NMC Revalidation Checklist 2025: Everything You Need to Revalidate Successfully

Your Complete NMC Revalidation Checklist

Revalidating with the Nursing and Midwifery Council every three years is essential for maintaining your registration. This comprehensive checklist ensures you have everything you need to revalidate successfully and avoid last-minute stress.

Understanding NMC Revalidation

NMC revalidation is the process all nurses and midwives must complete every three years to renew their registration. It demonstrates that you're keeping your skills and knowledge up to date and practising safely and effectively.

When Do You Need to Revalidate?

Your revalidation date is exactly three years from your initial registration or your last revalidation. You can find your revalidation date by logging into your NMC Online account. The NMC will send you reminders 60 days before your deadline.

The Five Revalidation Requirements

1. Practice Hours: 450 Hours Over Three Years

What you need:

• 450 hours of registered practice in the last three years
• Practice must be relevant to your scope of practice
• Can include paid or voluntary work
• Must be in a role that requires NMC registration

How to track it:

• Keep a log of your working hours
• Include dates, number of hours, and nature of work
• Get confirmation from your employer if needed
• Save payslips or timesheets as evidence

2. Continuing Professional Development: 35 Hours

What you need:

• 35 hours of CPD relevant to your practice
• At least 20 hours must be participatory learning
• Can include training, courses, conferences, workshops
• Must be completed within the three-year period

What counts as CPD:

• Participatory: Courses, workshops, conferences, study days, mentoring
• Non-participatory: Reading journals, online learning, research, writing articles

How to record it:

• Note the date, hours, and type of CPD
• Describe what you learned
• Explain how it relates to your practice
• Keep certificates and attendance records

3. Five Written Reflective Accounts

What you need:

• Five separate reflective accounts
• Each must be at least 250 words
• Based on your CPD or practice-related feedback
• Must relate to the NMC Code

What to include:

• Description of the CPD activity or feedback
• What you learned from it
• How it relates to the NMC Code
• How it changed or improved your practice

4. Five Pieces of Practice-Related Feedback

What you need:

• Five separate pieces of feedback
• From patients, service users, colleagues, or other professionals
• Related to your practice
• Collected within the three-year period

Types of feedback:

• Patient satisfaction surveys
• Colleague observations
• Appraisal comments
• Thank you cards or letters
• Peer review feedback
• Formal feedback forms

5. Reflective Discussion with Another NMC Registrant

What you need:

• A discussion with another NMC-registered nurse or midwife
• About your five reflective accounts
• Can be face-to-face, by phone, or video call
• Must be recorded on the NMC reflective discussion form

Who can be your reflective discussion partner:

• Your line manager or appraiser
• A colleague who is NMC registered
• A mentor or supervisor
• Any other registered nurse or midwife

Additional Requirements

Professional Indemnity Arrangement

You must have appropriate professional indemnity cover for your practice. This is usually provided by your employer, but if you work independently, you need your own cover.

Health and Character Declaration

You must declare that you're of good health and character to practise safely and effectively. This includes disclosing any cautions, convictions, or health issues that might affect your practice.

Revalidation Fee

The current NMC revalidation fee is £120. You must pay this when you submit your revalidation application.

Timeline: When to Do What

Three Years Before Revalidation

• Start tracking your practice hours
• Begin recording CPD activities
• Keep a reflective diary
• Collect feedback regularly

Six Months Before

• Review your progress against requirements
• Identify any gaps in your evidence
• Complete any outstanding CPD
• Start writing your reflective accounts

Three Months Before

• Finalise all five reflective accounts
• Arrange your reflective discussion
• Gather all your evidence
• Complete the NMC reflective discussion form

60 Days Before

• NMC sends revalidation reminder
• Log into NMC Online to start your application
• Complete all sections of the online form
• Arrange confirmation with your confirmer

Two Weeks Before

• Submit your revalidation application
• Pay the revalidation fee
• Keep copies of everything for your records

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Leaving It Too Late

Don't wait until the last minute to gather your evidence. Start early and keep records throughout the three-year period.

Not Keeping Evidence

While you don't submit all your evidence to the NMC, you must keep it for potential verification. Store certificates, feedback, and records safely.

Choosing the Wrong Confirmer

Your confirmer must be another NMC registrant who has seen your evidence and can verify it's genuine. Choose someone appropriate and give them plenty of notice.

Incomplete Reflective Accounts

Ensure each reflective account meets the 250-word minimum, relates to the NMC Code, and shows how you've changed your practice.

Your Revalidation Checklist

Use this checklist to ensure you have everything ready:

☐ 450 practice hours logged and verified
☐ 35 hours of CPD recorded (including 20 participatory)
☐ Five reflective accounts written (minimum 250 words each)
☐ Five pieces of practice-related feedback collected
☐ Reflective discussion completed and form signed
☐ Professional indemnity arrangement confirmed
☐ Health and character declaration ready
☐ Confirmer identified and contacted
☐ NMC Online account accessed
☐ Revalidation fee ready (£120)
☐ All evidence stored safely for verification

How We Can Help

At Reflect & Revalidate, we make the revalidation process straightforward with:

• Comprehensive tracking templates for hours and CPD
• Reflective account templates and examples
• Feedback collection forms
• Complete revalidation portfolio services
• Expert guidance throughout the process

Conclusion

NMC revalidation doesn't have to be stressful. By following this checklist and staying organised throughout your three-year period, you'll have everything ready well before your deadline. Remember, revalidation is about demonstrating your commitment to professional development and safe, effective practice.

Ready to streamline your revalidation? Explore our complete revalidation services and templates designed to make the process simple and stress-free.