NMC Revalidation for Nursing Associates: Complete Guide 2026

Quick version: If you're a registered nursing associate (NA), you must revalidate with the NMC every three years. The requirements are the same as for nurses: 450 practice hours, 35 hours of CPD, 5 reflective accounts, 5 feedback records, a reflective discussion, and a confirmer sign-off. This guide walks through each requirement and explains what's specific to NAs.

---

Nursing associates have been on the NMC register since 2019. That means the first full cohort of NAs are now coming up on their second or third revalidation cycle. If you're one of them, you already know what's involved. But revalidation can still feel like a lot when you're balancing a demanding job with everything else.

This guide covers every requirement, highlights what's different for NAs, and shows you how to make the whole process manageable.

Do Nursing Associates Need to Revalidate?

Yes. If you're a registered nursing associate on the NMC register, you must revalidate every three years to renew your registration. The NMC sets the same revalidation requirements for all registrants: nurses, midwives, and nursing associates. There is no separate or reduced process for NAs.

Your revalidation application date is tied to your registration renewal date. You can find this in your MyNMC account. Your online application opens 60 days before that date, so you'll want to have everything ready before then.

The 8 Revalidation Requirements for Nursing Associates

Here's what you need to submit, broken down by requirement:

Requirement	What You Need	Over 3 Years
Practice hours	450 hours of registered practice	~150 hrs/year
CPD hours	35 hours total, 20 participatory	~12 hrs/year
Reflective accounts	5 written reflections linked to the Code	~2 per year
Practice feedback	5 pieces of written feedback	~2 per year
Reflective discussion	Discussion with another NMC registrant	Once per cycle
Confirmer sign-off	Signed confirmation by your confirmer	Once per cycle
Health and character	Self-declaration	Each renewal
Professional indemnity	Declaration that you have cover	Each renewal

Breaking Down Each Requirement

1. Practice Hours (450 Hours)

You need to have practised for at least 450 hours during the three years since your last revalidation. This can include any role that requires NMC registration: direct patient care, supervisory duties, clinical audit, training, or research.

For NAs specifically: If you work part-time or in a split role, make sure you're tracking hours consistently. The NMC doesn't require a daily log, but you need to be able to demonstrate you've met the minimum. A practice hour tracker in your phone is the easiest way to stay on top of this. See our full guide to practice hours for more detail.

2. CPD (35 Hours, 20 Participatory)

You need 35 hours of continuing professional development. At least 20 of those must be participatory: meaning you learned with others in an interactive setting. Study days, workshops, webinars with Q&A, in-service training, and e-learning modules with interactive elements all count.

Your CPD should be relevant to your scope of practice as a nursing associate. Mandatory training (manual handling, safeguarding, basic life support) counts, but try to go beyond the minimum. Courses on wound care, long-term condition management, medication administration, or communication skills are all directly relevant to the NA role.

Check our guide on what counts as CPD for NMC revalidation for a full breakdown of acceptable activities.

3. Reflective Accounts (5 Accounts)

You need to write five reflective accounts, each linked to one or more of the four themes of the NMC Code. A reflective account describes an experience from your practice, what you learned, and how you've changed or improved your practice as a result.

Your reflections don't need to be long. The NMC doesn't prescribe a word count. What matters is that they're genuine, related to your practice as a nursing associate, and show real learning.

For worked examples you can adapt, see our NMC reflective account examples page. And for a full walkthrough of the writing process, read how to write reflective accounts for NMC revalidation.

4. Practice Feedback (5 Pieces)

Collect five pieces of written feedback from colleagues, patients, or service users. Feedback can come from appraisals, patient surveys, comments from colleagues, or specific requests you make.

For NAs, good sources of feedback include: your supervising registered nurse, ward manager, patients or families you've supported, and members of the wider multidisciplinary team.

5. Reflective Discussion

You need to have a reflective discussion with another NMC registrant. This isn't the same as an appraisal or a formal meeting. It's a conversation about your five reflective accounts and your practice feedback. The other person checks that your reflections are genuine and that you've demonstrated learning.

Your reflective discussion partner can be a registered nurse, midwife, or another nursing associate. They don't need to be your line manager, but they do need to hold current NMC registration. For the full process, see our reflective discussion guide.

6. Confirmer Sign-Off

Your confirmer reviews your entire portfolio: CPD, practice hours, reflective accounts, feedback, and the reflective discussion record. They confirm that you've met all the requirements and sign off your revalidation.

For most NAs, the confirmer will be a registered nurse who supervises or manages them. Your confirmer must hold current NMC registration and be able to confirm that they've reviewed your evidence. Read our confirmer guide for what to expect from the process.

7. & 8. Health and Character, Professional Indemnity

These are self-declarations you make as part of your online application in MyNMC. You confirm that your health is good enough to practise safely, that you have professional indemnity cover, and that there are no fitness-to-practise concerns.

What's Different for NAs Compared to Nurses?

For most practical purposes, the revalidation process is identical. But there are a few things to be aware of:

• Confirmer arrangements: Your confirmer should normally be a registered nurse who supervises your practice. Some NAs work in settings where the registered nurse cover is stretched, so plan ahead and agree who your confirmer will be early in the cycle.
• Reflective discussion partner: Your reflective discussion can be with another NA, not necessarily a registered nurse. This gives you flexibility, especially if you're in a team with several NAs.
• Practice hours: If you split your time between direct care and study or supernumerary periods, track everything. The NMC counts all practice-related hours.
• Support from your employer: If your trust or practice employs NAs, they should have a revalidation support process in place. If you're unsure, ask your line manager or practice education lead.

How to Make Revalidation Manageable as a Nursing Associate

The biggest mistake NAs make is leaving everything to the last few months. You don't need to do that.

Spread It Across the Three Years

• Year 1: Set up your portfolio. Log your first 150 practice hours. Do 12 hours of CPD. Write one reflective account. Collect one piece of feedback.
• Year 2: Keep logging. Another 150 hours. Another 12 CPD hours. Two more reflective accounts. Two more feedback pieces.
• Year 3: Top up your hours and CPD. Write the remaining reflections. Collect remaining feedback. Arrange your reflective discussion and confirmer sign-off.

Ten minutes a month, spread across three years, is all it takes.

Use a Digital Portfolio

The easiest way to stay on track is to log as you go. A digital portfolio lives on your phone, so you can log CPD on your break, record a voice reflection after a shift, and check your progress anytime you want. You don't need a spreadsheet, a folder of certificates, or a paper diary.

Don't Overthink the Reflective Accounts

Your reflective accounts don't need to be literary works. They need to be honest and show learning. A good nursing associate reflection might cover: supporting a patient with dementia through a difficult shift, learning a new clinical skill like venepuncture, handling a challenging conversation with a relative, or noticing a change in a patient's condition and escalating appropriately.

Common Revalidation Mistakes Nursing Associates Make

These are the most frequent issues NAs run into:

• Leaving the confirmer to the last minute. Your confirmer needs time to review your portfolio. Ask them at least two months before your application date.
• Not tracking practice hours from the start. Reconstructing 450 hours from memory is stressful. Log as you go.
• Not linking reflective accounts to the Code. Each reflection must reference at least one of the four Code themes. If you don't explicitly make the link, the NMC may ask you to redo it.
• Forgetting the participatory CPD rule. You need 20 hours of participatory CPD, not just 35 hours total. e-learning alone won't get you there.
• Submitting without checking your MyNMC date. Your revalidation application date is set by the NMC. Missing it means your registration lapses.

For a full list, see 5 common NMC revalidation mistakes.

NMC Revalidation Checklist for Nursing Associates

1. Check your revalidation application date in MyNMC
2. Log 450 practice hours over 3 years
3. Complete 35 hours of CPD (20 participatory)
4. Write 5 reflective accounts linked to the Code
5. Collect 5 pieces of practice feedback
6. Have your reflective discussion with another NMC registrant
7. Get your confirmer to review and sign off your portfolio
8. Complete health, character, and indemnity declarations
9. Submit your online application in MyNMC

For a printable version with deadlines, see our NMC revalidation checklist 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I don't meet the 450 practice hours?

If you're short, you may be able to defer your revalidation or link with an approved return-to-practice programme. Contact the NMC directly if you're significantly under the threshold. Find out more in our return to practice guide.

Can I use Revalidation Copilot as a nursing associate?

Absolutely. The app is built for all NMC registrants, including nursing associates. Track your CPD, log practice hours, draft reflective accounts with AI assistance, and export your portfolio when you need it. It works the same way whether you're a nurse, midwife, or NA.

Does my CPD need to be nursing-associate specific?

Not strictly. Your CPD should be relevant to your scope of practice. If you work in a care home, a course on dementia care or end-of-life is directly relevant. If you work in a GP surgery, immunisation training or long-term condition management makes sense. Any learning that develops your professional competence counts.

Who can be my reflective discussion partner?

Any NMC registrant: a registered nurse, midwife, or another nursing associate. They don't need to work in your organisation. They do need current NMC registration and a genuine conversation about your reflections.

What if I change jobs during my revalidation cycle?

Your revalidation portfolio follows you. If you're using Revalidation Copilot, your data is on your phone, not tied to your employer. Your new employer should have a revalidation support policy. Let your new line manager know where you are in the cycle as soon as possible.

The Bottom Line

Revalidation for nursing associates is the same process as for nurses. Eight requirements, one three-year cycle, one online submission. The key is to start early, track as you go, and get your confirmer and reflective discussion arranged well before your deadline.

You don't need to make it harder than it is. Log your hours, write your reflections, collect your feedback, and get signed off. Ten minutes a month, and you're done.

← Back to all guides

---

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. The information in this guide is for general informational purposes and does not constitute regulatory advice.