Update — 14 May 2026: The NMC has published the results of its employer roundtables on revalidation reform. The proposals are more specific and more concrete than anything we've seen before. Here's what they are — and what they mean for your next submission.
In the run-up to the September 2026 formal consultation, the NMC held a series of roundtables with employers across the NHS, independent sector, social care, and self-employed registrants. Their brief: test early ideas for how revalidation could evolve.
Employers were clear that the core elements of revalidation are working well — particularly the reflective discussion, CPD requirements, and the templates. But the roundtables surfaced four concrete proposals for change. Here they are.
The Four Proposals at a Glance
| Proposal | What it would change | Likely impact |
|---|---|---|
| Strengthen confirmers and reflective discussion partners | More oversight, clearer responsibilities | Medium — may require more formal arrangements |
| Greater emphasis on professional wellbeing | Revalidation to include wellbeing reflection | Medium — new reflection area needed |
| Better sign-posting between employer appraisal and revalidation | Aligning two separate processes | High — could reduce duplication of effort |
| Principles for AI and digital technology in revalidation | Formal guidance on using AI tools | Medium-High — depending how prescriptive |
1. Strengthening Confirmers and Reflective Discussion Partners
What the NMC is proposing
The role of the confirmer — the person who signs off your revalidation — could be strengthened. The NMC is looking at clearer requirements for who can act as a confirmer, what training or preparation they need, and how reflective discussions are documented.
Currently, your confirmer needs to be on the same part of the register and have current NMC registration. Beyond that, requirements are minimal. The proposal would introduce more structure — potentially including:
- Mandatory preparation for confirmers (what to look for, how to challenge)
- Standardised reflection discussion templates to ensure consistency
- Clearer separation between the confirmer role and line management
What this means for you
If you're planning your next revalidation, it's worth checking in with your intended confirmer early. If the requirements tighten, having someone who meets the new criteria could be harder to arrange, especially if you're the only registrant in your workplace.
2. Greater Emphasis on Professional Wellbeing
What the NMC is proposing
Revalidation could explicitly require you to reflect on your professional wellbeing — not just your clinical practice. This would mean your reflective accounts or CPD plans would need to engage with how you're looking after yourself, managing workload pressures, and maintaining fitness to practise.
This is a significant shift. Currently, revalidation is focused on demonstrating competence through the four themes of the Code (prioritise people, practise effectively, preserve safety, promote professionalism and trust). Adding wellbeing as a distinct area of reflection would:
- Legitimise conversations about burnout, workload, and support at work
- Create space for reflective accounts that deal with personal challenges
- Make wellbeing CPD a formal part of your 35-hour requirement
What this means for you
If this goes through, it's a positive change — the NMC would be formally recognising that your wellbeing is part of your ability to practise safely. But it also means you'll need evidence of reflection on wellbeing. Start collecting CPD on wellbeing topics now: resilience, stress management, compassionate leadership.
3. Better Sign-Posting Between Employer Appraisal and Revalidation
What the NMC is proposing
One of the biggest frustrations employers raised was the duplication between annual appraisals and the 3-year revalidation cycle. The NMC is exploring how the two processes could be better aligned — so that appraisal outputs feed more directly into your revalidation portfolio.
If you're a nurse, you already know this pain: you spend hours preparing for an annual appraisal, and then three years later you're digging out the same feedback, the same reflections, the same CPD records for revalidation. The proposal would tackle this by:
- Mapping appraisal outcomes to revalidation requirements
- Portable CPD records that carry between appraisal and revalidation
- Shared templates where possible to reduce administrative burden
What this means for you
This could be the most impactful change if implemented well. It would mean less duplication and a more continuous approach to professional development, rather than the current "cram before deadline" pattern. In the meantime, keep your appraisal documents organised — they may become more directly linkable to revalidation going forward.
4. Principles for AI and Digital Technology in Revalidation
What the NMC is proposing
The NMC has confirmed it will introduce a set of principles to guide the use of artificial intelligence and digital technology in revalidation. This follows the recognition — in Andrea Sutcliffe's International Nurses Day speech — that the Code needs updating to address AI in practice.
The principles are expected to cover:
- Accountability — the registrant remains responsible for their portfolio, even when using AI tools
- Transparency — how AI tools should disclose their role in content generation
- Accuracy — standards for verifying AI-generated content before submission
- Data protection — how patient and personal data should be handled in AI tools
The NMC has been working on an internal set of AI principles since at least 2024 (/support/ai-principles/ was registered but has never been published). The employer roundtables are the strongest signal yet that the NMC is ready to formalise its position.
What this means for you
If you use AI tools (like Revalidation Copilot) to help with your reflective accounts or CPD records, this is good news: you'll have clear guidance on what's acceptable and what isn't. If you're not using AI yet, the principles will give you a framework for evaluating tools safely. The key takeaway from the NMC: you remain accountable for everything you submit. AI can help, but you must review, edit, and verify.
What Happens Next
The NMC has confirmed that a formal public consultation on proposed changes to the Code and revalidation will launch in September 2026. This is when the proposals from the employer roundtables — along with any other reforms — will be presented in detail for feedback from the entire profession.
After the consultation closes, the NMC will analyse responses and publish final proposals. The new Code and revalidation process are expected to come into effect in October 2027.
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| Now | Employer roundtable proposals published |
| End of May 2026 | Anti-racist principles due to be published |
| September 2026 | Formal public consultation opens |
| Late 2026 / early 2027 | Consultation closes, analysis begins |
| October 2027 | New Code and revalidation process expected |
How to Prepare Now
None of these proposals are final. The consultation hasn't opened yet. But the direction of travel is clearer than ever. Here's what you should do:
1. Keep meeting current requirements
The existing revalidation process still applies. Don't let future changes distract you from your current deadlines. The NMC Revalidation Checklist 2026 still covers everything you need.
2. Start collecting wellbeing CPD
If wellbeing becomes a formal part of revalidation, you'll want evidence. Start logging courses, reflective accounts, or feedback related to resilience, burnout prevention, and compassionate leadership. What Counts as CPD covers the current rules.
3. Document your confirmer relationship
If the confirmer role is strengthened, having a well-documented reflective discussion process now will make the transition easier. Keep records of your reflective discussion and who confirmed your revalidation.
4. Review your AI tools against emerging principles
If you use an AI tool for revalidation, check that it allows you to maintain accountability — i.e., you can edit, verify, and take ownership of everything it generates. If you're evaluating tools, ask: does it let me review before I submit? Does it protect my data?
Stay ready for whatever changes come
Revalidation Copilot helps you track CPD, write reflective accounts, and organise your portfolio — so when the NMC updates the requirements, you're already ahead.
Download the AppMore Revalidation Resources
- NMC Revalidation Changes 2026: What We Know So Far
- What is NMC AI? How AI Tools Help with Revalidation
- NMC Revalidation Step-by-Step Guide
- How to Write Reflective Accounts (With Examples)
- NMC Code: The 4 Themes Explained
This article was written based on the NMC's employer roundtable announcements available at nmc.org.uk. It is intended to help nurses understand the proposed changes. Always refer to official NMC guidance for your full revalidation requirements.
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