Standards for post-registration programmes

These standards set out the entry and practice learning requirements, curriculum, length of programme, methods of assessment and the level of award for NMC-approved nursing, midwifery and nursing associate programmes. They have been designed so that students can get the most out of their education and learn the skills they need to become safe, effective and kind professionals.  

Our Standards for post-registration programmes have been in effect since 1 September 2022. We re-published these standards in April 2023. None of the content changed, we simply updated the introduction and design to align with our other standards publications. 

On 30 April 2024 we made a small change to standard 1.1. This change was in response to queries we have received and the revised wording clarifies that applicants need to be on the NMC register at the time of starting their programme, not at the point of beginning their application. 

The Standards

If you want to print the standards without using too much ink and paper, we have printer friendly versions available below:

Find our pre-2023 standards for education and training here.

If you can't find what you're looking for, feel free to email educationandstandards@nmc-uk.org

Why our standards are important

Our education and training standards help nursing, midwifery and nursing associate students achieve the NMC proficiencies and programme outcomes.

All nursing, midwifery and nursing associate professionals must practise in line with the requirements of the Code, the professional standards of practice and behaviour that nurses, midwives and nursing associates are expected to uphold.

The standards for education and training includes the standards framework for nursing and midwifery education, standards for student supervision and assessment, and programme standards specific to each approved programme.

Our Standards for education and training are set out in three parts:

• Part 1: Standards framework for nursing and midwifery education
• Part 2: Standards for student supervision and assessment
• Part 3: Programme standards
  • Standards for pre-registration nursing programmes 
  • Standards for pre-registration midwifery programmes
  • Standards for pre-registration nursing associate programmes
  • Standards for post-registration programmes
  • Standards for prescribing programmes
  • Standards for return to practice programmes 

Our standards framework

Our standards for post-registration programmes follow the student journey and are grouped under the following five headings:

• Selection, admission and progression 
  Standards about an applicant’s suitability and continued participation in a post-registration SCPHN and/or community nursing SPQ
• Curriculum
  Standards for the content, delivery and evaluation of the post-registration SCPHN and / or community nursing SPQ programme
• Practice learning
  Standards specific to learning that takes place in practice settings for students undertaking programmes leading to SCPHN and/or community nursing SPQ Supervision and assessment
  Standards for safe and effective supervision and assessment of students on post-registration SCPHN and/ or community nursing SPQ programmes
• Qualification to be awarded
  Standards about the academic award and registering the student’s SCPHN award and/or recording the student’s community nursing SPQ award with us

How these standards were developed

Since 2016 we have been developing our standards with input from stakeholders across the UK.

Find out more about how these standards were developed.