Disclaimer: This content is based on publicly available NMC sources including the Annual Report and Accounts 2025-26 and the NMC's published fee information. Revalidation Copilot is an independent tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
If you're a nurse, midwife or nursing associate on the NMC register, your annual registration fee is going up. The NMC Council approved the increase in April 2026, and it takes effect from 1 October 2026, subject to Parliamentary approval.
The change is straightforward: the fee rises from £120 to £143 per year. That is an extra £23 annually, or roughly £1.92 per month. Over a three-year revalidation cycle, that works out at an additional £69.
This article covers what the new fee is, why it is happening, and how it relates to your revalidation.
What is the new NMC registration fee?
The annual registration fee for all nurses, midwives and nursing associates is increasing from £120 to £143. This applies to every registered professional on the NMC register, regardless of whether you work full-time, part-time, or are currently practising.
| Detail | Current fee | New fee (from Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | £120 | £143 |
| Monthly equivalent | £10.00 | £11.92 |
| Increase per year | — | +£23 |
| Extra cost per revalidation cycle (3 years) | — | +£69 |
| Last increased | 2015 | 2026 |
The fee is paid annually through your MyNMC portal. It is not tied to your revalidation submission date. You pay it to stay on the register, regardless of where you are in your three-year cycle.
When does the new fee take effect?
The increase comes into force on 1 October 2026. This is subject to Parliamentary approval, which is the final step in the process.
The NMC confirmed the timeline in its Annual Report and Accounts 2025-26. The report stated that the Council approved the first fee increase in 11 years in April 2026, and the change is scheduled for October.
If you are due to renew your registration after this date, you will pay the new rate. If you renew before 1 October 2026, you will pay the current £120 rate for that year.
Why is the NMC increasing registration fees?
The NMC has not raised its registration fee since 2015. Costs have risen substantially while income has stayed flat.
The NMC's own Annual Report and Accounts 2025-26 describes the situation clearly. The govering Council approved the first fee increase in 11 years "as a result of the serious risk to the sustainability of our reserves." The increase is subject to Parliamentary approval.
Several factors drove the shortfall:
- Fitness to practise referrals and overall casework have risen substantially over the past decade, increasing the cost of investigations and hearings.
- The register has grown significantly since 2015, placing greater demand on registration and revalidation services.
- Inflation has eroded the real value of the fee. The NMC has acknowledged that an inflation-linked fee would now be significantly higher than £120, meaning registrants have effectively been paying less in real terms for over a decade.
NMC Chair Ron Barclay-Smith said: "We have been open about where we have fallen short, taken responsibility where things have gone wrong, and made difficult decisions to put the organisation on a stronger footing for the future."
NMC Chief Executive Paul Rees said: "We're determined to turn this organisation around once-and-for-all, and become the strong and independent regulator that everyone wants to see."
How does this affect revalidation?
The fee increase has no impact on your revalidation requirements. It is a separate charge for staying on the register.
Your revalidation still requires:
- 450 practice hours (or 900 if on both parts of the register)
- 35 hours of CPD (at least 20 participatory)
- 5 written reflective accounts
- Written feedback from a colleague
- A reflective discussion with another NMC registrant
- Confirmation from a confirmer
- A health and character declaration
The fee does not change these requirements. It does not alter how you submit your portfolio, what evidence you need, or how the NMC reviews your revalidation.
What it does mean is that the overall cost of staying registered has gone up by £23 per year. If you are budgeting for your nursing career, this is a line item worth noting for the 2026-27 financial year.
Can the fee be paid monthly?
The NMC's standard model is an annual payment. Some employers offer to cover or reimburse the registration fee. Check with your line manager or HR department, as policies vary between NHS trusts and private sector employers.
If you pay the fee yourself, budgeting £11.92 per month makes it easier to absorb than a single £143 payment. Some nurses set up a separate savings pot or direct debit to spread the cost.
Practical advice going forward
Three things worth doing now:
- Check your renewal date in your MyNMC account. If it falls after 1 October 2026, you may pay the new rate.
- Ask your employer whether they cover registration fees. Some trusts and private healthcare organisations do. If yours doesn't, consider raising it in your next development review.
- Factor the £23 into your budget. It is not a huge amount in isolation, but over a three-year cycle it adds up to £69.
And while the fee increase affects your wallet, it does not have to affect your time. Revalidation paperwork is the part you can control. Use Revalidation Copilot to track CPD hours, log practice hours, and convert voice notes into NMC-compliant reflective accounts in minutes. Less time on forms means more time on the work that actually matters.
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