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How to register a private clinic with CQC in 2026

Published 15 October 2026 · Reviewed against the sources below

If your clinic in England carries on a regulated activity, it must be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) before it starts. Running a regulated activity without registration is a criminal offence under the Health and Social Care Act 2008. This guide walks through the process as it stands in October 2026, with links to the official CQC pages so you can check every step against the source.

1. Check that you need to register

Start with the list of regulated activities in Schedule 1 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. For private clinics the most common ones are treatment of disease, disorder or injury, diagnostic and screening procedures and surgical procedures. Some services are exempt, so read CQC's scope guidance carefully. If you're not sure, contact CQC before you apply rather than after.

2. Decide who the provider is

The registered provider is the legal entity that carries on the regulated activity: an individual (sole trader), a partnership or an organisation such as a limited company. This affects which forms you complete and who must pass the "fit and proper" tests:

Organisations must name a nominated individual who supervises the management of the regulated activities.
Organisations and partnerships must have a registered manager for each regulated activity (NHS trusts are the exception).
An individual provider who is not in full-time day-to-day charge, or who lacks the qualifications, skills and experience needed, must also have a registered manager.

3. Get your people checked

CQC's guidance says that you must have an enhanced DBS disclosure for the proposed nominated individual, and registered manager applicants need one too. CQC returns applications that do not have one. Build in time for this, because it is often the slowest part of the process. Recruit and check your clinical staff under Regulation 19 (fit and proper persons employed) and keep the evidence on file.

4. Write your statement of purpose

Every provider must have a statement of purpose. It is required by Regulation 12 and Schedule 3 of the Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009. For each location it records the address, a description, the type of service, the needs of the people you serve, the regulated activities and the registered manager. For each registered manager it records their details, the locations they manage and the time they spend at each. CQC publishes templates you may use.

5. Put your policies and systems in place

CQC expects your service to be ready to operate when you apply, with your premises set up, staff recruited and systems working. In practice that means written policies and working records for at least:

governance, risk management and incident reporting, including the duty of candour
safeguarding adults and children, consent and the Mental Capacity Act
infection prevention and control, waste, and premises and equipment
medicines management (if relevant), emergency and resuscitation arrangements
recruitment, training (including Oliver McGowan training on learning disability and autism), supervision and fitness checks
complaints, patient information, confidentiality and UK GDPR records management.

Map each policy to CQC's five key questions and the 2014 Regulations so you can explain how you meet them.

6. Prepare the supporting documents and forms

Download the current new provider application form and any extra forms you need (for example for more than one location or nominated individual), plus the registered manager application. CQC's supporting-documents page tells you what each type of service must send. Your statement of purpose is always one of them.

7. Submit everything at once

CQC says it must receive all your documents at the same time. If anything is missing or incorrect it rejects the application, and a resubmission counts as a new application that loses its place in the queue. Before you send anything, check that every declaration is signed and dated and every document is labelled. Applications go to the email address on CQC's application forms page.

8. Assessment and decision

CQC reviews your application and may contact you for more information, interview the registered manager applicant or visit your premises. If CQC grants registration you'll receive a certificate with conditions. Make sure your statement of purpose and your services match them.

9. After registration

Pay the annual registration fee for your service type.
Send the statutory notifications required by the 2009 Registration Regulations, such as certain incidents, absences and changes.
Keep your statement of purpose up to date and tell CQC about changes.
Once rated, display your rating as required by Regulation 20A.

CQC is also changing how it assesses services. It has worked during 2026 on updating its assessment framework, but the five key questions and the 2014 Regulations still stand. Check CQC's website for the current position before an inspection.

Wardour templates help you write and organise the documents above. They don't replace CQC's guidance and they don't guarantee registration. Always check the current requirements on the CQC website.