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Choose relevant learning
Focus on development that genuinely relates to your scope of practice, responsibilities, patients or professional goals.
NurseNet Revalidation & CPD
CPD for NMC Revalidation
A practical NurseNet learning centre to help nurses understand CPD requirements, plan relevant learning, distinguish participatory CPD, keep useful records and connect professional development with reflective practice.
UK nursing focused ยท Practical examples ยท Built around current NMC revalidation guidance
A practical approach
CPD is more than collecting certificates.
Continuing professional development is learning that helps you maintain and develop the knowledge and skills relevant to your professional practice. The strongest CPD records make the connection between the learning activity, your role and what you took from it.
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Keep clear evidence
Record what you did, when you did it, how long it took and how it connects with your practice and the Code.
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Turn learning into practice
Use CPD as a way to identify learning, reflect on development and strengthen future professional practice.
CPD requirements
What does the NMC require?
For revalidation, nurses, midwives and nursing associates normally need 35 hours of CPD relevant to their scope of practice during the three years since their registration was last renewed or they joined the register.
At least 20 of those hours must involve participatory learning โ learning that includes interaction with one or more other professionals.
Important: The NMC does not prescribe one particular type of CPD. The activity should be useful to your professional development and relevant to your scope of practice.
Your CPD records should include
- The method of CPD.
- A description of the topic and how it relates to your practice.
- The date or dates of the activity.
- The number of CPD hours completed.
- The number of participatory hours, where relevant.
- The part of the NMC Code most relevant to the activity.
- Evidence that the CPD activity took place.
Think: learning โ relevance โ evidence โ professional development.
What counts as CPD?
Different forms of learning can contribute.
CPD does not have to mean attending a formal university course. The key questions are whether the activity is genuine learning, whether it is relevant to your scope of practice and whether you can evidence it appropriately.
Formal learning
Courses, workshops, conferences, study days, webinars and organised training may all contribute when relevant to your practice.
Practice-based learning
Structured learning arising from service development, new guidance, specialist training or focused professional discussion can support development.
Independent learning
Relevant reading, online learning and other self-directed development can form part of CPD when recorded and evidenced appropriately.
Participatory learning
Participatory vs non-participatory CPD
Participatory learning includes interaction with one or more other professionals. It can happen face to face or virtually. The remaining CPD hours can include appropriate non-participatory or self-directed learning.
Participatory CPD
Learning with others
The defining feature is professional interaction as part of the learning.
Workshop or interactive study day
Conference or professional learning event
Relevant training course involving interaction
Focused professional group discussion
Interactive virtual learning with other professionals
Non-participatory CPD
Self-directed learning
Independent development can still be useful CPD when it is relevant and properly recorded.
Independent professional reading
Self-directed online learning
Reviewing relevant professional guidance
Independent study of a clinical topic
Other evidenced self-directed development
Record keeping
How to record CPD for revalidation
Good CPD records should make it easy to understand what you learned, why it was relevant and how the activity fits your professional development.
Record learning as you go rather than trying to reconstruct three years of activity shortly before revalidation.
A useful habit: after each CPD activity, capture the evidence and complete the key record details while the learning is still fresh.
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Activity and methodWhat did you do and how did the learning take place?
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RelevanceHow does the topic relate to your scope of practice?
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HoursRecord total CPD time and participatory time where applicable.
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Link to the CodeIdentify the part or parts of the NMC Code relevant to the activity.
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EvidenceKeep appropriate evidence that the learning activity took place.
Build a sustainable CPD habit
A simple NurseNet CPD process
Instead of treating revalidation as a last-minute administrative task, use a repeatable process that turns everyday professional development into an organised CPD record.
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Identify a learning need
Use your role, feedback, changes in practice or professional goals to decide what you need to develop.
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Choose relevant learning
Select an activity that genuinely supports your knowledge, skills or professional development.
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Complete and evidence it
Keep suitable evidence and record the hours, including participatory hours where relevant.
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Connect it to practice
Be clear about how the learning relates to your scope of practice and the NMC Code.
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Reflect and plan what comes next
Consider what changed in your understanding and whether the learning identifies another development need.
CPD & reflective practice
Turn professional learning into meaningful reflection.
Revalidation encourages a culture of reflection, learning and improvement. NurseNet's reflective-writing resources can help you think more clearly about what you learned, why it mattered and how it may influence future practice.
NurseNet CPD Learning Centre
Explore the key CPD questions nurses ask.
Use these topics to move from understanding the basic requirement to building a clear, organised revalidation record.
What counts as CPD?
Understand the types of professional learning that may contribute to your CPD record.
Read this section โWhat makes CPD participatory?
See how professional interaction differs from independent learning.
Read this section โHow should CPD be recorded?
Work through the information your CPD record should contain.
Read this section โHow does CPD connect to reflection?
Use learning experiences to support deeper reflection and future development.
Explore reflection โCPD Guide & revalidation resources
Access NurseNet's existing guides, planners and record-keeping resources.
Open free resources โCheck current NMC requirements
For regulatory decisions, always check the latest guidance directly with the NMC.
Visit NMC guidance โCommon CPD questions
CPD for NMC revalidation: quick answers
How many hours of CPD do I need for NMC revalidation?
The NMC requirement is 35 hours of CPD relevant to your scope of practice during the three-year period, with at least 20 hours involving participatory learning.
Does all CPD have to be participatory?
No. At least 20 of the 35 hours must be participatory. Appropriate independent learning can contribute to the remaining hours.
Does online learning count as CPD?
Online learning can contribute when it is relevant to your scope of practice and appropriately recorded. Whether it is participatory depends on whether the activity includes interaction with one or more other professionals.
Do I need evidence for my CPD?
Yes. NMC guidance states that CPD records should include evidence that the activity was undertaken, alongside the other required record details.
Does the NMC specify exactly which CPD courses I must complete?
The NMC does not prescribe one particular type of CPD. The learning should be relevant to your scope of practice and useful to your professional development.
Free NurseNet resources
Organise your revalidation evidence.
Access the NurseNet CPD Guide alongside revalidation templates, planning tools and practical workbooks in the free Revalidation Resource Library.
NurseNet provides educational support and does not replace official regulatory guidance.
For formal revalidation decisions, refer to
the NMC's current CPD guidance.
