NMC Fitness to Practise course

Navigating Your Fitness to Practise Journey

A calm, plain-English map of the NMC Fitness to Practise process, from referral and screening through investigation, case examiners and hearings to monitoring and compliance, so you always know where you are and what comes next.

Instructor: Adam WattersCourse author, Fit 2 Practise

5.0 out of 5 (58 reviews)500+ nurses and midwives supported

Smiling nurse in uniform, representing the Navigating NMC Fitness to Practise online course
About the course

About Navigating Your FtP Journey

Being referred to the Nursing and Midwifery Council is frightening, and much of that fear comes from not knowing what happens next. This course explains the NMC Fitness to Practise (FtP) process stage by stage, from the initial screening of a concern to monitoring and compliance once a case has concluded.

For each stage you will learn what the NMC is looking at, who is involved, what you are likely to be asked for, and what you can do to prepare. The aim is simple: to replace uncertainty with a clear roadmap, so you can engage with the process calmly and make better decisions about your response.

It is the best starting point if you have just been referred, are supporting someone who has, or want to understand the process before choosing a more focused course such as reflection writing or hearing preparation.

What you'll learn

  • Describe each stage of the NMC Fitness to Practise process, from screening to monitoring and complianceFtP process
  • Understand what case examiners and panels consider, including insight, remediation and current impairmentFtP process
  • Know what interim orders are and when the NMC may apply for oneFtP process
  • Start organising your evidence: timelines, training records, reflections and testimonialsPractise effectively
  • Recognise when to seek advice from your union, indemnity provider or a regulatory solicitorPromote professionalism and trust
  • Engage with the NMC calmly, honestly and on timePromote professionalism and trust

Skills you'll gain

  • The NMC FtP process
  • Interim orders
  • Case examiner decisions
  • Insight and remediation
  • Organising your evidence
  • Knowing when to get advice

Details to know

  • Certificate of completionDownloadable PDF with a verification ID
  • Taught in UK EnglishWritten for the NMC process in the UK
  • Counts towards CPDRecord it as CPD evidence for revalidation
  • Lifetime accessLearn on any device, at your own pace

Who this course is for

  • Recently referred to the NMC

    You have received a referral letter and want to understand each stage before you respond.

  • Part-way through a case

    Your case is at investigation or case examiner stage and you want to know what is ahead.

  • Managers and supporters

    You support a colleague, team member or family member through the process.

  • Anyone who wants to be prepared

    Nurses, midwives and nursing associates who want to understand how FtP works.

The NMC process

Where this course fits in the NMC Fitness to Practise process

Highlighted stages are where Navigating Your FtP Journey helps most. Read our guide to every stage.

1Referral & screeningConcern assessed2InvestigationEvidence gathered3Case examinersCase to answer?4HearingFacts to sanction5Outcome & afterReviews and return1Referral & screeningConcern assessed2InvestigationEvidence gathered3Case examinersCase to answer?4HearingFacts to sanction5Outcome & afterReviews and return

This course covers the whole NMC process rather than one stage. Knowing the route in advance helps you respond to each letter on time, understand why you are being asked for information, and use the waiting periods to prepare your evidence of insight and strengthened practice.

It pairs well with our free guide to the NMC Fitness to Practise process and with the stage-by-stage checklist included with the course.

Fit 2 Practise is independent and not affiliated with the NMC. Our courses are general education, not legal advice. For advice on your case, speak to your union (such as the RCN, Unison or RCM), your indemnity provider or a regulatory solicitor.

Related reading

Received an NMC referral? Your first five steps

How long does an NMC investigation take?

Can I keep working during an NMC investigation?

Do I need a solicitor for an NMC investigation?

Course curriculum

What's inside the course

Work through the lessons in order, at your own pace. Quizzes check your understanding as you go, and your progress is saved in your course hub.

4 steps3 lessons · 1 quiz · about 2 hours
  1. How the course is structured, how to use it alongside your own case, and what the NMC Fitness to Practise process is for.
  2. The learning outcomes for the course and how the stages fit together.
  3. The core of the course: each stage in turn, from screening and investigation to case examiners, hearings and monitoring and compliance, with what happens and how to prepare.
  4. A short quiz to check your understanding of the stages and key terms before you finish.
Earn a certificate

Get a certificate of completion

When you finish the course you can download a PDF certificate with a verification ID. Keep it as a record of your learning and continuing professional development.

Your instructor

Adam WattersCourse author, Fit 2 Practise
Meet your instructor

Offered by

Fit 2 PractiseIndependent CPD courses, templates and 1:1 mentorship for nurses and midwives
About Fit 2 Practise
Included downloads

Resources included with this course

Practical templates and checklists that go with the course. Free when you enrol, or £2.99 each on their own.

Checklist · 5 pages

NMC Fitness to Practise stage-by-stage checklist

Every stage of the NMC process — screening, investigation, case examiners, hearing — with what happens, what you can do and what to keep on file.

Free with this course · £2.99 on its own
Action plan · 4 pages

After an NMC referral: your first-steps action plan

A calm, practical plan for the days after a referral letter arrives: who to contact, what to gather and what not to do yet.

Free with this course · £2.99 on its own

All 2 resources are free when you enrol

Open them from your course hub once you have enrolled. Looking for something else? Every template and checklist is also sold on its own.

Browse all resources
Your instructor

Learn from people who understand Fitness to Practise

Adam Watters

Course author, Fit 2 Practise

Adam wrote this course as a clear, stage-by-stage map of the NMC process, and looks after the Fit 2 Practise learning platform and everything technical behind it.

If you want personal support alongside the course, 1:1 mentorship is with Cathryn Watters, a registered nurse who has been through Fitness to Practise herself.

About Fit 2 Practise 1:1 mentorship

Want personal support alongside the course?

1:1 mentorship with a registered nurse who has been through Fitness to Practise: help to understand your case, structure your reflection and prepare for each stage.

Explore mentorship Free intro call
Reviews

Ratings and reviews

How learners rate Navigating Your FtP Journey, and what people we have supported say about Fit 2 Practise.

5.0 out of 5 from 58 reviews
  • 5 stars58
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All 58 learners who reviewed this course rated it 5 out of 5.

About our 1:1 mentorship
“I wanted to take the opportunity to sincerely thank you both for all of your support throughout my NMC case. I am still in shock that it is all over to be quite honest… Cathryn, thank you for your guidance, reassurance and mentorship over what has been an incredibly difficult process. Your support has meant a great deal to me.”
RMA registrant we mentoredCase closed with no further action · about our 1:1 mentorship
Questions

Navigating Your FtP Journey: frequently asked questions

Straight answers about the course and the part of the NMC process it covers. Can't see your question? Get in touch or read the general FAQs.

The NMC first screens the concern. It checks that the person is on its register, whether the concern raises a question about their current fitness to practise, and whether there is enough information to take it further. Many concerns are closed at screening. If not, the case moves to investigation, where evidence is gathered and you are invited to respond, and then to case examiners, who decide whether there is a case to answer. If there is a serious risk, the NMC can apply for an interim order at any stage.
It varies a great deal. Some concerns close at screening within weeks; cases that go through a full investigation often take many months, and those that reach a hearing can take well over a year. Nobody can promise you a timescale, but understanding the stages helps you use the time well. Our article on how long an NMC investigation takes explains what affects the timing.
Keep every letter from the NMC and your employer, and write a factual timeline of events while your memory is fresh. Gather your training and CPD records, appraisals and supervision notes, and start thinking about who could provide a testimonial about your current practice. Never alter records. The stage-by-stage checklist included with this course sets out what to keep on file.
As early as possible, and ideally before you send the NMC a written response. If you are a member of a union such as the RCN, Unison or the RCM, contact them first. Also check whether you have professional indemnity or legal expenses cover. This course is education about the process; it is not legal advice and does not replace a representative.
In most cases, yes. An NMC referral does not stop you working on its own. You can only be stopped from practising, or restricted, by an interim order (an interim suspension order or interim conditions of practice order), or by your employer's own local processes. Our article on working during an investigation explains the options.
Nurses, midwives and nursing associates on the NMC register at any stage of the process, and managers, colleagues or family members supporting them. No prior knowledge of Fitness to Practise is needed.
You have lifetime access on mobile and desktop and can learn at your own pace. The course takes around two hours, and you receive a certificate of completion when you finish, which you can keep as a record of your learning.

More questions?

Talk to us, read our free guide, or book a free call to find the right support for your stage.

Keep learning
See all courses
Reflective Practice

Reflection Writing for the Fitness to Practise Process

Cathryn Watters5.0£15
Hearings

Attending a Fitness to Practice Hearing – what to expect

Cathryn Watters5.0£10
NMC

Code of Conduct

Cathryn Watters5.0£25

Ready to start Navigating Your FtP Journey?

£25, lifetime access, and a 14-day refund policy. Buy two or more courses together and save 20%.