Disclaimer: Revalidation Copilot is an independent tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). It uses AI to help nurses organise records and draft structured reflective accounts. All AI-generated content must be reviewed, edited, and approved by the user. The NMC does not endorse or require any specific AI tool. Always refer to official NMC guidance for your full revalidation requirements.
If you searched "NMC AI" on Google, you're likely a UK nurse who has heard that AI can help with revalidation but wants to know what it actually does — and whether it's safe to use.
This page explains what NMC AI is, what these tools can and cannot do, and how to evaluate any AI tool for your revalidation portfolio. It is based on publicly available information from the NMC and other UK healthcare regulators as of May 2026.
What Does "NMC AI" Mean?
"NMC AI" is not an official NMC product. It's a search term used by nurses looking for AI tools that help with NMC revalidation. There is no single tool called "NMC AI." Instead, the term covers apps and platforms that use artificial intelligence to assist with tasks like:
- Drafting reflective accounts in the NMC format
- Tracking CPD hours against the 35-hour requirement
- Logging practice hours over a 3-year cycle
- Storing feedback and connecting it to reflections
- Organising portfolio documents for export
What the NMC Actually Says About AI
As of May 2026, the NMC has not issued a formal position statement or specific guidance on AI in revalidation. However, the regulator is actively working on it — and publicly available information shows where they are heading.
The NMC is reviewing the Code to include AI standards
In February 2025, the NMC announced a programme of work to modernise the Code, stating: "A modernised Code will set clearer standards in areas where practice has changed over the past decade. This is likely to include… artificial intelligence."1 The NMC's public consultation on proposed changes to the Code and revalidation is scheduled for September 2026, with the new Code and revalidation process expected to come into effect in October 2027.2
"Our standards must reflect the significant changes that have impacted on health and care delivery in recent years, from EDI to the Covid-19 pandemic, high profile inquiries and the progress of artificial intelligence."
Nurses and midwives are calling for AI guidance
The NMC's Code and revalidation survey received over 12,500 responses. Initial findings published in November 2025 showed that respondents are keen to see "clearer standards on the safe and appropriate use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in nursing and midwifery."3 Professionals also want strengthened professional boundaries when using social media and other digital tools.
"It's clear from the initial findings of our survey that nurses, midwives and nursing associates want us to invest in a modernised Code and revalidation guidance to account for the rapidly-evolving world of digital technology, including artificial intelligence."
Employer roundtables support AI principles for revalidation
In April 2026, the NMC held roundtables with employers and self-employed registrants, presenting proposals that included "introducing a set of principles to guide the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technology in Revalidation."4 According to the NMC, there was "clear support for developing principles around the use of AI, recognising both its increasing role in care and the need for proportionate, practical guidance."
NMC AI timeline
- February 2025 NMC announces Code review will include AI standards
- 2025 (ongoing) Code and revalidation survey — 12,500+ responses
- November 2025 Initial findings published — AI is a top theme
- April 2026 Employer roundtables — clear support for AI principles in revalidation
- September 2026 Public consultation on proposed Code and revalidation changes
- October 2027 New Code and revalidation process comes into effect
What this means for you
The NMC is not silent on AI — it is actively developing principles for AI use in revalidation. The direction of travel is towards guidance, not prohibition. In the meantime, there is no published rule forbidding the use of AI tools to assist with reflective accounts, CPD tracking, or portfolio organisation — as long as the final content remains your own work and you can stand by it.
Is AI Allowed by the NMC?
There is no NMC rule that explicitly prohibits using AI to help with revalidation. The NMC's published guidance requires that reflective accounts are your own work, reviewed and owned by you. Using AI as a drafting assistant — similar to using a spellchecker or a template — is not prohibited. The key requirement is that you review, edit, and take responsibility for the final content.
The NMC states: "Your reflective accounts must be your own work and you should be able to talk about them in your reflective discussion." This means you should understand and stand by what you've written, whether or not you used AI to help structure it.
Where other UK regulators stand on AI
For context, the General Medical Council (GMC) already published ethical guidance for doctors using AI, acknowledging AI's role in clinical practice and portfolio work. The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) appointed an independent adviser for innovation in early 2026 but has not issued specific AI guidance for its 15 regulated professions. The NMC is expected to follow a similar path — setting principles rather than prescribing or prohibiting specific tools.
How AI Is Used for NMC Revalidation
Reflective Account Drafting
This is where AI is most commonly used. You describe a CPD activity, piece of feedback, or practice experience — either by typing or speaking a voice note — and the AI structures it into the NMC's three-question reflective account format:
- What was the nature of the CPD activity, feedback, or experience?
- What did you learn from it?
- How did you change or improve your practice as a result?
The AI does not write the reflection for you. It creates a structured draft based on what you provide. You must review, edit, and finalise it. The NMC makes clear that the professional remains accountable for the content of their portfolio.
CPD and Practice Hour Tracking
AI-powered apps can calculate running totals against NMC requirements (35 hours CPD, 450 practice hours). This is arithmetic, not generative AI — but it removes the manual tracking burden that causes many nurses to lose sight of their progress.
Portfolio Organisation
Some tools use AI to categorise entries, suggest missing evidence, or flag gaps in your portfolio before your revalidation deadline.
What AI Cannot Do for NMC Revalidation
- Submit to the NMC on your behalf. You must submit your revalidation through NMC Online yourself.
- Replace your professional judgment. You are responsible for reviewing and approving every reflective account.
- Act as your confirmer. The reflective discussion and confirmation must involve another NMC-registered professional.
- Generate accurate content without your input. AI needs your specific details to produce useful drafts. Vague inputs produce vague reflections.
How to Evaluate an NMC AI Tool
- Does it keep your data secure? Your portfolio contains personal and professional information. The tool should encrypt data in transit and at rest, and not share your data with third parties.
- Does it clearly separate AI output from your final review? Any reputable tool will make clear that AI produces a draft, not a final document.
- Does it allow export? You should be able to export your portfolio at any time. Never use a tool that locks your data.
- Does it support the NMC Code? Your reflections need to reference the Code's four themes. Good AI tools help you make those connections.
NMC AI vs Doing It Manually
| Manual | With AI Tool | |
|---|---|---|
| Time per reflective account | 30-60 minutes | 10-15 minutes (review + edit) |
| Formatting | Must follow NMC template manually | Structured by AI, you adjust |
| Code connections | Look up and reference manually | Suggested by AI, you confirm |
| CPD hour tracking | Manual log or spreadsheet | Auto-calculated running total |
| Risk | Errors from manual tracking | Must still review AI output |
Is NMC AI Right for You?
AI tools are most useful for nurses who:
- Struggle with finding time to write reflective accounts from scratch
- Want to track CPD and practice hours as they go rather than scrambling at the deadline
- Prefer speaking their reflections (voice-to-text) rather than typing
- Are comfortable reviewing and editing AI-generated drafts
AI tools are less useful if you prefer writing everything from scratch, or if the thought of reviewing AI output adds more stress than it removes.
What Revalidation Copilot Does
Revalidation Copilot is an AI-powered app built specifically for UK nurses completing NMC revalidation. Here is what it does and does not do:
It does: draft reflective accounts from voice notes or text, calculate CPD and practice hours, store feedback and certificates, suggest Code theme connections, and let you export your portfolio.
It does not: submit anything to the NMC, write reflections without your input, replace your confirmer, or store patient-identifiable information.
Every AI-generated draft includes a clear prompt to review, edit, and finalise before it becomes part of your portfolio.
Start for free
Download Revalidation Copilot. No commitment. See if AI-assisted revalidation works for you.
Download the AppReferences
- NMC sets out programme of work to support nursing and midwifery practice — NMC, February 2025
- Code and revalidation reviews — NMC, updated January 2026
- Initial feedback on the Code calls for greater focus on AI, challenging discrimination and staff wellbeing — NMC, November 2025
- NMC seeks feedback from employers and self-employed registrants on Revalidation changes — NMC, April 2026
Related Guides
- What is NMC Revalidation?
- How to Write Reflective Accounts (With Examples)
- NMC Code: 4 Themes Explained
- NMC Revalidation Checklist 2026