Nursing staff can’t practise unless they go through revalidation with the NMC – but the process can be complex.  

To help you get nurses, midwives and other NMC registrants through revalidation, our experts have answered the seven most frequently asked questions:

1. Do my agency staff need to revalidate?

Yes. All agency or bank nursing and midwifery staff need to revalidate every three years. Part-time staff only need to work 12.5 hours a week to meet the practice hours requirements. Some agencies will support their staff through the process, but be prepared to offer support along the way. 

2. If my staff are retiring soon, do they need to revalidate?

No. Staff who are retiring within the next three years do not need to revalidate. However, if they are considering a return to nursing in future, we recommend that they do. There is a lot of extra work and a charge to re-register with the NMC, so it’s a good idea to keep registrations up-to-date.

3. Do I need to arrange appraisals for all staff?

Not exactly. The NMC recommends confirmation discussions take place during an appraisal, but this is not a mandatory requirement.

4. Do ALL my nursing staff need to revalidate?

Yes. All NMC registrants must revalidate every three years, even if they don’t deliver hands-on clinical care. So that means all management staff, senior sisters, teaching positions and commissioning services leaders must also go through the process.

5. Do staff have to complete their registration by the end of the month? 

Yes. Each individual must submit their revalidation application on the first day of the month that their registration expires. This means if their renewal date is 30th September, they must submit their application by 1st September. Make sure you and your teams stay informed as it’s a rule that can easily catch people out. 

6. Will I need to collect all my staff’s portfolios to submit to the NMC?

No. Your nursing staff need to create a revalidation portfolio to show to their confirmer, but they don’t need to submit it to the NMC at any time.

7. Can staff mix and match their practice hours?

No. Your nursing and midwifery staff must specify their scope of practice in their NMC application, and stick to it. This means staff can’t use tasks completed as a midwife towards their nursing registration and vice-versa. 

However, this is the only requirement separated by practice for dual-registered nurses and midwives. 

We hope this has helped clear things up! 

For a complete overview of the revalidation process, download our ultimate guide to revalidation. It covers everything you and your staff need to know about the process, including: 

• What is revalidation? 
• How will revalidation affect patient care? 
• The role of nurses, employers and confirmers 
• Revalidation management systems 
• How OneFile can help your staff meet each requirement 
• Patient confidentiality 
• And much more 

Download our case study from North Bristol NHS Trust.