Ensuring expertise to serve families with
genetic conditions
A Genetic Counsellor is a trained healthcare professional who provides information, support, and guidance to individuals and families regarding genetic conditions, inheritance patterns, and the implications of genetic testing, helping them make informed decisions about their health and family planning. In 2019 the GCRAB register was transferred to the Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS). A GCRAB Board Member sits on the AHCS Healthcare Science Registration Council and Genetic Counsellors who have met the GCRAB assessment criteria are now included in the AHCS public register of Practitioners accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
It is only Registered Genetic Counsellors who come under the remit of the AHCS and GCRAB. The Register gives you access to a list of counsellors who have applied and meet the standards for registration.
To view the status of an AHCS Registered Genetic Counsellor, please check the Register click here
Alternatively, to view the status of a HCPC Registered Genetic Counsellor, please check the Register click here
For information on GCRAB accredited MSc courses and the GCRB process used to assess courses, click here.
For information on GCRAB competencies for registration, please click here
Registered Genetic Counsellors from a nursing background may also be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). To view the NMC register please click here
The GCRB have produced guidelines for Prospective Registrants which can be viewed HERE.
For more information on AHCS Registration, refer to the Applicant Guidelines on the REGISTRANTS
page HERE
If a prospective registrant is unsure about their eligibility to register, the GCRB will consider individual cases on submission of a completed Evaluation of Eligibility to Register Form and administration fee.
GCRB Accredited Courses
The GCRB accredits courses in the UK which provide students with the necessary skills and qualifications to become a Registered Genetic Counsellor. For further details on accredited courses click here.
If you have any questions please contact enquiries@gcrb.org.uk
The AHCS Register is a list of Genetic Counsellors who have met the standards for Registration. The GCRAB sets and enforces standards for entry to the AHCS Register, and sets the educational standards for UK based MSc. Genetic Counselling degrees.
The AHCS sets standards for the maintenance of registration and manages complaints through its professional conduct process. To access the standards, rules and guidance click here
All registrants are bound by the GCRAB Code of Conduct and the Association of Genetic Nurses and Counsellors (AGNC) Code of Ethics. As such, all registrants are required to have appropriate supervision and continuing professional development.
Health & Care Professionals Council (HCPC) registered Genetic Counsellors have met standard set by, and held account by, the HCPC. These will include Genetic Counsellors who have completed the
Scientist Training Programme (STP) training, or those who have gained STP equivalence via the AHCS. To read more about the standards set by the HCPC click here
The Sign-Off Mentor (SOM) must be a Registered Genetic Counsellor with at least three years’ experience of working post their registration as a Registered Genetic Counsellor.
The GCRB holds a combined SOM and Assessor training day annually. The aim of the training day is to ensure consistency in both the level of mentoring and assessment. This training is to ensure the process is as fair and transparent as possible for all involved
The SOM must have undertaken the Sign-Off Mentor training provided by the GCRB within three years of the Intention to Register date. For example, if acting as a SOM for submission in 2021 the SOM will need to have completed training during or after 2018.
The GCRB maintains a list of Registered Genetic Counsellors who have undertaken SOM training.
To find out when a RGC last underwent SOM training, click HERE.
To find out the date of the next SOM and Assessor Training Day, please check the Calendar. The current cost of attending the SOM and Assessor Training Day is £50.
The GCRB holds a combined Assessor and Sign Off Mentor training day annually. The aim of the training day is to ensure consistency in both the level of assessment and mentoring. Currently the GCRB is working towards all assessors completing the new joint Assessor/SOM training in the three years prior to the cohort submission date. This training is to ensure the process is as fair and transparent as possible for all involved.
Experienced registered genetic counsellors are welcome to apply to become an assessor.
To find out the date of the next Assessor and SOM Training Day, please check the current GCRB calendar.
If you have any queries contact enquires@gcrb.org.uk
A Genetic Counsellor is a trained healthcare professional who provides information, support, and guidance to individuals and families regarding genetic conditions, inheritance patterns, and the implications of genetic testing, helping them make informed decisions about their health and family planning. In 2019 the GCRAB register was transferred to the Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS). A GCRAB Board Member sits on the AHCS Healthcare Science Registration Council and Genetic Counsellors who have met the GCRAB assessment criteria are now included in the AHCS public register of Practitioners accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
It is only Registered Genetic Counsellors who come under the remit of the AHCS and GCRAB. The Register gives you access to a list of counsellors who have applied and meet the standards for registration.
To view the status of an AHCS Registered Genetic Counsellor, please check the Register click here
Alternatively, to view the status of a HCPC Registered Genetic Counsellor, please check the Register click here
For information on GCRAB accredited MSc courses and the GCRB process used to assess courses, click here.
For information on GCRAB competencies for registration, please click here
Registered Genetic Counsellors from a nursing background may also be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). To view the NMC register please click here
The GCRB have produced guidelines for Prospective Registrants which can be viewed HERE.
For more information on AHCS Registration, refer to the Applicant Guidelines on the REGISTRANTS
page HERE
If a prospective registrant is unsure about their eligibility to register, the GCRB will consider individual cases on submission of a completed Evaluation of Eligibility to Register Form and administration fee.
GCRB Accredited Courses
The GCRB accredits courses in the UK which provide students with the necessary skills and qualifications to become a Registered Genetic Counsellor. For further details on accredited courses click here.
If you have any questions please contact enquiries@gcrb.org.uk
The AHCS Register is a list of Genetic Counsellors who have met the standards for Registration. The GCRAB sets and enforces standards for entry to the AHCS Register, and sets the educational standards for UK based MSc. Genetic Counselling degrees.
The AHCS sets standards for the maintenance of registration and manages complaints through its professional conduct process. To access the standards, rules and guidance click here
All registrants are bound by the GCRAB Code of Conduct and the Association of Genetic Nurses and Counsellors (AGNC) Code of Ethics. As such, all registrants are required to have appropriate supervision and continuing professional development.
Health & Care Professionals Council (HCPC) registered Genetic Counsellors have met standard set by, and held account by, the HCPC. These will include Genetic Counsellors who have completed the
Scientist Training Programme (STP) training, or those who have gained STP equivalence via the AHCS. To read more about the standards set by the HCPC click here
The Sign-Off Mentor (SOM) must be a Registered Genetic Counsellor with at least three years’ experience of working post their registration as a Registered Genetic Counsellor.
The GCRB holds a combined SOM and Assessor training day annually. The aim of the training day is to ensure consistency in both the level of mentoring and assessment. This training is to ensure the process is as fair and transparent as possible for all involved
The SOM must have undertaken the Sign-Off Mentor training provided by the GCRB within three years of the Intention to Register date. For example, if acting as a SOM for submission in 2021 the SOM will need to have completed training during or after 2018.
The GCRB maintains a list of Registered Genetic Counsellors who have undertaken SOM training.
To find out when a RGC last underwent SOM training, click HERE.
To find out the date of the next SOM and Assessor Training Day, please check the Calendar. The current cost of attending the SOM and Assessor Training Day is £50.
The GCRB holds a combined Assessor and Sign Off Mentor training day annually. The aim of the training day is to ensure consistency in both the level of assessment and mentoring. Currently the GCRB is working towards all assessors completing the new joint Assessor/SOM training in the three years prior to the cohort submission date. This training is to ensure the process is as fair and transparent as possible for all involved.
Experienced registered genetic counsellors are welcome to apply to become an assessor.
To find out the date of the next Assessor and SOM Training Day, please check the current GCRB calendar.
If you have any queries contact enquires@gcrb.org.uk
To check the register or to find out if a registered genetic counsellor (RGC) has mentor status
