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Nursing and Midwifery Return to Practice
Ready to reignite a fulfilling career in nursing? Your experience and skills are invaluable to us, and we’re here to help you return to nursing with confidence.
NMC requirements and re-registration
If you were a registered nurse but have had a break, you will need to meet a number of requirements to re-register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), including completing a number of practice hours. If you have not completed the required number of practice hours you will have to complete an approved Return to Practice (RTP) programme before applying to re-join the register.
If your registration was removed by one of the NMC’s fitness to practise panels, you will have to apply for restoration to the register.
Throughout the programme, you will develop a portfolio that demonstrates your skills. The portfolio will be sent to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to record the completion of your return to practice programme and your re-registration.
- Find out more about returning to the NMC register.
Courses available across the country
Led by supportive tutors, assessors and supervisors, there are approximately 30 courses available across the country, all created to refresh your nursing skills so that you’re ready to return to practice.
A proportion of your programme will be based at a university, with the tutors working with you to support your learning experience.
The remainder of the time will be spent on a clinical placement, where a mentor will work with you to record your competence in clinical skills. The university will source a suitable practice placement for you.
There are also a number of universities running RTP programmes in general practice nursing in London, the North East, North West, South West and West Midlands regions of England.
In Thames Valley, Wessex, Sussex and Surrey there are currently no specific Return to general practice nursing courses. However, support networks are in place in these areas to enable students to go through a GP practice with general practice nursing support. You should contact the universities running the RTP nursing programmes to find out more.
Numeracy skills
If you are considering a return to practice course and are concerned about your numeracy skills, you can contact the course provider or employer to find out what assessment and support may be available.
Other routes back to practice
Another route back into nursing and midwifery is the NMC test of competence. Launched in January 2020, it involves an online test and an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). Like the return to practice course, this route is also funded by the NHS.
More information on the test of competence including information on how to apply is available on the NMC website.
Return to Practice – a guide for returners
Return to Practice Nursing and Midwifery - Employers Toolkit