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How to check an NMC PIN
Use Search the register on the NMC website. Search by PIN where you can: the NMC notes that more than one person may have the same name, and a nurse, midwife or nursing associate should tell you their PIN when asked. You can also search by name, but not by first name alone.
The results show a date they are accurate to. Record that date with your check.
What the result tells you
The NMC register shows people who have effective registration with no restrictions or cautions, people on the register with restrictions on their practice or a caution order, and people who have been suspended or removed since 1 January 2008 and cannot currently practise.
- Effective registration, with fees paid and registration up to date
- Registered, but with restrictions on practice or a caution order
- Suspended or removed, and not allowed to practise
Checking several nurses at once
The NMC's employer confirmation service lets employers search the register for up to 10 PINs at once. You need to request a username and password from the NMC to use it.
Keep checking after they start
Registration can lapse or change. Nurses, midwives and nursing associates revalidate with the NMC every three years and pay an annual fee, and a missed renewal means they cannot practise. Check the register again before each renewal date and whenever you have a concern.
What to record
Keep a dated record of each check so you can show what the register said and when.
- The person's name, register and registration number or PIN
- Registration status and any conditions, restrictions or cautions shown
- The date you checked the register and who checked it
- The renewal or revalidation date
- The date your next check is due
How SkillProof helps
SkillProof keeps each person's NMC registration as a professional registration record, with the number, status, renewal date, evidence and the date your team checked the register. Reminders go out before renewal, and the check history stays with the person. SkillProof does not search the NMC register or verify registration itself.
Registrations sit beside training, CPD, appraisals and other checks, so managers can see who is cleared to work in each role.
Official guidance used for this guide
Checked
NMC pages used for this guide. Check them for the latest registration rules.
Questions this guide answers
How do I check a nurse's NMC PIN?
Use Search the register on the NMC website and search by PIN. Ask the nurse for their PIN; the NMC says they should give it when asked.
Can I check several NMC PINs at once?
Yes. The NMC's employer confirmation service searches up to 10 PINs at once. Request a username and password from the NMC to use it.
How often should employers check NMC registration?
Before someone starts, before each renewal or revalidation date, and whenever there is a concern. Record the date and result of each check.
Does SkillProof check the NMC register?
No. SkillProof records the check your team made, the renewal date and evidence, and reminds you before the next check is due.