A complete guide to the professional conduct requirements of the GCC Code of Practice — what each requirement means in chiropractic practice, how conduct is assessed in fitness to practise proceedings, and how to demonstrate compliance.
Every practising chiropractor must meet the professional conduct requirements of the GCC Code of Practice. Understanding what these requirements mean in practice protects both patients and registrations.
The GCC Code of Practice sets out the standards all chiropractors must meet to be fit to practise. It covers: professional knowledge, skills, and performance; safety and quality in care provision; communication, partnership, and teamwork; maintaining trust.
All GCC fitness to practise assessments are conducted against the Code — every concern in proceedings is framed as a failure to meet one or more Code provisions.
The Code works alongside the GCC Standard of Proficiency. The guide to GCC fitness to practise proceedings explains how both documents are applied.
Chiropractors must maintain the clinical knowledge and skills required for safe chiropractic practice — including keeping up to date with developments in chiropractic technique,
evidence-based practice, and clinical guidelines. CPD is not just a professional obligation — it is the primary mechanism through which the Code's knowledge and skills requirements are met.
The Code specifically requires chiropractors to recognise and work within the limits of their own competence — a requirement directly relevant to scope of practice and referral decisions.
The guide to GCC CPD evidence covers how CPD demonstrating Code compliance is assessed in proceedings.
The Code requires chiropractors to provide care that is safe, of appropriate quality, and consistent with current evidence-based practice. For HVT and other manual therapy techniques, this means: conducting thorough contraindication assessments before treatment; obtaining valid informed consent specifically addressing
the material risks of each technique; delivering techniques within the scope of the chiropractor's competence; and responding appropriately where adverse events occur — including recognising adverse events promptly, managing them appropriately, and disclosing them to the patient under the duty of candour.
CPD Certified — Online — Immediate Access
The Code requires chiropractors to communicate clearly and honestly with patients — including providing sufficient information for valid informed consent; being open and honest when things go wrong; maintaining appropriate professional boundaries; and working collaboratively with other healthcare providers where patient care requires it.
The guide to informed consent in healthcare covers the legal and professional consent framework relevant to chiropractic practice.
The guide to GCC insight and remediation explains how Code compliance — or non-compliance — is assessed in fitness to practise proceedings.
The Code requires chiropractors to behave with honesty and integrity in all professional contexts — including accurate CPD records, honest billing, transparent dealings with the GCC, and conduct that does not undermine public trust in the profession.
Dishonesty in any professional context — including falsified CPD records — is treated with particular seriousness in GCC proceedings and frequently leads to the most serious outcomes.
Completing ethics and professionalism CPD demonstrates active engagement with the Code's trust and conduct provisions — and provides evidence of that engagement in any fitness to practise proceedings.
The GCC remediation evidence guide covers how to build a complete evidence file demonstrating Code compliance.
UK-registered healthcare professionals can access professional ethics training through Healthcare Ethics Courses.
Professionals with connections to Ireland can consult et.
Those with connections to Canada can review pd.
10 CPD-certified courses for £500. Chiropractic-specific ethics and professionalism CPD — demonstrating active engagement with the GCC Code of Practice in both routine practice and fitness to practise proceedings.
Bulk Buy 10 Courses →The primary document setting out professional standards all chiropractors must meet — covering knowledge and skills, safety, communication, and maintaining trust. All GCC fitness to practise assessments are conducted against it.
Thorough contraindication assessment; valid informed consent specifically addressing HVT material risks; technique delivery within competence; prompt recognition and management of adverse events; and duty of candour disclosure.
Sufficient information for valid voluntary consent — including specific discussion of material risks — before any treatment, documented in clinical records.
Honesty and integrity in all professional contexts; accurate CPD records; honest billing; appropriate professional boundaries; open communication with patients; and transparent dealings with the GCC.
Against the specific Code provision most relevant to the concern — whether the chiropractor's conduct met the standard expected of a competent chiropractor in the same circumstances.
An obligation to be open and honest with patients when something goes wrong — disclosing what happened, apologising, explaining the implications, and describing what will be done.
Yes — the Code specifically requires recognition and practice within the limits of individual competence.
Yes — CPD addressing specific Code provisions, with reflective notes, carries weight as evidence of active professional engagement.
Dishonesty — particularly falsified CPD records — which consistently leads to the most serious GCC outcomes including erasure.
Where a patient's condition is outside the chiropractor's competence or requires other healthcare input, the Code requires appropriate referral — including urgent referral where clinically indicated.
All professional conduct requirements — honesty, appropriate boundaries, maintaining trust — apply to chiropractors' conduct on social media and in all professional contexts.
Both apply in fitness to practise assessments. The Standard sets out clinical skills and knowledge requirements. The Code sets out professional conduct and values requirements.
The Code requires ongoing learning to maintain professional knowledge and skills. The specific CPD completed is the chiropractor's choice — guided by their practice scope and any fitness to practise concern.
This guide is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Seek independent legal advice from a solicitor experienced in GCC regulatory proceedings.
