Registration authorities and smartcards

A registration authority is a function, usually within a NHS organisation, that carries out the identity checks of prospective smartcard users and assigns an appropriate access profile to the health professional's role as approved by the employing organisation.

Smartcards are required to access NHS Spine information systems and registration authorities roles and responsibilities are defined by NHS policy.

Find out about Registration Authority training and the Care Identity Services e-learning materials.

The Care Identity Service is an electronic system for registering and issuing smartcards. Registration authorities use the Care Identity Service to control NHS smartcard access for the NHS Spine's 800,000+ smartcard users. It’s a unified application that provides a single location for all registration authority activities.

NHS smartcards are similar to chip and PIN bank cards and enable healthcare professionals to access clinical and personal information appropriate to their role.

A smartcard used in conjunction with a passcode, known only to the smartcard holder, gives secure and auditable access to national and local Spine enabled health record systems.

We offer and assure different types of smartcard including physical, digital and virtual smartcards. Learn more about the types of smartcards available to access clinical systems, including information for new starters.

Find out how to order smartcards and smartcard readers.

Individual card users should contact their local registration authority teams.

Find contact details for primary care service provider organisations.

Guidance for clinicians and local registration authorities trying to use or provide smartcard services during COVD-19.

Streamlining authentication guidance for clinicians

How to verify identity and issue smartcards when face-to-face contact is not an option.

Remote smartcard registration

Our emergency guidance for registration authorities (RAs) will help RA service providers and registering organisations when completing RA smartcard registrations using video conferencing facilities.

This process will apply when face-to-face registration meetings and the use of identity checkers are not possible during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Making it easier new starters

With thousands of professionals returning to practice, and more entering practice for the first time, it is important that they have access to the critical systems that they need to deliver safe and effective patient care.

Learn more about smartcards to access clinical systems.

We have a range of guidance leaflets for smartcard and authentication users, registration authority managers, agents and administrators.

Download our Care Identity Service guidance