NMC Registration
Registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council - the legal requirement for all nurses, midwives, and nursing associates to practise in the UK.
Quick Reference
What is a NMC Registration?
NMC registration is the process by which nurses, midwives, and nursing associates in the UK are placed on the Nursing and Midwifery Council register. Only those on the register may legally use the titles "registered nurse," "registered midwife," or "registered nursing associate" and practise in these roles. The register is public - anyone can check whether a professional is currently registered.
Registration must be renewed every three years. Renewal is not automatic - registrants must demonstrate they have met revalidation requirements, which include a minimum number of practice hours, continuing professional development (CPD), practice-related feedback, reflective accounts, and a professional discussion with another NMC registrant who acts as a "confirmer."
For employers, checking NMC registration status is a mandatory pre-employment check, and ongoing monitoring of registration is a key governance responsibility. Staff with lapsed or suspended registration cannot legally work as nurses or midwives - even if employed in other aspects of healthcare.
What Happens If It's Missed?
A nurse or midwife whose NMC registration has lapsed cannot legally practise. Employing a lapsed registrant - knowingly or unknowingly - exposes the healthcare provider to serious regulatory risk, including CQC investigation, civil liability, and potential criminal prosecution. The NMC itself can take fitness-to-practise action against registrants who allow their registration to lapse while continuing to practise. For employers, failure to monitor registration status is treated as a governance failure.
How Healthcare Providers Manage This
Healthcare organisations - care homes, NHS trusts, GP practices, private hospitals - are responsible for verifying NMC registration before hire and monitoring ongoing registration status. With potentially hundreds of registered nurses across multiple wards or sites, this is a significant tracking challenge. Many organisations conduct ad-hoc checks but miss the ongoing monitoring requirement. Purpose-built compliance tracking tools enable organisations to record each nurse's registration renewal date, receive advance alerts before renewal is due, and maintain a complete audit trail for inspection purposes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How often must NMC registration be renewed?
Every 3 years. The renewal is not automatic - nurses and midwives must complete revalidation, which involves demonstrating a minimum of 450 practice hours, 35 hours of CPD (including 20 participatory hours), five practice-related feedback pieces, five written reflective accounts, a reflective discussion with another NMC registrant, and a health and character declaration.
Can a nurse work with an expired NMC registration?
No. It is a criminal offence to use the title "registered nurse" or "registered midwife" without a current NMC registration. An individual with lapsed registration cannot carry out work that requires registration. Employers who allow this face serious regulatory consequences.
What is the difference between NMC registration and revalidation?
Registration is the act of being on the NMC register. Revalidation is the process nurses and midwives complete every three years to renew their registration. Revalidation replaced the previous PREP (Post Registration Education and Practice) standard in 2016 and is more rigorous - requiring confirmation from a third-party confirmer.
Who can act as a revalidation confirmer?
The confirmer must be another NMC registrant - a registered nurse, midwife, or nursing associate. They do not need to be the employee's line manager, but they must have a professional discussion with the registrant about their reflective accounts and sign off the revalidation form. The confirmer takes on responsibility for confirming the account is authentic.
How do employers check NMC registration status?
The NMC maintains a public online register at nmc.org.uk that anyone can search by name. Employers should check this before hire and periodically during employment. Some healthcare organisations also use NMC's employer-facing tools or connect to their professional record systems to automate monitoring.
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