NMC proposes changes to standards to improve practice learning

The regulator has been undertaking a thorough review of practice learning for nursing and midwifery students. Its recommendation to consult on changes follows several months of extensive research and stakeholder engagement – including the exploration of our five key lines of enquiry.

Findings show that while many students across the UK benefit from positive practice learning experiences, the quality of these experiences vary.

The NMC is now seeking Council approval to consult on several key changes to education standards. These include for nursing education:

• Reducing the requirement for 4,600 programme hours, while maintaining a balance of 50% theory and 50% practice learning – instead, specifying a minimum of 1,800 hours for each (3,600 hours total)
• Adding a new requirement that students should have a practice learning opportunity within a community setting across health and social care
• Exploring whether to introduce a maximum use of simulated practice learning (proportionate to the number of practice learning hours if reduced).

Proposed changes specific to midwifery education include:

• Exploring whether to extend the duration of midwifery programmes – this follows stakeholder concerns that programmes are not long enough, and agreement that any additional requirements would mean increasing the course length
• Including a requirement to holistically assess students’ competence and confidence in labour and birth when supporting and caring for 40 births
• Strengthening wording to ensure consistency and greater emphasis on care for women with additional and complex needs
• Exploring options for a pre-qualifying placement to better support midwifery students’ transition to registered practice.

The NMC’s research also found that wider factors – such as practice learning capacity, cost of living, resource and workload pressures – influence students’ practice learning experiences. It’s vital that partners and stakeholders across health and care work collaboratively to address these challenges and strengthen learning opportunities for all students.

Next steps

If approved by Council at its next meeting on 26 November, the NMC will consult on the proposed changes between February and March 2026. If the findings show there is a need to update the NMC's standards, the regulator will look to do this from September 2026.

Donna O’Boyle, Acting Executive Director of Professional Practice, said:

“High-quality practice learning sits at the heart of nursing and midwifery education. It’s essential in helping students gain the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need to deliver safe, effective care for people once they qualify.

“If approved, this consultation will be an important step – ensuring that any potential changes to our standards promote consistency, flexibility and inclusion across practice learning placements, while upholding the high-quality, person-centred care people have the right to expect.”

The NMC will continue to work closely with key stakeholders and subject matter experts from across the UK, many of whom form part of the independent steering group for the practice learning review. The student and public advisory groups will also continue to play a key role.

Further information

• You can read the Council papers here.
• If you’d like to be kept up to date with our progress, and be notified of any opportunities to get involved, please sign up to our community of interest. 
• More information about our practice learning review can be found here.
• We run informal drop-in sessions for academics and practice learning partners to ask any questions relating to NMC standards implementation or other education queries. More information and details on how to sign up are available here.

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