GUIDE
How to become a CQC registered manager
Every CQC-registered care service needs one. Here is what the role demands, the qualification you need, how the fit and proper person test works, and why the application itself costs nothing.
Last reviewed: 05 June 2026
What a registered manager is
A registered manager is the person legally responsible for the day-to-day running of a CQC-regulated service. The law, specifically Regulation 7 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, requires that this person is fit to do the job, and the CQC assesses that fitness before registering them. Almost every care service must have one: operating a regulated activity without a registered manager in place can lead to a fixed penalty from the CQC. The registered manager works alongside the nominated individual, who holds organisational-level responsibility, but it is the registered manager the CQC holds accountable for the running of the service.
The qualification you need
The primary qualification the CQC expects is the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care. You can apply while still working towards it, but you must be able to show you are on the path to completing it. There are sector-specific versions of the Level 5, for example a residential childcare version for children’s settings, and the CQC assesses which applies to your service. The diploma is roughly equivalent to the first year of a degree, and it covers the law, leadership, and practice of running a regulated service. Beyond the qualification, you need demonstrable, relevant care experience, the CQC wants someone who has actually worked in the kind of service they will manage.
The fit and proper person test
The CQC assesses every prospective registered manager against a fitness test set out in Regulation 7. To be fit, you must be of good character, hold the necessary qualifications, competence, skills, and experience, be physically and mentally able to do the role (with reasonable adjustments where needed), and be able to supply the personal information the CQC requires. Your character is assessed against specific criteria, including your honesty, integrity, and any relevant history, and you will need an enhanced DBS check. Gaps in your employment history, or anything in your background that needs explaining, are looked at closely, unexplained gaps are a common thing the CQC queries.
Leadership and Management for Adult Care.
The CQC charges nothing for the RM application.
Usually virtual, assessing competence.
The application itself is free
One persistent myth is that the registered manager application costs money. It does not. The CQC charges no fee for a registered manager application. You will see older guidance and some sites quoting around £148, that is out of date. What the registered manager application costs is preparation, not money: the time to get your evidence in order and to be ready for the interview.
The registered manager interview
As part of registration, the CQC interviews the prospective registered manager. It is usually a virtual interview of around thirty to sixty minutes, and it is not a formality. The CQC is testing whether you can apply your knowledge in practice, not whether you can recite policies. A common reason applications stall at this stage is a manager who knows the policies exist but cannot explain how they would use them in a real situation, around safeguarding, a complaint, a medication error, or an incident. You should know your Statement of Purpose, your policies, and the current framework, the five key questions and the 34 Quality Statements, and be able to talk about how your service delivers against them.
Getting your manager registration-ready
A well-prepared registered manager is one of the biggest factors in a smooth CQC registration. We prepare your manager thoroughly, including structured mock interviews, as part of building your whole business and application.
Registered manager questions, answered
Related guides
How much does CQC registration cost?
The honest cost of registering a care business, beyond the regulator’s fee.
Read the guide →The 34 CQC Quality Statements explained
What the CQC assesses and how the evidence works.
Read the guide →The CQC registered manager interview: what to expect
The questions, the format, and how to prepare.
Read the guide →