Attending a Fitness to Practise Hearing: what to expect
A practical, single-module course on what happens at an NMC Fitness to Practise hearing: who will be in the room, how the three stages work, what giving evidence is like, and how to prepare yourself for the day.
Instructor: Cathryn WattersFounder & mentor, Fit 2 Practise
5.0 out of 5 (19 reviews)500+ nurses and midwives supported
- 2 lessons · 1 quiz3 steps in the curriculum
- 5.0 ratingFrom 19 learner reviews
- All levelsNo prior experience required
- About 1 hourSelf-paced · lifetime access
About Attending an FtP Hearing
Being told your case will go to a Fitness to Practise hearing is daunting, and much of the anxiety comes from not knowing what to expect. This short course walks you through a hearing from start to finish so that the day feels familiar before it arrives.
You will learn who will be there and what each person does, how a hearing moves through its stages, what it is like to give evidence and be asked questions, and practical ways to prepare yourself, your documents and your support network.
It is also useful if you are supporting someone through a hearing, or attending a review hearing after an order has been made.
What you'll learn
- Know who will be at a hearing: the panel, legal assessor, NMC case presenter and your representativeFtP process
- Understand the three stages: facts, misconduct and current impairment, and sanctionFtP process
- Know what to expect when giving evidence and answering questionsPromote professionalism and trust
- Understand the outcomes a panel can reach, from no further action to a striking-off orderFtP process
- Prepare your documents, testimonials and reflection in good timePractise effectively
- Look after your wellbeing before, during and after the hearingWellbeing
Skills you'll gain
- Hearing stages
- Giving evidence
- NMC sanctions
- Preparing documents
- Testimonials
- Wellbeing on the day
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
Facing a hearing
Your case has been referred to the Fitness to Practise Committee.
Attending a review hearing
An order is due to be reviewed and you want to know how the day will run.
Supporting someone
A colleague, friend or family member is facing a hearing and you want to help.
Planning ahead
Your case is at an earlier stage and you want to understand where it could lead.
Where this course fits in the NMC Fitness to Practise process
Highlighted stages are where Attending an FtP Hearing helps most. Read our guide to every stage.
Only a minority of NMC cases reach a hearing. If yours does, a panel of the Fitness to Practise Committee decides the facts, then whether those facts amount to misconduct (or another ground) and whether your fitness to practise is currently impaired, and finally what sanction, if any, is needed to protect the public.
Hearings can be held in person or virtually, and are generally held in public, although matters such as health can be heard in private. Always check the details of your own hearing with the NMC and your representative. The hearing preparation checklist included with the course helps you get ready.
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.
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.
- An overview of the course and how to use it as your hearing approaches.
- The hearing itself: who is there, how the stages run, giving evidence, the possible outcomes and how to prepare for the day.
- A short quiz to check your understanding before you move on.
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
Offered by
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.
Fitness to Practise hearing preparation checklist
What to prepare in the weeks before, the night before and on the day of a hearing — documents, people, logistics and wellbeing.
Testimonial and reference request templates
Ready-to-adapt letters asking colleagues and managers for testimonials, plus guidance on what makes a testimonial useful to a panel.
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 resourcesLearn from people who understand Fitness to Practise
Cathryn Watters
Founder & mentor, Fit 2 Practise
Cathryn is a registered nurse with lived experience of the NMC Fitness to Practise process. She founded Fit 2 Practise to help nurses, midwives and nursing associates understand the process and respond to it with confidence.
She also founded NMCWatch: registrant care CIC, a peer-support and advocacy community for registrants, and mentors people one to one through every stage of their case.
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.
Ratings and reviews
How learners rate Attending an FtP Hearing, and what people we have supported say about Fit 2 Practise.
- 5 stars19
- 4 stars0
- 3 stars0
- 2 stars0
- 1 star0
All 19 learners who reviewed this course rated it 5 out of 5.
“I am so grateful to wake up this morning and knowing that I have not been removed from the register. The mentorship work have been so appreciated and acknowledged during the hearing hence the panel gave me another chance. I want to say a big thank you for all your support Cathryn. I got a 9 months suspension without review. I take it as a win. Thank you for everything!”
Attending an FtP Hearing: 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.
More questions?
Talk to us, read our free guide, or book a free call to find the right support for your stage.
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