How to check whether a physiotherapist, chiropractor or occupational therapist is registered: searching each council's register
Where a statutory council provides an online list, you can search it by name for the registration number and Chinese and English name. The chiropractors online list (Cap. 428) does not show practising-certificate status; the allied health online lists (Cap. 359) list only the registration number and name; the registered Chinese medicine practitioner register (Cap. 549) also shows the practice address and practising-certificate expiry. To check a medical doctor, use the Medical Council list instead.
How do you check whether an allied health professional or chiropractor is registered?
Where a statutory council provides an online list, you can consult it on the council's website (separately, under Cap. 428 the chiropractors register may be inspected free of charge at the council's office). The usual way is to go to that council's online list or search page and enter the person's Chinese or English name, or registration number; where names are the same, the registration number distinguishes them. The Department of Health's "Registration of Healthcare Professionals" page lists every council and its website in one place and is the starting point.
Checking a medical doctor's registration and specialty works differently; see How to check a Hong Kong doctor's registration and specialty. For whether physiotherapy or chiropractic needs a referral, see Does seeing a physiotherapist need a doctor's referral and Do you need a referral to see a chiropractor respectively.
What does each online list show, and what does it not?
Different online lists publish different fields; the common point is that all let you find the registration number by name, but whether you can see practising status varies.
| Online list (council) | Ordinance | What you can find | What you cannot find |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chiropractors online list (Chiropractors Council) | Cap. 428 | Registration number, Chinese and English name | Practising-certificate status, practice address, qualification |
| Allied health online lists (Allied Health Professions Council) | Cap. 359 | Registration number, Chinese and English name | Practice address, qualification, practising status |
| Registered Chinese medicine register (Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong) | Cap. 549 | Chinese and English name, registration number, practice address, practising-certificate expiry | — |
How do you search the registered Chinese medicine register?
The registered Chinese medicine register is the most detailed of the three: besides the name and registration number, it shows the practice address and the practising-certificate expiry date (where a practitioner has never applied for one, it shows a note to that effect). To search it, go to the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong's registered practitioner search page and search by name, registration number or address. This register is best checked by the user in person on the council's own website.
What should you watch out for when checking?
An online list reflects registration status only, not an individual's service quality. The chiropractors online list does not show whether a practising certificate is still in force; to confirm, ask the chiropractor or the council directly. For each online list's update date and coverage, follow the explanation on that council's website.
Frequently asked questions
Does the chiropractors online list show practising-certificate status?
No. The chiropractors online list shows only the registration number and Chinese and English name; it does not show whether a practising certificate is in force. To confirm, ask the chiropractor or the Chiropractors Council of Hong Kong.
Do physiotherapists have their own register?
Yes. Physiotherapists are allied health, and the register is kept by the Allied Health Professions Council (Cap. 359); its online list shows only the registration number and Chinese and English name, and you check it the same way as above.
How do you check a registered Chinese medicine practitioner?
Go to the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong's registered practitioner search page and search by name, registration number or practice address; that register shows the practice address and practising-certificate expiry.