NMC CPD Points: What Nurses and Midwives Need to Know

NMC CPD points: what nurses and midwives need to know

If you are preparing for Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) revalidation, you may have heard people talk about “NMC CPD points”. However, the NMC does not operate a points-based system. Instead, it requires registered nurses and midwives to complete and record a set number of continuing professional development (CPD) hours during each three-year revalidation period.

How many CPD hours does the NMC require?

For revalidation, you must complete at least 35 hours of CPD relevant to your scope of practice during the three years before your revalidation application is due.

At least 20 of those hours must involve participatory learning. This means learning carried out with other people, such as colleagues or other professionals. It might take place in person or online, provided there is an opportunity to interact and learn with others.

The remaining CPD hours can include learning you complete independently, such as reading relevant articles or undertaking online study. The activity should support your professional development and be relevant to your work.

What counts as CPD?

CPD is learning that helps you maintain or develop your knowledge and skills. The NMC does not prescribe a list of approved courses or activities, and there is no set conversion rate between CPD hours and “points”. The important thing is to record the time spent on relevant learning and explain how it relates to your practice.

Examples of possible CPD activities include:

• attending a course, conference, seminar or webinar;
• taking part in a clinical supervision or peer-learning session;
• completing relevant online training;
• reading professional journals, research or guidance;
• undertaking a work-based learning activity; and
• sharing learning with colleagues or discussing a professional topic.

These are examples, not a definitive list. Consider whether each activity is relevant to your scope of practice and what you learned from it.

What evidence should you keep?

You need to maintain a CPD record for revalidation. For each activity, record the date, the number of hours, the topic and how the learning relates to your practice. Keep supporting evidence where available, such as a certificate, attendance record, programme, notes or confirmation of participation.

For each CPD activity, the NMC asks you to provide a short reflective account describing what you learned, how it is relevant to your practice and how it will improve the way you work. Keep your records together and up to date, rather than trying to recreate them shortly before your application is due.

Does every course earn NMC CPD points?

No. The NMC does not award points for courses, and a course does not automatically count towards your CPD requirement simply because it is advertised as “NMC-approved”. You are responsible for deciding whether the learning is relevant to your practice and recording the hours accurately.

Likewise, do not assume that a course’s duration is the number of CPD hours you can claim. Record the time you actually spent undertaking the learning, in line with the NMC’s revalidation guidance.

CPD is one part of revalidation

Meeting the CPD requirement is only one part of revalidation. Depending on your registration, you must also meet other requirements, including practice hours, practice-related feedback, written reflective accounts, a reflective discussion, health and character declarations, appropriate indemnity arrangements and confirmation.

Check the current NMC guidance and your revalidation date so you have time to meet every requirement. If you are unsure whether an activity is suitable, keep a clear record of what you did and why it supports your professional practice.

In summary

There are no official “NMC CPD points”. For revalidation, the key requirement is at least 35 hours of relevant CPD over three years, including at least 20 hours of participatory learning. Keep evidence, reflect on what you have learned and make sure your CPD record relates to your scope of practice.

 

Essential FAQs on NMC CPD Points: Understanding Requirements, Earning Points, and Recognising Qualifying Activities

1. Do webinars count as participatory CPD?
2. How to get 10 cpd points?
3. How to get 20 CPD points?
4. How many CPD points do I need for NMC?
5. How many CPD units for nurses in 2026?
6. How do I get CPD points online for nurses?
7. What counts as CPD hours?
8. How many CPD hours do I need for an NMC?

Do webinars count as participatory CPD?

Yes, webinars can count as participatory CPD if they involve learning with others—for example, a live session with opportunities to ask questions, join discussions or interact with the presenter or other participants. Record the time spent and keep evidence of your attendance, such as a certificate or confirmation email. A recorded webinar watched on your own may count towards your CPD hours if it is relevant to your practice, but it would not usually meet the NMC’s participatory learning requirement because there is no interaction with others.

How to get 10 cpd points?

The NMC does not award CPD points, so there is no official way to earn “10 NMC CPD points”. For revalidation, it requires at least 35 hours of relevant CPD over three years, including at least 20 hours of participatory learning. If a course or provider describes an activity as worth 10 CPD points, check what that means in hours and record the actual time spent learning, how the activity relates to your practice and what you learned.

How to get 20 CPD points?

The NMC does not award CPD points: for revalidation, you need at least 20 hours of participatory learning as part of 35 hours of CPD over three years. You can meet this requirement through relevant learning with other people, such as attending a course, conference or interactive webinar, joining a peer discussion or clinical supervision, or taking part in a learning session with colleagues. Record the date, duration and topic, keep evidence where possible, and explain how the learning relates to your practice.

How many CPD points do I need for NMC?

The NMC does not use a CPD points system. For revalidation, nurses and midwives must complete at least 35 hours of continuing professional development relevant to their practice during the three years before their application is due. At least 20 of these hours must involve participatory learning with others. Keep a record of your activities and supporting evidence, and check the latest NMC guidance for full revalidation requirements.

How many CPD units for nurses in 2026?

In 2026, the NMC does not require nurses to earn CPD “units” or points. For revalidation, nurses must complete at least 35 hours of relevant continuing professional development during each three-year registration period, including at least 20 hours of participatory learning. Keep a record of your learning and check the NMC’s current revalidation guidance for the requirements that apply to your renewal date.

How do I get CPD points online for nurses?

The NMC does not award CPD points: for revalidation, nurses need at least 35 hours of relevant CPD over three years, including at least 20 hours of participatory learning. You can complete CPD online through relevant courses, webinars and interactive learning sessions, but the activity must support your scope of practice; simply completing a course does not guarantee it counts. Keep a record of the date, duration and learning, along with evidence such as a certificate or attendance confirmation, and reflect on how it will inform your practice.

What counts as CPD hours?

CPD hours are the time you spend on learning that is relevant to your scope of practice and helps develop or maintain your knowledge and skills. This can include courses, conferences, webinars, workplace learning, peer discussions and relevant reading. The NMC requires at least 35 hours of CPD during each three-year revalidation period, including at least 20 hours of participatory learning with others. There is no NMC points system, so keep a record of the hours completed and how each activity relates to your practice.

How many CPD hours do I need for an NMC?

For NMC revalidation, you need to complete at least 35 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) relevant to your scope of practice during each three-year registration period. At least 20 of these hours must involve participatory learning with other people, either in person or online. The NMC does not use a CPD points system, so keep a record of your learning hours and supporting evidence.