Today the NMC Council voted to approve a landmark public consultation on a new draft Code and a refreshed revalidation process. The consultation will run from September to December 2026. This is the first major review of the Code since 2015 and the first review of revalidation since it launched in 2016.
Here is what was decided, what is proposed, and what it means for you.
The Council approved the launch of a three-month public consultation on two linked proposals:
This follows a year-long evidence review that included a survey with 13,757 responses from professionals and the public.
Source: NMC official news release, 21 July 2026
The NMC has proposed five areas of strengthening in the new draft Code:
Equity, diversity and inclusion. The new Code will expressly set out the expectation that all professionals recognise, challenge and disrupt all forms of bias, stigma and discrimination, including racism. This was a clear finding from the review: both the public and professionals said the Code must go further.
Public protection and safety. Strengthened wording around safeguarding, reflecting recommendations from recent public inquiries and reviews.
Digital technology and AI. The review found that emerging technologies felt like "the most urgent" issue for the NMC to address. Both public and professionals see the benefits but are concerned about loss of clinical judgment. The new Code will include standards on safe and effective use of digital tools and AI.
Working cultures and wellbeing. The Code will address safety in working environments, the wellbeing of registrants, and the impact of workplace pressures and hierarchical cultures on professional practice.
Professional behaviours outside practice. The regulator will consult on behaviour outside of professional practice, including updated social media guidance that will become part of new guidance on professionalism in public and private life.
Public health and health inequalities. Strengthened wording on tackling health inequalities as part of professional practice.
"We will consult on a new draft Code that sets out stronger requirements to challenge racism, supports professionals to effectively and safely use technology in their work, and fosters positive working cultures where they can thrive."
The NMC has been clear: this is an evolution, not a revolution. The core requirements — 450 practice hours, 35 hours CPD, 5 reflective accounts, reflective discussion, confirmation — are not changing. Here is what is proposed:
Confirmers. The NMC will set out more clearly that confirmers should usually be line managers. If a registrant proposes a different confirmer, they will need to tick a box from a menu of authorised departures.
Feedback form. The optional feedback template will become a mandatory form focused on what the professional learned and how they improved their practice.
12-week extensions. The current eight-week extension cap will increase to 12 weeks for registrants with a valid need — ill health, parental leave, bereavement.
Link to the Code. The new revalidation process will have a closer link to the Code and Standards, with a refreshed approach to verification.
Tailored support. The NMC will provide more tailored guidance for professionals with different roles and scopes of practice.
The NMC published detailed findings from its year-long evidence review in the Council papers. These are worth reading in full, but the highlights include:
If your revalidation is due before April 2028, nothing changes. The existing process and the current Code remain in place. Keep doing what you are doing: log your hours, complete your CPD, write your reflective accounts, have your reflective discussion, get your confirmation.
If you want to have a say in what comes next, the consultation opens in September 2026. The NMC will publish the full draft Code and proposals for revalidation at that point. Your individual response carries weight — the NMC received 13,757 survey responses during the review phase, and they used that evidence to shape the proposals.
This is also a good time to ensure your portfolio practices are solid. The trend is toward more structured evidence, mandatory feedback forms, and closer scrutiny of how you reflect on and improve your practice. Building good habits now will serve you well when the changes arrive in 2028.
Revalidation Copilot helps you track practice hours, log CPD, and write reflective accounts from day one.
Free to start. Available on iOS and Android.
NMC-validated content. This article is based on official NMC news releases and Council papers published 21 July 2026. All factual claims are sourced directly from NMC publications or independently verified by the editorial team. Sources listed above.
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