The Nursing and Midwifery Council, or NMC, is the independent regulator for nurses, midwives and nursing associates across the United Kingdom. To practise in any of these roles you must be on the NMC register, and your entry on it is confirmed by a unique PIN. Employers check this PIN before you can start work and at intervals afterwards, so understanding how registration works is essential whether you are newly qualified, returning to practice or moving to the UK from abroad.
Who needs to register
Registration is a legal requirement for anyone using a protected title or working in these regulated roles. The register covers:
- Registered nurses across the four fields: adult, child, mental health and learning disability
- Registered midwives
- Nursing associates, a role in England
- Specialist community public health nurses
Healthcare assistants and other support roles do not register with the NMC because they are not regulated professions, although many use them as a route towards qualifying. If that describes you, our guide on how to become a healthcare assistant explains the first steps.
Joining the register
If you train in the UK, your university notifies the NMC when you complete an approved programme, and you then apply to join the register and pay the registration fee. Applicants who qualified outside the UK follow a separate route that usually includes a test of competence and checks on their qualifications, English language ability, health and character. In all cases the NMC carries out identity and good character checks before adding you, which is why honesty on your application matters. Once registered, you receive your PIN and can begin practising.
Staying on the register: revalidation
Registration is not a one-off event. Every three years you must revalidate to remain on the register. Revalidation is designed to keep your practice current and is built around a set of requirements you collect over the cycle:
- A minimum number of practice hours
- Continuing professional development, including some learning done with others
- Pieces of practice-related feedback
- Written reflective accounts and a reflective discussion
- A health and character declaration and appropriate indemnity arrangement
- Confirmation from a suitable third party, often your line manager
You also pay an annual fee to keep your registration live. Missing the renewal or revalidation deadline means you lapse from the register and cannot legally practise until you are readmitted, so it pays to track your dates carefully.
Why it matters for your job search
A valid PIN is one of the first things an NHS employer checks, and you will usually be asked for it during the application and pre-employment stages. Make sure it is entered correctly when you apply through systems like TRAC; our how to apply on TRAC guide covers that process. When you are ready to look for roles, you can browse current NHS jobs and filter by the band that matches your experience.
Keeping your registration in good standing is the foundation of a nursing or midwifery career, so build revalidation into your routine rather than leaving it to the last minute. This article is general information about NMC registration and is not formal careers or regulatory advice.