Revalidation

As a registered nurse, midwife or nursing associate (England) you need to revalidate with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) every three years so you can remain fit to practise throughout your career.

Find out about the requirements of revalidation, what you can do to prepare and how the RCN can support you.

What is revalidation?

Revalidation is the method by which you will renew your registration. The purpose of revalidation is to improve public protection by making sure that you remain fit to practice throughout your career. Revalidation:

• reinforces your duty to maintain your fitness to practise within your own scope of practice
• encourages you to incorporate the Code in your day-to-day practice and personal development
• encourages engagement in professional networks and discussions and can help to reduce professional isolation
• enhances employer engagement in NMC regulatory standards and increases access and participation in appraisals and continuing professional development.

The NMC provides guidance for registrants and employers.  

How can I get ready for revalidation?

You can prepare for revalidation by:

• joining NMC online and ensuring you know when your renewal date is
• ensuring the NMC has your most up-to-date contact details
• becoming familiar with the Code
• reading the NMC Guidance on How to Revalidate
• viewing the RCN LibGuide to revalidation, which details related books and journals
• for all nurses or nursing associates working in social care the following animation is available.

Renewal or retention

• Your renewal date is your revalidation date. It is when you have to renew your registration with the NMC. You have to renew your registration every three years through revalidation. Your renewal date is your revalidation date and it is the 1st day of the month in which you will revalidate. For example if your renewal date is in November, then it is the 1st day in November that you must revalidate. 
• Your retention date is the annual date you will need to pay your fees to the NMC. You must pay your annual fee before your retention date otherwise your registration will lapse and you will be automatically removed from the NMC register. 

Keeping evidence 

You need to keep evidence that you have met the requirements for revalidation in a safe and secure place. This will usually be in a portfolio that can be paper based, computer stored or online, whichever is most appropriate for you.

The NMC will provide guidance on uploading revalidation documents if you are required to do so. 

If you are concerned about IT (availability or skills), it is worth exploring what support your local library, NHS trust or university can provide for you.

Sharing your evidence

You need to be careful not to include any information that might identify a specific patient or service user in your portfolio.

You may choose to store your completed reflective discussion and confirmation forms in either paper or electronic format. You should still respect the fact that these forms contain personal data about your reflective discussion partner and confirmer.

Applying for revalidation

You will receive your formal notification that your revalidation application has opened no later than 60 days before your application is due to be submitted. You will need to submit your application through the NMC online portal NMC Online, and you can do this at any point during the 60 days, but it must be completed by the first day of the month in which your application is due.

You must ensure you pay your fee before your revalidation application date. If you have a direct debit already set up this will be collected at the usual time – even if the direct debit date is after your revalidation application date.

Once you have completed the application process and have paid your fee you will receive a receipt to confirm that your registration has been renewed via an email from the NMC. You can log onto your NMC Online account to see your confirmed registration status. You should keep your revalidation evidence and the contact details of the people you had your reflective and confirmation discussions with safely filed, as you may need to refer to them again.

Ready to submit?

Make sure you have:

• read the NMC's How to revalidate with the NMC guidance 
• met all the revalidation requirements
• had your reflective discussion and your confirmation discussion
• all the supporting evidence to hand when you start your online application
• received your 'Registration Renewal Notice' from the NMC. If you are signed up to NMC Online this will be sent by email. 

Readmission to the register

For more information about readmission to the register, see our advice guides: