Allied Health Professional Registration in Ghana: The Complete Guide

Allied health professionals—medical laboratory scientists, radiographers, dietitians, physiotherapists, optometrists, and others—are essential to Ghana’s healthcare system. But you cannot legally practise any of these professions without registration from the Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC). The law is clear: practising without registration is an offence. Here is how the registration pathways work, what the requirements are, and how to maintain your licence through Continuing Professional Development.

The Legal Foundation: Act 857

The Allied Health Professions Council was established under the Health Professions Regulatory Bodies Act, 2013 (Act 857) . Section 5(1) of the Act states plainly: a person shall not practise as an allied health practitioner unless they are an allied health professional specified in the Schedule and are registered in accordance with the Act .

The Council is responsible for ensuring the highest standards in the practice of allied health professionals, conducting licensing examinations, and maintaining the registers .

Who Qualifies for Registration?

Under Section 6(1) of Act 857, a person qualifies for registration only if they meet all of the following requirements :

A degree in an allied health programme, or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Board.

Evidence of completion of an internship programme undertaken in an accredited allied health facility after academic training.

Passing the professional qualifying examination or other relevant qualifying modes.

Any other requirements determined by the Board.

The Board may also request a practitioner to pass a pre-registration examination if considered expedient .

Important distinction: The title “nutritionist” is not regulated in the same way as “dietitian.” Only practitioners registered with the AHPC can legally use the protected titles associated with regulated allied health professions .

The Three Categories of Registration

The Act establishes three registers :

1. Provisional Registration

This is for newly qualified practitioners to practise during their internship. It is valid for one year. A provisionally registered practitioner may practise only in a hospital or institution approved by the Board .

2. Permanent Registration

A person may apply for permanent registration after practising for one year with provisional registration and after successfully completing their internship .

Permanent registration is valid for the calendar year in which it was registered. It must be renewed before 31st December for the following calendar year .

3. Temporary Registration

This is for practitioners who intend to practise for a period of not more than three months. It is renewable yearly for a period of not more than three years. A temporarily registered practitioner must practise in an approved hospital or institution .

Foreign-Trained Practitioners

Under Section 7 of Act 857, a foreign-trained person may be registered if they :

• Have obtained a primary qualification acceptable to the Board

• Have passed or are exempted from the prescribed examination

• Have a good working knowledge of the English language

If the Board does not accept the foreign qualification, the applicant must undergo an approved course of training in a specified institution and pass the prescribed examination before registration.

Exemption: A foreign-trained practitioner who renders service only for the staff of a foreign embassy or diplomatic mission is exempt from registration .

The Licensing Examination

The AHPC conducts licensing examinations for the registration of allied health professionals . The examination is mandatory for graduates of allied health programmes who have completed their internship .

Key reform: In October 2025, the AHPC moved the licensure examinations from paper to computer-based testing for the first time. The Acting Registrar stated that the change is designed to improve efficiency and accuracy, with results potentially available the same day. The exams are held twice a year—the main sitting in October and a supplementary session around March .

Exam centres include facilities in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, Cape Coast, and Ho .

Registration process: Candidates are advised to visit the AHPC website, provide their details accurately, and return after two weeks to verify that everything is correct. Once confirmed, they receive an SMS with login details for the exam. Basic computer literacy is required—candidates must be able to type their name, click a button, and move between questions .

The licensure exams cover professions such as medical laboratory science, optometry, nutrition, physiotherapy, and health information management .

Licence Renewal and CPD Requirements

The Annual Renewal Rule

Permanent registration must be renewed before 31st December each year for the following calendar year . Failure to renew means you are not in good standing and cannot legally practise.

The CPD Requirement

The AHPC has partnered with the World Continuing Education Alliance (WCEA) to provide a mobile app and online CPD platform for all allied health professionals practising in Ghana .

For practitioners in Ghana: Access to the WCEA platform is free. It provides courses covering all specialities, free bi-weekly webinars, and research articles. Upon completion of courses, you obtain an e-certificate, and your CPD points are posted directly to your profile on the AHPC portal .

For diaspora practitioners: Starting June 2025, a Mandatory Diaspora CPD Subscription Plan was introduced for those overseas who wish to renew their practising licence in Ghana. You must maintain an active WCEA subscription and fulfil 60 points every 3 years, and 20 points each year on the WCEA platform .

For dietitians specifically, the licence is renewed every year with 10 CPD points by the AHPC . The general WCEA requirement of 20 points per year for diaspora practitioners may differ from domestic requirements, so confirm the current threshold with the Council.

How to Renew

The renewal process is managed through the AHPC portal. After completing CPD activities on the WCEA platform, your points are automatically posted to your AHPC profile. You then complete the renewal application and pay the prescribed fee. The exact renewal fee is not published in the available sources; contact the AHPC directly for the current schedule.

What to Do If Your Registration is Suspended or Cancelled

The Board may suspend registration where there is an offence or allegation of professional misconduct, but it must give the practitioner at least thirty days’ notice of its intention to suspend . The Board shall cancel registration on the recommendation of the Disciplinary Committee in cases of serious misconduct .

A registered practitioner must notify the Registrar of a change in name or address within thirty days of the change .

Quick Facts

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Allied Health Professions Council?
It is the statutory body established under Act 857 to regulate allied health professionals in Ghana, including medical laboratory scientists, radiographers, dietitians, physiotherapists, and optometrists.

2. Who must register with the AHPC?
Any person who wishes to practise as an allied health practitioner or allied health care provider in Ghana. Practising without registration is an offence under Section 5 of Act 857 .

3. What are the requirements for AHPC registration?
A degree in an allied health programme (or equivalent), completion of an internship in an accredited facility, passing the professional qualifying examination, and any other requirements determined by the Board .

4. What is provisional registration?
It is registration for newly qualified practitioners to practise during their internship. It is valid for one year and the practitioner must work in an approved hospital or institution .

5. How do I get permanent registration?
After practising for one year with provisional registration and successfully completing your internship, you can apply for permanent registration. It is valid for the calendar year and must be renewed before 31st December .

6. How do I renew my AHPC licence?
Through the AHPC portal. You must complete CPD activities on the WCEA platform (free for practitioners in Ghana), which posts your points to your AHPC profile. Then complete the renewal application and pay the prescribed fee .

7. How many CPD points do I need for renewal?
For diaspora practitioners, the requirement is 20 points per year and 60 points every 3 years on the WCEA platform . For dietitians, the requirement is 10 CPD points annually . Confirm the current threshold for your specific profession with the AHPC.

8. Is the AHPC licensure exam computer-based?
Yes. Since October 2025, the exams are computer-based and held twice a year—the main sitting in October and a supplementary session in March. Results may be available the same day .

9. What happens if I practise without AHPC registration?
It is an offence under Section 5 of Act 857. You cannot legally practise in any public or private healthcare facility in Ghana without registration.

10. Do foreign-trained allied health professionals need to register?
Yes. They must have their qualifications assessed by the Board, may need to pass a prescribed examination, and must demonstrate a good working knowledge of English. The only exemption is for practitioners serving foreign embassy staff .

11. What should I do if my registration is suspended?
The Board must give you at least thirty days’ notice of its intention to suspend. You have the right to respond. Cancellation follows a recommendation from the Disciplinary Committee .

12. Do I need to notify the AHPC of a name or address change?
Yes. A registered practitioner must notify the Registrar within thirty days of a change in name or address .