Every nurse, midwife and nursing associate practising in the UK must be on the register held by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Employers check it before every appointment, agencies check it before every shift, and members of the public can check it too. This guide explains how to search the NMC register, what the results actually mean — and, because we are a firm that defends nurses, what your options are if your entry shows something you weren’t expecting, or something that is holding your career back.
How to search the NMC register
The NMC’s search tool is free and public. To check a registration:
- Go to the NMC website and open the “Search the register” service.
- Enter the nurse or midwife’s PIN if you have it — this gives an exact match — or search by first name and last name.
- Review the result, which shows the registrant’s name, PIN, registration status, the part of the register they appear on (nurse, midwife, nursing associate, or SCPHN), their qualifications, and their registration expiry.
If you are an employer or agency, the register confirms whether someone is currently entitled to practise. If you are a nurse checking your own entry, it shows exactly what anyone else sees when they look you up.
What the register does — and doesn’t — show
A standard entry confirms current registration. But the register also publishes information most people don’t realise is public. Where a fitness to practise process has resulted in action, the register can show cautions, conditions of practice, suspensions and striking-off orders. Interim orders imposed while an investigation is ongoing are also recorded. In practice, this means an employer running a routine check can see that you are under restriction even before any allegation has been proved.
“My registration has lapsed” — what to do
Registration lapses if renewal or revalidation isn’t completed on time. A lapsed registration means you cannot lawfully practise, and working while lapsed can itself become a fitness to practise issue. If your registration has lapsed, stop practising immediately, notify your employer, and begin readmission promptly. If the lapse has already led to concerns being raised, take legal advice before responding to your employer or the NMC — how you explain the circumstances matters.
“There’s a mark against my registration” — your options
If your entry shows an interim order, conditions, a caution or a suspension, it isn’t necessarily permanent, and in many cases it can be challenged or reviewed:
- Interim orders are reviewed at least every six months, and you can argue at review that the order should be relaxed or removed — for example, replacing suspension with workable conditions so you can keep earning during the investigation.
- Substantive orders (conditions, suspension) are reviewed before they expire, and strong evidence of insight, remediation and safe practice can shorten the road back to unrestricted registration.
- Striking-off is not always the end. After the minimum period, you can apply for restoration to the register — a demanding process where preparation and presentation make the difference.
Fraudulent or incorrect entries
The NMC can investigate whether an entry was fraudulently procured or incorrectly made — for example, where qualifications or identity are questioned. These cases move quickly and the consequences are severe. If you receive correspondence suggesting your entry is being investigated on this basis, get specialist advice before you respond.
Why early advice changes outcomes
Most people first discover a problem with their registration at the worst possible moment — a job offer withdrawn after a register check, or an agency shift cancelled. By that point, the record already exists. The earlier a specialist is involved — ideally from the first letter the NMC sends — the more options remain open: persuading Case Examiners to close a case, avoiding an interim order, or securing conditions instead of suspension so you can keep working.
Our founder is a former regulatory chief prosecutor. We know how the NMC builds its cases because we used to build them. If your registration is at risk, or the register already shows something you want to challenge, speak to our NMC defence solicitors for a free, confidential 30-minute call: +44 (0)208 088 5161 — lines open 24/7.
Frequently asked questions
Can anyone check a nurse’s NMC registration? Yes. The NMC register is public. Anyone can search it by name or PIN and see registration status, including published fitness to practise outcomes such as conditions, suspensions and striking-off orders.
Does the NMC register show fitness to practise history? It shows current restrictions and published sanctions. Interim orders, conditions of practice, cautions and suspensions appear against a registrant’s entry while they are in force.
How do I remove conditions or a suspension from my registration? Orders are reviewed periodically, and you can present evidence of insight, remediation and safe practice at review. A specialist solicitor can prepare your evidence and represent you at the review hearing.
Can I get back on the register after being struck off? Usually yes, after a minimum period (five years for NMC striking-off orders), by applying for restoration. Restoration hearings are demanding, and applications succeed far more often with thorough preparation and representation.