Disclaimer: Revalidation Copilot is an independent tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Always refer to the official NMC guidance for your full revalidation requirements.
If your NMC revalidation is coming up — or you want to make sure you're on track — this checklist is your starting point. Tick off each item as you go, and you'll be ready for submission without the last-minute panic.
We've also included a month-by-month timeline so you know exactly when each piece should be done.
Download the Quick-Reference Checklist
Bookmark this page or save it to your phone. Each item links to a detailed guide so you can dig deeper when you need to.
The 11-Step NMC Revalidation Checklist
☐ 1. Know Your Revalidation Date
Log into NMC Online and check your revalidation month. This is your deadline. Put it in your calendar and set a reminder 6 months before.
Done when: You've written down your revalidation month and set at least one forward reminder.
New to revalidation? Read What is NMC Revalidation? first.
☐ 2. Track 450 Practice Hours
You need 450 hours of registered practice over your 3-year cycle (900 if dual-registered). Your employer may have records, but keep your own too — trusts change systems and lose data.
At ~15 hours per month, most nurses with standard contracts exceed this easily. But agency, bank, and voluntary shifts all count, so log everything.
Done when: You have a running total of your practice hours, confirmed against your employer's records where possible.
Full guide: Practice Hours Explained →
💡 With Revalidation Copilot
Enter your contract hours and start date. The app calculates your running total automatically. No spreadsheets, no mental maths.
☐ 3. Complete 35 Hours of CPD
At least 20 of your 35 CPD hours must be participatory — study days, workshops, live webinars, in-service training where you can ask questions and discuss. The remaining 15 can be non-participatory — reading, e-learning, recorded content.
Don't forget: mandatory training counts. Your workplace study days count. Most nurses already have enough CPD hours from their day job — they just don't record them.
Done when: Your CPD log shows at least 35 total hours with 20 participatory. Each entry includes the date, title, hours, and whether it was participatory.
Full guide: What Counts as CPD? →
💡 With Revalidation Copilot
Log CPD the day you complete it — takes 30 seconds. The app tracks your totals, and you can add certificates as evidence.
☐ 4. Collect Written Feedback
The NMC requires at least one piece of written feedback over your 3-year cycle. This can be from a colleague, a manager, or a patient (anonymised).
The key is to save it when you receive it — not search for it three years later. Performance reviews, patient feedback forms, thank-you cards, and peer observations all qualify.
Done when: You have at least one piece of written feedback saved in your portfolio. Ideally you have more than one to choose from.
☐ 5. Write 5 Reflective Accounts
You need 5 written reflections using the NMC template:
- What was the nature of the CPD activity, feedback, or practice-related experience?
- What did you learn from it?
- How did you change or improve your practice (or how will you)?
At least 4 of your 5 accounts must relate to your CPD or feedback. The 5th can be about any practice-related experience.
Done when: You have 5 completed reflective accounts, each linking back to the NMC Code.
Full guide: How to Write Reflective Accounts (With Examples) →
💡 With Revalidation Copilot
Speak your reflection as a 2-minute voice note. The AI structures it into the NMC format with Code connections. You review, edit, and own it.
☐ 6. Connect Reflections to the NMC Code
The NMC requires each reflection to reference one or more themes from The Code: prioritise people, practise effectively, preserve safety, and promote professionalism and trust.
This doesn't need to be lengthy. A sentence showing how the CPD or experience relates to a Code theme is enough — but don't skip it.
Done when: Each reflective account includes a clear connection to at least one Code theme.
☐ 7. Schedule Your Reflective Discussion
Before submission, you need a reflective discussion with another NMC-registered professional. This is a conversation about your portfolio and reflections. It can be in person, by phone, or by video call.
Book this at least 4-6 weeks before your deadline. Finding a time that works for two shift-working professionals takes longer than you think.
Done when: You've completed the discussion and the other person has signed your reflective discussion form.
☐ 8. Find Your Confirmer
Your confirmer reviews your portfolio and confirms you meet the revalidation requirements. This is usually your line manager, a senior colleague, or another registered professional who knows your work.
Your confirmer must be on the NMC register. They can also be the person you do your reflective discussion with.
Done when: You've confirmed who your confirmer is and they've agreed to review your portfolio. Ideally give them 2-3 weeks.
☐ 9. Complete Health and Character Declaration
This is part of the online submission. You self-declare that you're fit to practise. There's no form to complete beforehand — just be aware you'll need to confirm this when you submit.
Done when: You've submitted your revalidation online and ticked the declaration.
☐ 10. Submit Your Revalidation Online
Log into NMC Online and complete the notification of practice. You'll need:
- Your practice hours total
- Your CPD hours total (participatory and non-participatory)
- Your confirmer's details
- A declaration that everything is accurate
You do NOT submit your portfolio to the NMC. Your portfolio stays with you. The NMC may audit a sample of portfolios, but day-to-day, your confirmer is the one who checks it.
Done when: You've submitted the online form and received confirmation from the NMC.
☐ 11. Keep Copies of Everything
Save your portfolio after submission. The NMC can request it for audit at any point. Having digital copies of your CPD certificates, reflective accounts, feedback, and reflective discussion form saves a lot of stress if you're selected.
Done when: You have a complete digital portfolio saved in at least two places.
Month-by-Month Timeline
| Time Before Deadline | What To Do |
|---|---|
| 36-6 months | Log CPD and practice hours as you go. Save feedback when you receive it. Write a reflective account every 6 months. |
| 6 months | Review your portfolio. Check you're on track for 450 hours and 35 CPD. Write any remaining reflections. |
| 4 months | Identify your confirmer. Begin arranging your reflective discussion. |
| 2 months | Complete your reflective discussion. Confirm your confirmer has everything they need. |
| 1 month | Final review. Submit online. Keep copies. |
📋 Pro tip
Print this checklist or save it to your notes app. Each time you log CPD or complete a reflection, mentally tick it off. By the time you're 6 months out, you'll know exactly what's missing — and have time to fix it.
Common Checklist Mistakes
- Thinking you submit your portfolio to the NMC. You don't. You submit a short online form. Your confirmer checks your portfolio.
- Leaving the reflective discussion to the last week. Shift workers struggle to find a mutual slot. Book it early.
- Not tracking CPD as you go. It's almost impossible to remember what you did 2.5 years ago. Log it the day you do it.
- Only having one piece of feedback. The NMC requires one, but if that person is unavailable or it gets lost, you need a backup.
- Forgetting to connect reflections to the Code. This is a common reason for rejection in audits. Make sure each account references at least one Code theme.
What Makes Revalidation Easier in 2026
The nurses who find revalidation easiest don't have more time — they just track as they go. They use a system that works around their shifts, not one that demands an afternoon of paperwork.
Revalidation Copilot was built for exactly this: log CPD on your phone between patients, record a reflection after a difficult shift, and keep everything in one place. When your submission window opens, you're not starting from scratch — you're reviewing what's already done.
Your revalidation checklist, automated
Download Revalidation Copilot and track every requirement in one app. Voice-to-reflection, CPD logging, practice hours — all in your pocket.
Download the AppMore Revalidation Resources
- What is NMC Revalidation?
- NMC Revalidation Step-by-Step Guide
- How to Write Reflective Accounts (With Examples)
- What Counts as CPD? (35 Hours Explained)
- Practice Hours — 450 Hours Explained
- How to Use Gibbs' Reflective Cycle