The following information is a brief overview of the various elements of revalidation. We have also provided links to the NMC revalidation micro-site which provides more detailed guidance and supporting documents.
You must have practised for a minimum number of hours over the three year period since your registration was last renewed or you joined the register. If you have practised for fewer than the required number of hours in the three year period since your registration was last renewed or you joined the register, then you must successfully complete an appropriate return to practice programme approved by the NMC before the date of your application for renewal of registration.
More information is available here.
You must have undertaken 35 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) relevant to your scope of practice as a nurse or midwife in the three year period since your registration was last renewed, or when you joined the register. Of those 35 hours of CPD, at least 20 must have included participatory learning (activity that involves interaction with one or more other professionals – e.g. attending a conference, taking part in a workshop or attending a relevant training course). You must maintain accurate records of CPD you have undertaken. These records must contain:
- the CPD method
- a description of the topic and how it related to your practice
- the dates on which the activity was undertaken
- the number of hours (including the number of participatory hours)
- the identification of the part of the Code most relevant to the activity
- evidence that you undertook the CPD activity
More information is available here.
As a nurse or midwife it is likely that you already receive a range of feedback, and the five pieces of feedback you collect can come from a variety of sources and in a variety of forms.
It can be written or verbal, formal or informal. It may come from patients and service users, colleagues and management. It can also include feedback from team performance reports or your annual appraisal.
More information is available here.
Each of your five reflections can be about an instance of CPD, feedback or an event or experience from your work as a nurse or midwife. It’s important to think about the Code when you write your reflections, and consider the role of the Code in your practice and professional development.
More information is available here.
You must have had a reflective discussion with another NMC registrant, covering your five written reflective accounts. You must ensure that the NMC registrant with whom you had your reflective discussion signs the approved form recording their name, NMC Pin and email, as well as the date you had the discussion.
More information is available here.
Your character is central to the Code. This requirement asks you to declare that your health and character are sufficiently good to enable you to practise safely and effectively, and to declare any cautions or convictions. You don’t need to collect evidence to prove you meet this requirement – you just need to complete the declarations when making your application.
More information is available here.
As a registered nurse or midwife, you are legally required to have a professional indemnity arrangement in place in order to practise. You don’t need to provide evidence to prove you meet this requirement – you just need to confirm you have the appropriate cover when making your application.
More information is available here.
The role of a confirmer is an important one. This is the person who looks at the evidence you have collected and 'confirms' that you have met the revalidation requirements.
When the time comes, it’s important that you try to speak to your confirmer face to face, as you’ll need to talk them through how you have met all of the requirements.
You should obtain your confirmation in the final year of your three year renewal period, to ensure that it as recent as possible. Where possible, your confirmer should be your line manager (for example, our Nurse Manager). Your confirmer does not need to be a registered nurse or midwife and does not need to be the same person you had your reflective discussion with, although this can often be a sensible choice as it makes the process a little easier.
More information is available here.
