What templates do I need for NMC revalidation?

The NMC does not issue mandatory templates, but you need to track six things: 450 practice hours, 35 hours of CPD (at least 20 participatory), 5 reflective accounts, 5 pieces of practice-related feedback, a reflective discussion, and confirmation by an NMC registrant. A template can hold these, but an app can calculate and remind you automatically.

Does the NMC provide a revalidation template?

The NMC provides guidance and example reflective account forms, but not a single combined tracker. You build your own portfolio. Most nurses use a spreadsheet, a notebook, or an app to keep the six requirements in one place.

Can I use a spreadsheet instead of an app for revalidation?

Yes, a spreadsheet works. The risk is that it requires you to remember to update it, and totals are easy to mis-calculate. An app that tracks practice hours and CPD automatically removes that manual step, which is why many nurses switch.

NMC Revalidation Templates 2026: What You Actually Need to Track

Q: How many reflective accounts do I need?

Five written reflective accounts over your three-year cycle. Each must cover what you learned, how you changed your practice, and how it links to the NMC Code. At least four should relate to your CPD or feedback.

If you're searching for an NMC revalidation template, you're probably about to build a portfolio and want something to fill in. Here's the short version of what you need, and the honest take on whether a template is the right tool.

The NMC doesn't issue one combined revalidation template. You're responsible for tracking six things, and the "template" is whatever system holds them together: a spreadsheet, a notebook, or an app.

The six things every revalidation template must hold

Whatever you use, these are the six requirements it has to cover. Miss one and you're chasing it later.

Requirement	What you need
1. Practice hours	450 hours of registered practice over 3 years (900 for dual-registered nurses).
2. CPD	35 hours, at least 20 of them participatory (study days, workshops, live training).
3. Reflective accounts	5 written reflections, each linked to the NMC Code.
4. Feedback	5 pieces of practice-related feedback.
5. Reflective discussion	A conversation with another NMC registrant about your portfolio.
6. Confirmation	A registered professional who reviews and confirms your portfolio.

Where a template falls short

A template keeps things tidy on day one. The problem comes three years later, when you actually have to use it.

It doesn't calculate. 450 practice hours across three years is easy to undercount or forget a bank shift. A spreadsheet shows you numbers; it doesn't warn you when you're short.
It doesn't remind you. The single biggest reason nurses rush revalidation is they stop tracking for six months and forget where they are.
It doesn't write the reflections. The reflection is the part most nurses find hardest. A blank template still leaves you staring at a blank page.
It lives in one place. A spreadsheet on a work laptop you can't access on a night shift is not a system, it's a chore.

💡 The real question isn't "which template"

It's "what will I actually keep updated for three years?" A beautiful template you never open is worse than a messy notebook you carry everywhere. Pick the system you'll actually use.

What a template should cover: the quick reference

If you do want to work from a structure, here's what each section needs. Use it as a checklist for whatever tool you choose.

Practice hours log

Columns for date, hours worked, and role or setting. Keep a running total. Agency, bank, and voluntary hours all count, so record everything as it happens.

CPD log

Date, activity title, number of hours, and whether it was participatory or non-participatory. Attach the certificate or evidence if you can. Most nurses already have the 35 hours; they just don't record them.

Reflective accounts (five of them)

Each one needs: what the activity or experience was, what you learned, how you changed your practice, and how it links to the NMC Code. The Code link is the part nurses most often forget, and it's a common reason portfolios get returned at audit.

Feedback record

Save feedback as you receive it, not three years later. Performance reviews, patient feedback (anonymised), thank-you notes, and peer observations all qualify. You need five pieces over your three-year cycle, so don't leave it to the last minute to collect them.

Reflective discussion and confirmation

Log who you discussed with, when, and who confirmed your portfolio. Give your confirmer at least two to three weeks, and book the discussion four to six weeks before your deadline.

Why most nurses ditch the spreadsheet

The nurses who describe revalidation as easy aren't more organised than everyone else. They've just picked a system that does the remembering for them. That's the whole difference.

Revalidation Copilot tracks the six requirements as one workflow. Log CPD in 30 seconds between patients, speak a reflection after a shift and let it draft the write-up, and see your practice-hours total update automatically. The template is there: it's just not a static file.

Your revalidation template, automated

Track practice hours, CPD, feedback, and reflections in one app. It calculates, reminds, and drafts the accounts for you.

Download the App

More on the six requirements

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 official NMC guidance for your full revalidation requirements.

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