a user account online (if you don’t already have one) and then fill in your details. Including:

  • personal details

  • qualifications

  • career history (if relevant)

  • regulatory or professional membership (if relevant) fit and proper questions (see page 14)

  • payment of the correct fees of €410 for a CORU international qualification recognition or €100 for a CORU registration

• Stage 2: print out and fill in forms (please note we recommend completing these before you start stage 1)

  • an application cover page (S38)

  • eVetting invitation form

  • Statutory declaration about your registration

  • Proof of professional practice form

• Stage 3: email additional forms and certified copies of other documents. See the document list below for the list of scanned documents you need to email.

Please also read the guidance on Applying for Recognition of International Qualifications paying particular attention to "The Standards of Proficiency" for each of the CORU regulated professions. The guides are attached to the bottom of the page.

Documents you will need:

Support documents checklist (all documents must be certified as original and then be scanned into electronic format). Documents should be emailed to [email protected]

1. Certified copy of qualification certificate(s).

2. Certificate of Criminal Clearance (aka Police Clearance)

3. Application Cover Sheet (S38) which is a pdf available on the CORU website

4. E-vetting invitation form which is a pdf available on the CORU website

5. Statutory declaration about your registraton must be completed and signed and certified. (PDF on the CORU website). This document must be signed in front of a solicitor or commissioner of oaths or notary public.

6. Proof of professional practice which is a PDF on the CORU website.

7. Certified copy of your passport photo page (recommend jpeg format)

8. If your name has change, a certified copy of the evidence of the name change.

9. Scan of two passport sized photos (recommend jpeg or PNG format). The photos must conform to international passport specifications:

   1. be identical

   2. be no more than six months’ old

   3. be at least 35mm x 45mm in size and no more than 38mm x 50mm

   4. show a close up of your face and the top of your shoulders.

10. A document which confirms your current address.

    1. Recent utility bill (gas, phone, broadband or electricity) not more than 6 months’ old.

    2. Bank, building society, credit card or credit union statement.

    3. Document from a state agency showing your current address

11. English Competency can proved in 1 of the following ways:

    1. CORU approved qualification (won't apply to most international applicants as only Irish qualifications are recognised)

    2. Your degree was taught in English (will apply to most international applicants). Evidence of will normally be a letter from the college or university that awarded the qualification.

    3. Lived and practiced through English. Evidence of will normally be a letter from one or more employers covering a 2-year period.

    4. If you cannot provide any of the above, then you are required to complete an approved English Test. The general linguistic competence standard for CORU registration boards is set at C1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

12. Translation documents (if any of your documents are not in English)

The cost of applying to become CORU registered for international candidates is currently €100 application fee (accurate as of 2023) with an annual registration fee of €60. If you are looking to move to Ireland we highly recommend that you start you CORU registration process as soon as possible. The process can take as long as 8 months and you will not be able to practice in Ireland until you are registered.

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Here are some additional tips for becoming CORU registered:

• Make sure you have all of the required documentation before you start your application.

• Be honest and complete in your application form.

• Provide clear and concise supporting documents.

• Pay the application fee on time.

• Respond promptly to any requests for further information from CORU.

The following professions require registration with the Health and Social Care Professionals Council (CORU) to practice in Ireland:

• Dietitians

• Dispensing Opticians (General Division)

• Dispensing Opticians (Contact Lenses Division)

• Medical Scientists

• Occupational Therapists

• Optometrists

• Physiotherapists

• Podiatrists/Chiropodists

• Radiographers and Radiation Therapists

• Social Workers

• Speech and Language Therapists

In due course, CORU will become the Competent Authority responsible for regulating the following professions as designated by our legislation:

• Clinical Biochemists

• Orthoptists

• Psychologists

• Social Care Workers (will be CORU controlled from 31 November 2023)

• Counsellors and Psychotherapists

The contact information for the non CORU regulated professions is:

a: Department of Health, Lower Baggot Street, Dublin, 2

w: www.health.gov.ie

e: [email protected]

For more information on how to register with CORU, please visit their website: https://coru.ie/

Note: We continue to improve and refine this document based on feedback from our applicants. Please do check back from time to time!