Future Standards
We are reviewing our future standards so they continue to support safe, effective and inclusive nursing and midwifery practice. This includes work on the Code, revalidation, practice learning and advanced practice.
Our standards must reflect the significant changes that have impacted on health and care delivery in recent years, from EDI to the Covid-19 pandemic, high profile inquiries and the progress of artificial intelligence.
The core regulatory work we are delivering will support the professionals on our register to continue delivering safe and effective care in this changing context.
We have been gathering evidence and working with professionals, partners, stakeholders and the public to shape our proposals.
As this work has progressed, we have decided to update the timetable so we can make best use of the insight we are receiving and sequence the work in a way that responds to current sector priorities.
Code and revalidation review
We’ve now begun our engagement as part of our work to modernise the Code and revalidation.
A modernised Code will set clearer standards in areas where practice has changed over the past decade. This is likely to include areas such as equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), artificial intelligence, behaviour outside of professional practice and use of social media.
We will review our revalidation requirements to ensure they continue to support professionals to develop their practice in line with our Code and standards. Our review will draw on our learning from nine years of the current revalidation model, from independent inquiries and from stakeholder feedback.
The Code consultation will now launch by the end of November. This will give us more time to reflect the feedback we are receiving and make sure the consultation is as robust and useful as possible.
The revalidation consultation will be separated from the Code consultation and delayed by at least six months. This will allow us to consider stakeholder feedback and any relevant recommendations from independent inquiries before we consult.
Read more about the Code and revalidation review
Practice learning review
Since January 2024, we've been reviewing how practice learning can best support nursing and midwifery students across the UK.
Following two years of extensive research and engagement with students, professionals, approved education institutions (AEIs), practice learning partners (PLPs), the public and stakeholders, we developed a series of proposals designed to modernise our education programme standards.
The proposals – based on feedback from our stakeholders – reflect issues emerging across practice learning, including the varied experiences of nursing students on placements and concerns from some student midwives about gaining the confidence and range of proficiencies needed for practice.
Between 30 April and 23 July 2026, we consulted on these proposals and received more than 6,500 responses.
We're now analysing the consultation feedback and will use the findings and evidence from this and our wider work to inform the final draft of the proposed education programme standards – which we will present our governing Council for consideration before the end of 2026.
Subject to Council approval, any changes will be introduced following a transition period.
Find out more about the Practice learning review
Advanced practice review
We are bringing forward delivery of the advanced practice proficiency standards and associated education programme standards, from March 2028 to October 2027, reflecting the changing context in which advanced professionals practice and the need for additional regulation in this area.
Additional regulation will help to address the variability across education, role requirements and organisational governance.
We will also continue to work with partners to improve public understanding of advanced practice roles across nursing and midwifery.
In addition we’ll continue to develop a proportionate process to recognise existing advanced practice professionals and those currently studying to support transition into new regulatory processes.
