The requirement in one paragraph

Nurses and midwives registered with the NMBA must complete at least 20 hours of CPD per registration year (1 June – 31 May), relevant to their context of practice. You need to identify your learning needs, plan, take part in learning, and reflect on how it affects your practice – and keep records in case you are audited. For the full detail read NMBA CPD requirements explained.

Step 1 – Identify your learning needs

Ask yourself:

What is changing in my workplace (new policies, equipment, patient groups)?
What feedback have I received from my manager, colleagues or patients?
Which of the NMBA standards for practice do I feel least confident about?
Were there incidents or near misses where more knowledge would have helped?

Step 2 – Write a simple learning plan

Learning goal	Planned activities	Target date	Est. hours
Recognise and escalate sepsis earlier	Hospital sepsis e-learning; read local sepsis pathway; case review with CNE	August	3
Improve handover quality	Read ISBAR guide; observe bedside handover; peer feedback	October	2
Update medication knowledge	New anticoagulant protocol in-service; APINCHS review	December	2
Wound care for older adults	Wound management workshop	March	7
Professional practice	Read the NMBA Code of conduct; reflective journal	April	6

Step 3 – Choose activities

Mix formal and informal learning. Ideas that count when you actively engage and reflect:

Hospital in-services, skills stations and simulation
Online modules from your employer, professional bodies or colleges
Conferences, webinars and journal clubs
Reading guidelines or research with written notes and reflection
Teaching students or colleagues (preparation time counts)
Post-graduate study and short courses

Step 4 – Record and reflect

For every activity record the date, what you did, the hours, your evidence and a short reflection. Our free CPD log does this for you and keeps a running total. For reflection, try Gibbs' cycle or simply answer: What did I learn? So what does it mean for my practice? Now what will I do?

Step 5 – Be audit-ready

Keep certificates and notes in one folder per registration year.
Keep records for at least five years.
Make sure your hours add up to at least 20 before you renew on 31 May.

Always check the source. This guide summarises the NMBA registration standard for CPD as at October 2026. Read the current standard and FAQs at nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au.