Any program that a person wishes to study has got an organization that controls or regulates the workings of that program. In the health field, that organization is the Health Professionals Council of Zambia (HPCZ). Therefore, someone wishing to study any health program (except nursing and midwifery) needs to know about HPCZ; what they do and what they require of the students, graduates or workers in the field of health. HPCZ has several functions. Here below, we are going to highlight on some of those functions that are important to know for someone who wants to study a health program.  

1. Student indexing – this is simply the listing and registration of all students studying health programs both locally and abroad who intend on working in Zambia after they complete. This indexing makes sure that all students studying health programs in universities or colleges have passed their grade 12 with 5 O’level credits or better. It also allows HPCZ to know if the health training schools are adhering to the standard student-lecturer ratio. Having a record of all health students allows for HPCZ to plan for licensure exams (LEX) and employment of health workers. HPCZ advises students to get indexed within 1 month of starting the health program.  

• The documents needed to index are (1) a filled in Student Indexing form, (2) an acceptance letter from the training institution, (3) certified copy of the Grade 12 certificate/GCE or its equivalent, (4) a photocopy of the National Registration Card for Zambians or valid immigration and passport documents for non-Zambians, (5) one passport size photograph, (6) proof of payment of student indexing fee, (7) Acceptance letter to the training institution or Covering letter  from the head of the institution/department indicating that the student had been accepted and enrolled for a particular health program.  
• At the time of writing this blog, the indexing fees were K250 for a degree program, K220 for diploma and K190 for a certificate. 
• Some training institutions carry out the entire process of student indexing on behalf of their students in which case the above documents should be submitted to the institution and the indexing fee given to them to be paid to HPCZ. 
• Other institutions do not carry out indexing on behalf of their students. This is especially the case for training institutions abroad. In such a case, the student must submit the documents required for indexing by themselves to HPCZ. The student indexing form can be downloaded and printed out from the HPCZ website. The indexing fee can be deposited in a bank account that is indicated on the indexing form. 
• After the verification and validation of the indexing documents, each qualified applicant will be assigned a unique HPCZ identifier (Index Number) which will be linked to the student examination number (see LEX below). A list of indexed students will be forwarded to the respective training institutions. 

2. Training and Examination – the training and examination unit of HPCZ is responsible for:  

1. Accreditation of health training institutions. This simply means HPCZ gives approval to offer health training to institutions that are eligible. If someone undergoes health training at an institution that is not approved by HPCZ, that means they cannot get a license to practice in Zambia, let alone abroad. It is therefore very important to check before you enrol for health training whether the institution you want to go to is approved by HPCZ. Even some big universities and colleges have at times been found to not be approved HPCZ which becomes a waste of time and money for students training at those institutions. For more information about accreditation and what it is, read our blog on “Who says your degree is a degree?”. 

2. Conducting professional licensure exams commonly called LEX. 

• LEX is a test for competency and knowledge of people who have completed health training. No certificate is given after passing this exam, instead those that pass become eligible to apply for a license to practice their profession in Zambia. LEX consists of two components; a written and practical examination. A student is expected to pass both components to be eligible for licensing by HPCZ. 
• The documents required when applying to sit for LEX are: (1) one passport sized photograph, (2) photocopy of the qualification (degree, diploma or certificate) or a detailed results transcript issued by the Health training institution, (3) LEX application form provided by HPCZ, (4) certified copy of passport/ NRC, (5) Proof of payment for LEX, (6) ZAQA certification of the qualification for those that trained abroad. 
• To apply for LEX, you need to have a valid indexing number that you will indicate on the application form. 
• At the time of writing of this post, the fees for LEX were, for Zambians, K1, 100 for certificate/diploma and K1, 500 for degree programs and for non-Zambians, K2, 200 for certificate/diploma and K3, 000 for degree programs. 

3. Health Practitioners Registration – the council carries out registration of health workers at different levels. They also give licenses to practice for the practitioners whom they have registered. Without a license, someone cannot practice in the health field in Zambia. To apply for a licence as a fresh graduate, someone needs to first pass the licensure exam (LEX). After which they can then apply for provisional registration (and provisional license) which is valid for one year (except for medical doctors for whom it is 1 year and 6 months). With a provisional license, one has to work under supervision. After completing the period, full registration is given.  

For more information about HPCZ and to download some of the forms needed for indexing or registration, visit www.hpcz.org.zm