The NMC has long recommended that, where possible, your line manager should be your confirmer. What is changing is how firmly that expectation is set. Under proposed rules announced on 21 July 2026, the NMC wants to make clear that confirmers should usually be line managers. If you want someone else, you will need to justify it through a formal tick-box step.
The change was reported by Nursing Times, which quoted directly from the NMC Council papers: "We will set out more clearly that confirmers should usually be line managers by asking registrants proposing a different confirmer to tick a box from a menu of authorised departures."
The current rules are relatively flexible. The NMC says your confirmer should usually be your line manager, and your line manager does not have to be an NMC-registered nurse or midwife. If you do not have a line manager, the NMC recommends choosing an NMC registrant (a nurse, midwife or nursing associate) where possible, or another healthcare professional who is regulated in the UK. Your confirmer does not need to be the same person you had your reflective discussion with. Family members and close friends cannot act as your confirmer, as this would be a conflict of interest.
The new proposals shift this. The NMC wants confirmers to usually be line managers because they have direct oversight of your practice. This makes sense: your line manager sees your day-to-day work, knows your development areas, and can genuinely confirm that you have met the standards.
If you want a different confirmer, for example a colleague who moved to a different organisation but knows your work well, you will select from a menu of authorised departures. This formalises an approach that is currently left to the registrant's own judgement.
The NMC has not yet published the full list of authorised departure reasons. That will come during the public consultation from September to December 2026. Based on the Council papers, likely categories include:
Source: Nursing Times report on NMC Council papers
The changes are expected from April 2028, so you have time. But there are things you can start doing now:
Know who your confirmer will be. If you plan to use your line manager, have the conversation early. Make sure they understand the confirmer role and what it involves.
If you need a different confirmer, document why. Start thinking about which authorised departure category applies to you. The NMC will likely expect a clear rationale, so have your reasons ready.
Build your reflective summary. Regardless of who confirms you, the reflective discussion and confirmation rely on a clear, well-documented portfolio. Your reflective accounts, CPD log, and practice hours need to be organised.
Revalidation Copilot stores confirmer details, reminds you to arrange the discussion early, and generates your reflective summary.
Free to start on iOS and Android.
Sources. This article is based on NMC publications published in July 2026 and the NMC Council papers of 21 July 2026. Current confirmer eligibility is per the NMC's published revalidation confirmation guidance. Sources are listed above.
Revalidation Copilot is produced by Beemal Innovation Ltd. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.