[1] The council oversees healthcare practice, establishes standards for education and training, and upholds ethical professional standards as prescribed by the Health Professions Act No.

[2] Regulation of medicine and allied professions in South Africa began in the 19th century, with the establishment of the Colonial Medical Council in the Cape Province in 1891.

[2] Following the formation of the Union of South Africa, the South African Medical and Dental Council (SAMDC) was formed in accordance with Act 13 of 1928 to fulfil the functions of the former provincial councils.

They are: Dental Assistant Dental Therapist Student Dietitian Supplementary Dietitian Nutritionist Student nutritionist Supplementary Nutritionist Ambulance Emergency Assistant Operational Emergency Care Orderly Emergency Care Assistant Paramedic Emergency Care Technician Emergency Care Practitioner Student Environmental Health Practitioner Food Inspector Environmental Health Assistant Clinical Associate Anesthetist's Assistant Health Assistant Dentist Genetic Counsellor Medical Physicist Medical Biological Scientist Biomedical Engineer (register closed for new registrations) Clinical Biochemist (register closed for new registrations) Intern Medical Laboratory Scientist Student Medical Laboratory Scientist Medical Technologist Intern Medical Technologist Student Medical Technologist Medical Technician Student Medical Technician Supplementary Medical Technician Laboratory Assistant Student Laboratory Assistant Supplementary Laboratory Assistant Supplementary Occupational Therapist Occupational Therapy Technician Occupational Therapy Assistant Medical Orthotics and Prosthetics Supplementary Medical Orthotics and Prosthetics Orthopaedic Footwear Technician Orthopaedic Technical Assistant Assistant Medical Orthotics and Prosthetics & Leatherworks Arts Therapist: Drama, Music, Art & Movement Student Dispensing Optician Supplementary Optical Dispenser Student Supplementary Optical Dispenser Supplementary Optometrist Optometrist Student Optometrist Orthoptist Student Physiotherapist Physiotherapy Technician Physiotherapy Assistants Student Physiotherapy Assistant Remedial Gymnasts Supplementary Biokineticist Supplementary Podiatrist Supplementary Physiotherapist Masseur Podiatrist Biokineticist Biokineticist Intern Student Biokineticist Student Podiatrist Intern Psychologist Student Psychologist Registered Counsellor Psychometrist Student Psychometrist Psychotechnician Student Registered Counsellor Radiographer Supplementary Diagnostic Radiographer Clinical technologist Encephalographic Technician Speech Therapist & Audiologist Audiologist Hearing Aid Acoustician Audiometrician Supplementary Audiologist Supplementary Hearing Aid Acoustician Supplementary Speech Therapy and Audiology Speech Hearing and Correctionist Community Speech and Hearing Worker Speech Therapy Assistant Speech and Hearing Assistant All of these professions have at least one professional title that is protected by law, including those shown above.

It is a criminal offence for someone to claim that they are registered with the HPCSA when they are not or to use a protected title that they are not entitled to use.