CQC Registration Guide for New Providers 2026
Before you can provide regulated care services in England, you must be registered with the Care Quality Commission. This guide walks you through the entire process — what you need, how to apply, how long it takes, and the most common reasons applications fail.
Do You Need to Register?
You must register with CQC if you provide any of the following regulated activities:
- Personal care (washing, dressing, administering medicines)
- Accommodation for people who need nursing or personal care
- Treatment of disease, disorder, or injury
- Diagnostic or screening procedures
- Surgical procedures
- Nursing care
- Family planning services
The most common regulated activities for adult social care providers are personal care (domiciliary care agencies) and accommodation for people who need personal care (care homes).
Providing a regulated activity without being registered with CQC is a criminal offence. You must be registered before you start providing care — not during or after.
What You Need Before You Apply
CQC will assess both the provider organisation and the individuals running it. Before starting your application, you need:
For the provider
- Legal entity set up (limited company, partnership, or sole trader)
- Statement of Purpose written (describes your service, aims, and regulated activities)
- Premises identified and ready (for location-based services)
- Policies and procedures drafted
- Business plan and financial projections
- Insurance in place (employers' liability, public liability)
For individuals (Nominated Individual and Registered Manager)
Both individuals will be assessed against the fit and proper person requirement — this is where most of the documents below are actually used.
- Enhanced DBS certificate (no more than 3 months old)
- References (professional and character)
- Evidence of qualifications and experience
- Proof of identity and right to work in the UK
- Disclosure of any previous CQC registrations or enforcement action
The Registration Process — Step by Step
Create a CQC provider account
Go to cqc.org.uk and create a provider account. This is separate from any personal CQC accounts. You'll use this portal for the entire application and ongoing management.
Complete the provider application
Fill in details about your organisation, the regulated activities you want to provide, the locations you'll operate from, and your business structure. You'll also need to declare any past enforcement action or criminal convictions.
Complete the Nominated Individual application
The Nominated Individual (NI) is the person legally responsible for the quality of care. They must be a director, manager, or secretary of the provider organisation. A separate personal application is required.
Apply for a Registered Manager
Most regulated activities also require a Registered Manager — the person responsible for day-to-day management. This can be the same person as the NI, or a different individual. They must apply separately.
Pay the registration fee
CQC charges an annual registration fee based on your income. For new providers with no income yet, the minimum fee applies. Fees are paid through the provider portal.
CQC assessment
CQC will review your application, check references, and may conduct a pre-registration inspection or interview. They assess whether you are fit to provide care safely.
Decision and registration
CQC will either grant registration, propose to refuse, or ask for more information. If granted, you'll receive a Certificate of Registration and can begin providing care.
CQC aims to process registration applications within 10 weeks, but complex applications or those requiring additional information can take longer. Plan for 3–6 months from start to finish, especially if you need to set up premises and recruit staff first.
Registration Fees 2026
| Annual income | Annual fee |
|---|---|
| No income / new provider | £1,093 (minimum) |
| Up to £74,999 | £1,093 |
| £75,000 – £349,999 | £2,186 |
| £350,000 – £999,999 | £4,371 |
| £1m – £4,999,999 | £8,742 |
| £5m+ | £13,113 |
Fees are subject to change — always check cqc.org.uk for current rates.
Common Reasons Applications Are Rejected
CQC can refuse registration if they are not satisfied that you are fit to provide regulated care. Common reasons include:
- Insufficient experience — the proposed Registered Manager lacks relevant care experience
- Financial concerns — evidence that the business is not financially viable
- Previous enforcement — undisclosed past CQC action or criminal convictions
- Inadequate policies — policies that don't meet regulatory requirements
- Poor Statement of Purpose — vague or incomplete description of the service
- References concerns — poor or unverifiable references for key individuals
Nominated Individual vs Registered Manager — What's the Difference?
| Nominated Individual | Registered Manager | |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Legally responsible for quality and compliance | Day-to-day management of the service |
| Who | Must be a director, manager, or secretary of the provider | Can be any suitably qualified individual |
| Registration | Registered as part of the provider application | Separate personal registration with CQC |
| Same person? | Yes — one person can hold both roles | |
Questions about CQC registration?
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Ask a question — from £2.50 →After Registration — What Happens Next?
Once registered, your obligations begin immediately:
- Display your Certificate of Registration prominently
- Notify CQC of any notifiable events (deaths, serious injuries, abuse)
- Notify CQC of any changes to your registration details within 28 days
- Prepare for your first inspection — CQC may inspect within the first year
- Pay your annual registration fee each year
- Maintain your Statement of Purpose and keep it current
Registration is not a one-off task — it's an ongoing relationship with CQC that requires active management throughout the life of your service.