You are learning with other professionals
The key feature is genuine interaction. You may be discussing, questioning, sharing ideas or learning together with other professionals.
NurseNet Revalidation & CPD
Participatory CPD for NMC Revalidation
Understand what participatory learning means, which activities may count, and how to build the required participatory hours into your CPD record throughout the revalidation cycle.
The definition
Participatory
Independent
What is participatory CPD?
Participatory CPD is professional learning that involves interaction with one or more other professionals. The interaction can happen in person or virtually.
You are learning on your own
Independent study can still contribute towards your overall CPD hours, but it would not normally contribute towards the minimum participatory requirement where there is no professional interaction.
Examples
Courses
Workshops
Conferences
Virtual learning
Group learning
Peer learning
What can count as participatory CPD?
The NMC does not prescribe one particular type of CPD. A wide range of relevant professional learning activities can be participatory where they involve interaction with other professionals.
Relevant training courses
A course can be participatory when you actively learn and interact with other professionals taking part.
Interactive workshops
Workshops can provide discussion, shared problem solving and professional interaction around a learning topic.
Professional conferences
Relevant conferences may contribute where the learning includes meaningful professional interaction.
Interactive online sessions
Participatory learning does not have to happen in the same physical room. Interaction can take place virtually.
Professional learning meetings
Group meetings outside normal everyday practice may count where the purpose is to learn about a particular event, issue or way of working.
Learning through discussion
Structured discussion with other professionals can support learning through shared knowledge, experience and reflection.
Physical or virtual
You do not have to be in the same room
Interaction is what matters
The NMC specifically allows participatory learning to take place in a physical or virtual environment. A live professional learning session can therefore be participatory even when participants are joining remotely, provided genuine interaction takes place.
A useful distinction
Live webinar or recorded webinar?
Interactive live learning
A live virtual session where you interact with other professionals may contribute to participatory CPD.
Watching independently
Watching a recorded learning session independently may still be useful CPD, but without interaction it would not normally meet the participatory element.
Planning ahead
Do not leave your 20 participatory hours until the end
It is easier to build participatory learning gradually across your three-year revalidation cycle than to discover close to your renewal date that most of your CPD has been completed independently.
1
Plan
Include interactive learning opportunities in your development plans.
2
Participate
Engage actively with other professionals during relevant learning.
3
Record
Record your total hours and clearly identify the participatory hours.
4
Evidence
Keep appropriate evidence showing that the learning took place.
Recording participatory CPD
What should your CPD record include?
Your CPD record should make it easy to see what learning you completed and how many of the hours were participatory.
Learning details
- CPD method.
- Topic and relevance to your practice.
- Date of the activity.
Hours
- Total CPD hours.
- Number of participatory hours.
- Relevant part of the NMC Code.
Evidence
Retain evidence that demonstrates you undertook the learning activity.
Frequently asked questions
Participatory CPD questions
How many participatory CPD hours do I need?
At least 20 of the required 35 CPD hours must include participatory learning during the three-year revalidation period.
Does participatory CPD have to be face to face?
No. Participatory learning can take place physically or virtually. The important feature is interaction with one or more other professionals.
Can an online course count as participatory CPD?
It may do if it includes genuine interaction with other professionals. An online activity completed entirely on your own may still count towards CPD but would not normally contribute to the participatory requirement.
Do all 35 CPD hours have to be participatory?
No. The requirement is for at least 20 participatory hours within the total 35 hours of CPD.
Official guidance:
Check the current
NMC continuing professional development guidance
when planning your revalidation.
Continue your CPD pathway
Build a revalidation-ready CPD record
Continue through the NurseNet CPD learning centre to understand what counts as CPD, how to record your learning, practical CPD examples and how CPD connects with reflection and revalidation.
NurseNet provides educational support and does not replace official Nursing and Midwifery Council guidance. Always check the latest NMC requirements before submitting your revalidation application.
