23 June 2026: The NMC has launched the most significant review of revalidation since the process was introduced in 2016. The regulator cites "new and emerging challenges in practice" as the driving force, specifically naming artificial intelligence, equality and diversity, high-profile public inquiries, and the evolving roles of nurses and midwives.
This is not a minor update. It is a fundamental reassessment of how revalidation works and what it asks of professionals. The outcomes will shape how every nurse on the UK register demonstrates their fitness to practise for the next decade.
Here is what is driving the review, what the NMC has heard so far, and what it means for your next revalidation submission.
The Review at a Glance
The NMC announced the Code and revalidation review in September 2025 with an open survey that ran until the end of that month. Over 12,500 responses came in from professionals, students, employers, and members of the public. The NMC appointed Professor Sharon Arkell MBE as chair of the independent steering group overseeing the review.
Since then, the regulator has held targeted roundtables with midwives, prescribers, nursing associates, social care nurses, and employers. The findings from these sessions are feeding directly into the proposals that will be presented to the NMC Council on 21 July 2026.
The Five Driving Forces
When Nursing Times asked the NMC to elaborate on the "new and emerging challenges" driving the review, the regulator's spokesperson specifically named four areas. Here they are, with the context of why each one matters now.
- Artificial Intelligence The NMC confirmed AI is an official theme of the review. AI tools are already being used in clinical decision-making, nursing documentation, and increasingly in revalidation itself. The regulator needs standards that define professional accountability when AI assists or automates parts of nursing work. The current Code, written in 2015, has nothing to say on this.
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion The NMC's own independent review exposed a toxic culture at the regulator, including bullying and racism. That reckoning is now shaping the standards the NMC sets for the profession. The new Code is expected to include explicit anti-discrimination and anti-racism standards, and revalidation will need to assess professionals against them.
- High-Profile Public Inquiries The NMC name-checked high-profile inquiries as a driver of the review. The inquiry into the Countess of Chester Hospital, the Infected Blood Inquiry, and other major investigations have all raised questions about professional accountability, candour, and the role of regulation. The new Code and revalidation process will need to embed the lessons from these inquiries.
- Evolving Roles of Professionals The scope of nursing practice has expanded significantly since 2015. Advanced practice roles, nursing associates, independent prescribers, and specialist community public health nurses all operate under the same Code but with vastly different scopes of practice. The review is looking at whether revalidation should differentiate between roles or remain a single standard.
- The Evolving Health and Social Care Landscape Beyond the four named areas, the NMC's broader concern is that the health and social care system looks fundamentally different from a decade ago. Workforce pressures, the shift toward community-based care, the integration of health and social care, and the lasting impact of the pandemic all shape what revalidation needs to assess.
What the NMC Has Heard So Far
The initial survey and roundtables have surfaced several consistent themes. The NMC has not published the full findings yet (those will come with the July Council papers), but the regulator has shared enough to show the direction of travel.
From Professionals
Nurses have told the NMC that revalidation feels like a box-ticking exercise rather than a meaningful process for professional development. They want it to be less burdensome, more relevant to their actual practice, and better integrated with employer appraisal systems. The 450-hour practice requirement and the reflective account format have both been questioned.
From Employers
Employers raised duplication between appraisal and revalidation as their biggest frustration. The roundtables also surfaced concerns about the confirmer role being too loosely defined. Employers want clearer standards for who can confirm and what preparation they need.
From the Public
Members of the public who responded to the survey and participated in lived experience roundtables emphasised trust, transparency, and accountability. The public expects the regulator to deal firmly with registrants whose behaviour undermines confidence, both in and outside of practice.
What the Review Is Specifically Looking At
The NMC has confirmed the review is examining five areas of the current revalidation model:
- Practice hours requirement — whether the 450-hour threshold over three years is still appropriate and how it should be evidenced
- CPD requirements — whether 35 hours is the right amount and how participatory and non-participatory learning should be balanced
- Reflective accounts — whether the current format produces meaningful reflection or just compliant prose
- Reflective discussion and confirmation — whether the confirmer role needs more structure and training
- Digital and technological integration — how revalidation can be more digital-first and how AI tools fit into the process
Where Revalidation Copilot fits
If the NMC moves toward a more digital, integrated revalidation process, tools like Revalidation Copilot are already ahead of that curve. The app tracks CPD hours, practice hours, reflective accounts, and feedback in one place. It exports your entire portfolio on demand. And it uses AI in the way the NMC is leaning toward: as an assistant that helps you structure your reflections while you retain full accountability for the content. Try it free.
The Timeline
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| September 2025 | Initial survey launched (12,500+ responses received) |
| 2025 to 2026 | Targeted roundtables with professionals, employers, and public |
| 21 July 2026 | Council meeting: proposals presented, consultation approval sought |
| September to December 2026 | 12-week public consultation |
| May 2027 | Consultation findings reported to Council |
| October 2027 | New Code and revalidation process approved |
| April 2028 | New revalidation requirements go live |
What You Should Do Now
1. Respond to the consultation
When the public consultation opens in September 2026, you will have 12 weeks to submit your views. The NMC has made it clear it wants to hear from as many professionals as possible. A single consultation response from a practising nurse carries weight. Write your own or use our Consultation Response Wizard to prepare your submission in 15 minutes.
2. Keep meeting current requirements
The existing revalidation process is still in force. Your current deadline has not changed. Stay on top of CPD, practice hours, and reflective accounts. The NMC Revalidation Checklist 2026 covers everything you need.
3. Start reflecting on the emerging themes
Even before the new standards take effect, reflective accounts that engage with AI in practice, EDI, and professional accountability will demonstrate forward-thinking practice. Use Revalidation Copilot to draft reflections on these themes now.
4. Digitise your portfolio
The direction of travel is digital-first revalidation. If you are still tracking CPD in a notebook or spreadsheet, the transition will be harder than it needs to be. Revalidation Copilot lets you switch to a digital portfolio today. When the new system arrives, your records are already in the right format.
Your digital revalidation portfolio starts here
Track CPD, log practice hours, write reflective accounts, and export your portfolio. Built for the system we have now and ready for whatever comes next.
Download Revalidation CopilotThe Bottom Line
This review is the biggest change to revalidation since the process was introduced. The NMC is responding to genuine shifts in the professional landscape: AI is becoming part of clinical practice, EDI is a regulatory priority, high-profile inquiries have exposed gaps in accountability, and the workforce itself looks different from a decade ago.
The review is well-scoped. The engagement has been broad. The timeline gives everyone time to prepare. The question is whether you use that time to get ahead or wait until the changes land on your desk.
The smart money is on starting now.
Related Reading
- NMC Code Modernisation: EDI, Social Media & Behaviour Outside Practice
- NMC Takes AI to Council on 21 July: What's at Stake
- NMC Employer Roundtable Proposals Explained
- NMC Revalidation Changes 2026: What We Know So Far
- What is NMC AI? How AI Tools Help with Revalidation
This article was written based on NMC announcements and reporting from Nursing Times. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NMC. For official information, visit nmc.org.uk.
← Back to all articles