Return to Professional Practice

Course Content

• Course Details

  Our Return to Professional Practice course is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). This course is provided for all nurses and health visitors who are unable to meet the criteria for revalidation, and who are therefore required to undertake a Return to Practice programme before re-registering with the NMC. Studying our Return to Professional Practice course can also help nurses to refresh their skills if they are considering moving between disciplines.

  Currently there is a national campaign led by Health Education England to encourage nurses to return to practice, and funding is available to support students.

  The course is a 20 credit module comprising both theory and practice, and can is accessed at Level 6. Our teaching staff are specialists within health disciplines and use their experience and knowledge to inform their teaching and practice. The programme length is 16 weeks for nurses to complete and up to five months for health visitors. Courses take place in September, February and May.

  Supervised practice is usually undertaken in an area related to previous experience, and can be arranged in a variety of ways. You can work with supernumerary status, or dovetail your study hours with working as a healthcare assistant. Please note that the latter route is only available in some practice settings.

  For more information about financial, clinical and academic support available to any allied health professional wishing to take the Return to Practice course, please visit the Health Education England site.

  For further information, please contact Ros Wray, Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for Return to Practice.

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• Entry Requirements

  Entry Requirements

  The course is open to nurses or health visitors with or without current NMC registration.

  You will need to submit the following documents with your application:

  • Personal Statement
  • Health CPD Reference Request Form
  • Proof of lapsed PIN, also known as Statement of entry: How to obtain a current Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Statement of Entry.

  Please contact the Course Team for further information at ros.wray@northampton.ac.uk.

  English Language Requirements

  All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

  • Minimum standard – IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent)
    for study at undergraduate level.

  For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.

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• Fees and Funding

  Currently the programme is supported by a national campaign. Most students will receive UK government funding via Health Education England (HEE) regions. There are also bursaries available to help cover costs incurred during the programme. Please visit the HEE Return to Practice website for further information about funding.

  If you are undertaking independent sector placements and are sponsored by your employer you must present a sponsorship letter to the university when you enrol on the course.

  If you are a self-funding student you are required to pay the full fee (by debit or credit card) at the time that you enrol on the course.

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• Professional Body

  Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

  Our Return to Professional Practice course is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

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• FAQs

  How will I learn?

  Study takes place through lectures, group work, online resources, one to one tutorials and practical sessions. This course allows you to develop your independent study skills and allows you to apply theory to practical situations.

  What is the schedule?

  The programme length is 16 weeks for nurses to complete and up to five months for health visitors. Courses take place in September, February and May.

  How will I be assessed?

  Assessment is through an evidence based practice portfolio.

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Careers and Employability

Once you are back on the professional register, you will find that there are many varied opportunities available to work as a qualified nurse or health visitor in the NHS or other healthcare arena.