CQC registered manager requirements (2026 guide)

Who has to have a registered manager?

Under the CQC (Registration) Regulations 2009, a provider must have a registered manager for each regulated activity (for example personal care or accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care) unless the provider is an individual who manages the service day to day themselves. Companies, partnerships and charities therefore always need one. Running a service without a registered manager in post is a breach the CQC can act on, which is why vacancies for the role are advertised constantly and why the salary premium exists (see the care worker pay guide 2026).

The Regulation 7 checklist

Source: Regulation 7, Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

Which qualification does the CQC expect?

The regulations say "necessary qualifications" without naming one. The sector fills the gap:

If you apply without a Level 5, CQC will normally accept enrolment on the Level 5 Diploma as "working towards" — so starting the course before you submit the application materially strengthens your fit person interview. Lift College's Ofqual-regulated TQUK Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care is studied online at £79.99 a month with a 7-day free trial, and the workplace evidence is gathered in your own service. If you are not yet at senior level, the route in is the Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care. See also compare Level 3 vs Level 5.

The fit person interview

Once your application is validated, a CQC inspector interviews you (usually by video, typically 60–90 minutes). Expect questions on:

• the Fundamental Standards (Regulations 9–20A) and how you evidence them in daily practice;
• safeguarding — your local authority's procedures, Regulation 13 and the duty of candour (Regulation 20);
• the Mental Capacity Act 2005, DoLS/LPS and consent;
• staffing — safe recruitment under Regulation 19, induction against the Care Certificate, supervision and training matrices;
• governance — audits, incident analysis, notifications to CQC (Regulation 18 of the 2009 Regulations), and how you would improve a rating.

Inspectors are testing whether you understand why each standard exists, not whether you can recite it. The Level 5 Diploma's leadership, governance and safeguarding units map directly onto these topics — which is the practical reason employers fund it.

How long does registration take?

The CQC publishes its current application processing times on cqc.org.uk; allow 10–12 weeks from a complete application and apply as soon as you have the job offer and DBS. Common delays: gaps in employment history, a reference that does not arrive, and DBS certificates not countersigned by CQC (a certificate from a previous employer is not accepted).

Cost and funding

Registration itself is free for the manager; the provider pays CQC fees. The Level 5 Diploma is the main cost. Adult social care employers in England can reclaim diploma costs through Skills for Care's current learning and development funding (check the scheme's year-to-date eligibility), and many providers pay the subscription directly for a deputy they intend to register. See funding and costs.

Lift College is an online provider of Ofqual-regulated TQUK qualifications; we are not the CQC. Check cqc.org.uk for current forms and timescales.

If you are a senior care worker planning the step up, start with how to become a care manager.