Support to help you revalidate

SUPPORT TO HELP

YOU REVALIDATE

Who should read this guidance?

This guidance sheet is for nurses, midwives and nursing associates who are planning

to renew their registration with the NMC and who may need support to help them

through the process. It explains the ways we can support you to meet the revalidation

requirements and explains how you can apply for this support.

The support we offer

We understand that there may be circumstances that make it more difficult for you

to meet the revalidation requirements. This may be as a result of a disability, an illness,

pregnancy, a maternity period or any other life event that impacts on your ability to meet

the revalidation requirements.

We can help support you to meet the revalidation requirements by:

• helping you to use NMC Online

• providing a short extension to your application date

• providing reasonable adjustments, such as paper format documents.

If you are having a difficult time because of the pandemic, please visit our Covid-19

hub where you can find specific guidance on how to revalidate during Covid-19 and

current information on the support measures we are offering at this time.

Help with NMC Online

We can provide support for nurses, midwives and nursing associates who find using NMC

Online difficult. If you require help using NMC Online, please contact us well before your

revalidation application is due. The easiest way to do this is by emailing us at revalidation.

escalation@nmc-uk.org, using the subject ‘Help with NMC Online’. Please include the

following information in your email:

• your name

• your NMC Pin

• a contact phone number

• your revalidation application date

• whether you have an NMC Online account

• details of your circumstances

• the assistance or adjustments that would help you to revalidate.

If you’re unable to contact us by email you can call our Registration Centre on 020 7333

9333.

Extensions

What we can offer you

We can extend the time you have to complete your revalidation application in certain

circumstances (for example, a sudden serious illness or recent bereavement). In these

circumstances, we’ll grant an extension of up to a maximum of eight weeks from your

revalidation application due date.

It’s important to note we can’t offer extensions of more than eight weeks. You should

only request an extension if you believe this additional time will help you to meet the

revalidation requirements.

How to apply for an extension

If you believe a short extension would help you to meet the revalidation requirements,

you can request an eight week extension through your NMC Online account. Once logged

in, click on the ‘extension’ button.

We'll ask you to:

We'll review your request within five working days. Once granted, you will receive a

confirmation email from us providing you with information on your new revalidation

extension deadline.

You must submit your request for an extension as soon as possible once your revalidation

opens and before your revalidation application due date in order for us to consider it. We

can’t guarantee we’ll be able to consider requests made after your revalidation date, and

you may put your registration at risk if you submit a request after this date.

If you have problems requesting your extension online, please email revalidation.

escalation@nmc-uk.org, using the subject line ‘Extension request’. Please include the

following information in your email:

• your name

• your NMC Pin

• a contact phone number

• your revalidation application date

• whether you have an NMC Online account

• details and evidence of your circumstances.

If you’re unable to email us, you can write to us with the information above, including your

supporting evidence, at: Revalidation team, NMC, 23 Portland Place, London W1B 1PZ.

Alternatively, you can call the Registration Centre on 020 7333 9333.

• tell us what revalidation requirements are outstanding

• tell us why you have been unable to meet these requirements

• confirm that you wish to receive an eight week extension.

A request for an extension must come from you. We’ll only accept a request for an

extension from your employer or your confirmer in exceptional circumstances.

When requesting an extension to your revalidation application date you must explain the

reasons you need an extension. You should provide as much information as you are able,

explaining your situation.

How we make our decision

In granting an extension, we’ll take into account:

• whether you have contacted the NMC in advance of your revalidation application due

date

• the reason why you can’t submit your revalidation application by the specified date

• whether you are capable of completing the outstanding revalidation requirements and

submitting your application within the additional period of time

• whether there are any concerns about your fitness to practise, and

• whether your annual registration fee has been or will be paid by the required date.

If we grant you an extension to your application due date:

• you must still pay your annual registration fee by your original revalidation application

date or have a direct debit in place to collect your fee

• you should inform your employer (if relevant) of the new date by which you are due to

submit your revalidation application, so that they are aware that you can continue

to practise during the period of your extension as your renewal date will remain the

same on the employers’ register.

If we decide we can’t grant an extension, we’ll notify you by email.

Other support

If you need any other adjustments, for example a reasonable adjustment due to a

disability, please call the Registration Centre on 020 7333 9333 or email

revalidation.escalation@nmc-uk.org.

Cancelling your registration

If an extension won’t help you then you should consider cancelling your registration

with us. If you don’t cancel your registration, but you fail to submit your revalidation

application before the end of your three year renewal period, your registration will

lapse (automatically expire). You’ll need to apply for readmission and may need to

undertake a return to practice course if you want to come back onto the register.

Please note

If you declare that you require an extension due to an ongoing health condition, we

may investigate your health condition in accordance with our health and character

guidance. We’ll hold your registration effective for up to three months from the date

of your complete application while we carry out this investigation. We may require

further information from you so the Assistant Registrar can make a decision whether

or not to accept your application for renewal.

Any false declarations may put your registration at risk.

If you’ve contacted us requesting support before you submit your revalidation

application, and you find that you don’t require the support anymore, you can submit

your revalidation application as normal via NMC Online.

Last updated: 26 May 2021