Medical professionals, such as social workers and dietitians, will have to register with the Department of Health under new legislation provisionally agreed by the Cabinet yesterday.
The Minister for Health, Mr Martin, will draft the heads of legislation by the autumn, although the tougher rules are unlikely to be in place until the middle of next year.
Besides social workers and dietitians, the move will affect physiotherapists, speech, language and occupational therapists and radiographers.
There are now few rules in place governing the conduct of such workers.
"In theory, you could set yourself up in the morning with a plaque outside your door," said a Department of Health official.
Statutory registration has long been sought by many in these professions as it would help enhance their standing.
In order to qualify the groups will have to create or improve the operation of their representative bodies so that they are able to investigate allegations of improper conduct by members made by the public.
The Medical Council has the Fitness to Practice Committee, which is able to bar, suspend or restrict doctors from working if they are found to be unsuitable.
Last July, the Minister for Health received a major report which advocated statutory registration as one measure necessary to ensure that sufficient medical staff are available over the coming years.
