Disclaimer: Revalidation Copilot is an independent tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). It simplifies the revalidation process using AI — helping nurses track CPD, structure reflective accounts, and organise feedback in one place. Always refer to the official NMC guidance for your full revalidation requirements.
If you're a UK nurse, midwife, or nursing associate, you've heard the word "revalidation" more times than you can count. But what actually is it?
When you're busy with shifts, on your feet for 12 hours, and trying to keep your head above water, the official guidance from the NMC can feel like it was written for someone with a lot more time on their hands.
This guide cuts through the jargon. Here's exactly what NMC revalidation is, why it exists, the 6 requirements you need to meet, and how to approach the whole thing without turning it into a crisis.
What is NMC Revalidation?
NMC revalidation is the process that every nurse, midwife, and nursing associate on the NMC register must complete every 3 years to renew their registration. It replaced the old "prep" system in 2016.
Think of it as a check-in: it confirms you're still practising safely, keeping your knowledge current, and reflecting on your work. It's not a test or an exam — it's evidence that you've been doing what you're already doing, just documented.
💡 Key point
Revalidation isn't designed to catch you out. The NMC says its purpose is to "improve public protection" by making sure registrants maintain their skills and knowledge. Most nurses who track as they go find it straightforward.
A Quick History: Why Revalidation Exists
Before 2016, nurses completed prep (post-registration education and practice). The NMC replaced it with revalidation after several major inquiries (including the Francis Report into Mid Staffs) recommended stronger, more meaningful checks on nurses' continuing fitness to practise.
Revalidation is intended to be more rigorous than prep. It requires written reflective accounts, evidence of feedback, and a face-to-face reflective discussion — all things that didn't exist in the old system.
The 6 NMC Revalidation Requirements
There are six requirements you need to meet over your 3-year cycle. Here they are in plain English.
| Requirement | What You Need |
|---|---|
| Practice hours | 450 hours (or 900 if dual-registered on both parts of the register) |
| CPD hours | 35 hours (at least 20 participatory) |
| Feedback | Written feedback from at least one person |
| Reflective accounts | 5 written reflections using the NMC form |
| Reflective discussion | A discussion with another NMC registrant |
| Confirmation + declaration | A confirmer reviews your portfolio; you sign a health and character declaration |
1. Practice Hours (450 or 900)
You need a minimum of 450 hours of registered practice over 3 years. If you're registered on both parts of the register (e.g. nurse and midwife), you need 900.
This includes any paid or unpaid work that requires NMC registration: NHS shifts, agency, bank, private sector, and voluntary roles. Read our full practice hours guide here →
2. CPD (35 Hours)
You need 35 hours of continuing professional development over your cycle. At least 20 hours must be "participatory" — study days, workshops, in-service training, live webinars where you can ask questions. The other 15 can be non-participatory — reading journals, e-learning, watching recorded content.
See exactly what counts as CPD →
3. Feedback
You need at least one piece of written feedback over your 3-year cycle. This can come from a colleague, a patient (anonymised), or a manager. The NMC wants to see that you've reflected on what others say about your practice.
4. Reflective Accounts (5 Written)
You must write 5 reflective accounts using the NMC's template. Each one answers three questions: What happened? What did you learn? How did you (or will you) change your practice?
At least 4 of your 5 accounts must be about your CPD or feedback. The 5th can be about any experience from your practice.
Your reflective accounts are not submitted to the NMC — they stay in your portfolio. Your confirmer checks them as part of the confirmation process.
📝 Real example
CPD activity: Attended a tissue viability study day on pressure ulcer prevention.
What did you learn about? Updated grading system for pressure ulcers, new mattress guidelines, and how to assess moisture lesions.
How did you change or improve your practice? I now check pressure area care more closely on immobile patients and implemented the new grading documentation on my ward.
From Revalidation Copilot: With the app, you just talk or type what you did and learned. The AI structures it into the NMC format for you. Review, edit, and it's done.
5. Reflective Discussion
Before you submit, you need to have a reflective discussion with another NMC-registered professional. This is a conversation — in person, over the phone, or by video call — where you talk through your portfolio. It usually takes about 30 to 45 minutes.
The person can be from your workplace but doesn't have to be. It can even be your confirmer.
6. Confirmation + Declaration
Your confirmer reviews your portfolio, checks everything is in order, and confirms you meet the requirements. This is usually your line manager, a senior colleague, or another registered professional who knows your work.
You also sign a health and character declaration. This is self-declared — you're confirming you're fit to practise.
The 3-Year Timeline
One of the biggest mistakes nurses make is treating revalidation as a one-month project. It's not. It's designed to be done gradually — a few minutes each month across your cycle.
Realistically, you need:
- Months 1-30: Track CPD and practice hours as you go. Collect feedback when it naturally arrives. Write reflections regularly (aim for one every 6 months).
- Month 30-34: Review your portfolio. Write any remaining reflections. Schedule your reflective discussion.
- Month 35-36: Complete the reflective discussion. Final confirmation. Submit your revalidation.
⏰ The 10-minute habit
Log your CPD and hours once a month. Spend 10 minutes. Over 3 years, that's 6 hours total — less than a single shift. Compare that to the stress of doing it all in one weekend.
What Happens If You Don't Revalidate?
If you miss your revalidation deadline, your NMC registration lapses. You cannot legally practise as a nurse, midwife, or nursing associate in the UK without current registration. Your employer will need to stop you from working.
You can apply to rejoin the register, but the process is more involved, can take longer, and may require additional evidence. There are also fees involved.
The stakes are real, but the process isn't designed to trip you up. Most nurses who miss their deadline do so because they underestimated the time needed — not because they were unable to meet the requirements.
NMC Revalidation vs Prep: What Changed?
| Prep (Old System) | Revalidation (Current) |
|---|---|
| No written reflection required | 5 written reflective accounts required |
| No feedback requirement | Minimum 1 piece of written feedback |
| No reflective discussion | Face-to-face (or remote) reflective discussion |
| No confirmer role | Confirmer reviews and verifies portfolio |
| Self-declaration only | Self-declaration + confirmation by another professional |
In short: revalidation asks you to show your work, not just say you did it.
Common Myths About NMC Revalidation
❌ "I have to submit everything to the NMC."
No. You submit your notification of practice (online form). Your portfolio stays with you and your confirmer checks it.
❌ "I need to do 5 new courses for CPD."
No. CPD can be in-service training, e-learning, reading journal articles, or attending a study day. You probably already have enough CPD hours from mandatory training alone.
❌ "I need a different confirmer to my manager."
No. Your manager can be your confirmer, as long as they're on the NMC register.
❌ "I can't revalidate if I'm on maternity leave."
No. You can still complete CPD and reflective accounts while on leave. You may not meet the 450 practice hours, in which case the NMC has a process for reduced hours. Check their guidance.
❌ "The reflective discussion has to be in person."
No. The NMC accepts reflective discussions by phone or video call.
How to Make NMC Revalidation Easier
The nurses who find revalidation easiest share one habit: they track as they go.
If you log CPD hours when you complete them, save feedback when you receive it, and draft reflective accounts close to the experience, the final submission is a formality. You're not creating content — you're organising what's already there.
That's the philosophy behind Revalidation Copilot. The app helps you track CPD and practice hours on your phone between shifts, store feedback in one place, and turn a 2-minute voice note into a compliant reflective account. It's built for nurses who don't have an afternoon to spare.
Start your revalidation — for free
Download Revalidation Copilot and see how much easier it is when everything's in one place. No paperwork. No spreadsheets. Just a voice note and your records.
Download the AppMore Revalidation Resources
- NMC Revalidation Step-by-Step Guide — the full walkthrough from start to finish
- How to Write Reflective Accounts (With Examples)
- What Counts as CPD? (35 Hours Explained)
- Practice Hours — 450 Hours Explained
- How to Use Gibbs' Reflective Cycle