Collecting CPD hours is one of the most straightforward parts of revalidation. But knowing what actually counts, and telling the difference between participatory and non-participatory learning, trips up plenty of nurses.
The NMC requires a minimum of 35 hours of CPD over your three-year cycle. At least 20 hours must be participatory, meaning you actively interacted with a facilitator or other participants. Up to 15 hours can be non-participatory, covering self-directed study.
Your CPD must also be relevant to your field of practice. That is deliberately broad. The NMC wants you to learn things that make a difference to your work, not to jump through arbitrary hoops.
Below are 20 ideas split by category. Every one is valid under NMC rules. This is not an exhaustive list, but it should give you enough variety to hit your 35 hours without repeating the same activity.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not officially endorsed by the NMC. Always refer to the NMC's published revalidation guidance for definitive requirements.
10 Participatory CPD Ideas (interactive learning with others)
Participatory CPD is any learning where you engage with a facilitator, trainer, or other participants. The interaction is the key. If you only listened passively, it does not count as participatory.
1. Live webinar with Q&A
Attend a live webinar where you can ask questions or participate in polls. Most professional bodies, journals and employers run these regularly. The live interaction is what makes it participatory.
2. In-person conference or study day
Conferences and study days offer lectures, workshops, and networking. The opportunity to ask questions and discuss with presenters and peers qualifies them as participatory.
3. Simulation training (BLS, skills drills)
Basic life support refreshers, anaphylaxis drills, or any simulation-based training where you practise skills under supervision. These are highly participatory by nature.
4. Journal club with discussion
A group meeting to discuss a recent journal article, with facilitated discussion. The conversation with peers is what moves this from reading (non-participatory) to interactive learning.
5. In-service training or mandatory training days
Trust-organised training sessions on topics like manual handling, safeguarding, or fire safety. These typically include demonstration, practice, and Q&A, making them participatory.
6. Workshop with interactive exercises
A workshop where you complete exercises, role-play scenarios, or work through case studies with a facilitator and group. The active participation distinguishes it from a lecture.
7. Online course with discussion forums
Some online courses include moderated discussion boards, peer review, or live tutorials. If you contribute to the discussion, it counts as participatory. Reading without engaging does not.
8. Peer review group meeting
A structured meeting where you review and discuss each other's work, policies, or reflective accounts. Peer learning groups are recognised as valid participatory CPD by the NMC.
9. Specialist interest group meeting
Local or national group meetings for your speciality, whether respiratory, tissue viability, diabetes, or critical care. Presentations followed by discussion count as participatory learning.
10. Clinical audit or QI project presentation
Presenting your audit or quality improvement findings to colleagues, with feedback and questions. The presentation and subsequent discussion are participatory. Running the audit can also count if you list it appropriately under relevant CPD.
Tip for participatory CPD
Keep evidence of participation: a certificate of attendance, an email confirmation, or a note of the date, topic, facilitator name, and what you discussed. The NMC does not require a specific format, just something that demonstrates the activity happened and was relevant.
10 Non-Participatory CPD Ideas (self-directed learning)
Non-participatory CPD is learning you do on your own. Reading, watching, listening, and reflecting all count, provided the activity is relevant to your practice and you can evidence the learning.
11. Reading professional journal articles
Reading articles from Nursing Times, British Journal of Nursing, or any peer-reviewed journal relevant to your practice. Keep a record of the article title, journal, date, and what you learned.
12. Watching recorded webinars or conference recordings
On-demand content from conferences or training providers. As long as there is no live interaction, it is non-participatory. Log the title, provider, and duration.
13. Self-paced e-learning modules
Pre-recorded training modules on platforms like ESR, Health Education England, or specialist providers. These are non-participatory unless they include interactive forums.
14. Reading NMC publications (The Code, revalidation guidance)
Reading The Code, NMC guidance on revalidation, or professional standards documents counts as CPD. It keeps your knowledge of regulatory requirements current and directly relevant.
15. Professional podcast episodes
Nursing podcasts from reputable sources, such as the RCN, Nursing Times, or speciality-specific shows. Log the episode title, date, and your key takeaways.
16. Reading textbooks relevant to your speciality
Structured reading from professional textbooks or clinical reference guides. Focus on a specific topic that updates your knowledge or fills a gap you have identified.
17. Online courses without interaction
Courses from platforms like FutureLearn, Coursera, or Open University where you watch lectures and complete exercises independently. No discussion forums means it is non-participatory.
18. Reflecting on a significant event or near miss
Writing a structured reflection on an incident, near miss, or significant clinical event counts as CPD if it includes what you learned and how your practice will change. This is non-participatory because it is individual reflection.
19. Listening to NMC or RCN conference recordings
Recorded keynote speeches, panel discussions, or presentations from professional conferences. These provide learning without live interaction.
20. Reading professional body guidelines
Reading NICE guidelines, SIGN guidelines, RCN standards, or other professional body publications. Specific, focused reading that updates your clinical knowledge is valid non-participatory CPD.
Common mistake
Counting non-participatory hours toward your 20-hour participatory minimum. If you log 35 hours of journal reading and recorded webinars, you will be short of the participatory floor. Always track the two categories separately.
How to track CPD easily
The hardest part of CPD is not finding activities to do. It is remembering to record them three years later when your revalidation deadline suddenly looms.
A few simple habits help:
- Log as you go. Record each CPD activity within a week of completing it. Two minutes now saves an hour of retrospective reconstruction later.
- Keep the evidence simple. A note of date, title, provider, duration, and a sentence on what you learned is enough.
- Separate your counts. Track participatory and non-participatory hours separately so you always know where you stand against the 20-hour floor.
Revalidation Copilot handles all of this automatically. Log a CPD entry, tag it as participatory or non-participatory, attach a certificate if you have one, and the app updates your running totals. It shows you the split at a glance, so you never accidentally fill your log with non-participatory hours and realise too late.
CPD tracking that actually fits your day
Log CPD hours in seconds, auto-categorise participatory vs non-participatory, and see your running totals at a glance. Start free.
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