Courses and structured education
Relevant courses, workshops, conferences, study days and structured online learning can form part of your CPD.
NurseNet Revalidation & CPD
What Counts as CPD for NMC Revalidation?
CPD for revalidation is not simply about collecting certificates. It is about choosing relevant learning, recording it clearly and showing how it supports your professional practice.
Understanding CPD
Formal learning
Workplace learning
Independent learning
So, what actually counts as CPD?
The NMC does not prescribe one single type of CPD. The important question is whether the activity contributes meaningfully to your professional development and is relevant to your scope of practice.
Learning with colleagues
Workshops, professional meetings and learning activities involving interaction with other professionals may contribute to your participatory learning hours.
Self-directed development
Relevant reading, online study and other self-directed learning can contribute to your CPD where it develops knowledge or skills relevant to your practice.
Practical examples
Examples of activities that may count as CPD
The activity itself is only part of the picture. You should also be able to explain what you learned, why it was relevant and how it relates to your professional practice.
Participatory CPD examples
- Attending a relevant workshop or training course.
- Participating in a professional conference.
- Taking part in a learning session with colleagues.
- Joining a relevant webinar with professional interaction.
- Taking part in a professional discussion or learning group.
Non-participatory CPD examples
- Relevant self-directed study.
- Reading professional guidance or research.
- Completing suitable online learning independently.
- Reviewing new evidence relevant to your area of practice.
- Learning undertaken to address an identified development need.
The key test
Relevance matters more than the format
Ask yourself three questions
Does this activity develop my professional knowledge or skills? Is it relevant to my scope of practice? Can I explain what I learned and how that learning may support my practice?
Recording your learning
What should you record for each CPD activity?
Good CPD records make revalidation much easier because the information and evidence are already organised when you need them.
1
Activity
Record the CPD method, topic and date.
2
Hours
Record the total hours and identify participatory hours.
3
Relevance
Explain how the activity relates to your scope of practice and the Code.
4
Evidence
Keep appropriate evidence showing that you completed the activity.
Common misunderstanding
CPD is not simply time spent doing your normal job
CPD
A learning activity undertaken to maintain or develop your professional knowledge and skills, relevant to your scope of practice.
Everyday practice
Healthcare professionals learn continuously through their work, but routine practice itself is different from a distinct CPD learning activity.
Build your CPD record
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A simple NurseNet approach
Rather than waiting until revalidation is approaching, build your CPD evidence gradually throughout the three-year cycle.
Learn
Choose learning that is relevant to your role, development needs and scope of practice.
Record
Record the activity, hours, relevance, Code connection and evidence while it is fresh.
Reflect
Consider what changed in your understanding and how the learning could influence practice.
Frequently asked questions
CPD questions nurses often ask
Does online learning count as CPD?
It can. What matters is that the learning is relevant to your scope of practice and that you record the activity appropriately. Whether it is participatory depends on whether the learning includes interaction with other professionals.
Does reading count as CPD?
Relevant self-directed reading may contribute to CPD where it represents genuine professional learning relevant to your practice.
Do all 35 hours need to be participatory?
No. The NMC requires at least 20 of the 35 CPD hours to include participatory learning.
Does the NMC specify exactly which CPD activities I must complete?
No. The NMC does not prescribe one particular type of CPD. You should choose learning that is useful for your professional development and relevant to your scope of practice.
Continue learning
Build your CPD record with NurseNet
Explore the NurseNet CPD learning centre for practical guidance on participatory CPD, recording learning, CPD examples, reflection and preparing for NMC revalidation.
NurseNet provides educational support and does not replace official Nursing and Midwifery Council guidance. Always check the current NMC revalidation requirements before submitting your revalidation application.
