CPD · NMC Revalidation
Using Aesthetics Unlockedfor your NMC revalidation.
A practical guide for registered nurses in aesthetics. What the NMC requires, how our courses count, and exactly how to log CPD hours in your revalidation portfolio.
By Bernadette Tobin RN, MSc · Educator of the Year 2026 Nominee
What the NMC requires
The numbers, clearly stated
Every three years, registered nurses revalidate with the NMC. The CPD requirement is 35 hours over that three-year period. Of those 35 hours, at least 20 must be participatory — learning that involves interaction with others: workshops, study days, supervised practice, peer learning. The remaining 15 hours can be non-participatory: self-directed learning, online courses, reading.
Aesthetics Unlocked courses are self-paced online learning. They count as non-participatory CPD, contributing to your 15-hour allowance. They do not replace the participatory element of revalidation. This guide is clear about that distinction.
NMC CPD requirement at a glance
- 35total CPD hours per 3-year cycle
- 20must be participatory (workshops, study days, peer learning)
- 15can be non-participatory (online courses, self-directed study)
- 5written reflective accounts linked to the Code
- 5pieces of practice-related feedback
- ✓Aesthetics Unlocked courses count toward the 15 non-participatory hours
CPD hours per course
What each course contributes
Every course includes a Completion Certificate with your name, the course title, and the completion date. Keep this in your revalidation folder. The NMC does not collect CPD evidence during revalidation — you record hours in your portfolio and present evidence only if selected for audit.
Acne Decoded
Four drivers of acne, NICE-aligned assessment, treatment sequencing, severity framework.
View course — £150Rosacea Beyond Redness
Barrier-first model, four NICE-recognised subtypes, differential diagnosis, trigger management.
View course — £150Hyperpigmentation Decoded
Five presentations, depth-to-treatment decisions, consultation card, PIH vs PIE distinction.
View course — £150From Regulation to Reputation™
England aesthetics licensing, clinical governance documentation, inspection preparation.
View course — £499The 5K+ Formula™
Business model for aesthetics practitioners. Income analysis, service ladder, pricing.
View course — £799Hour estimates are based on lesson count and average time per module. Log the hours you actually spend — many practitioners take longer with the clinical modules.
How to log it
Adding this CPD to your NMC portfolio
- 1
Log in to your NMC Online account
Go to revalidation.nmc.org.uk and navigate to your CPD log. Select 'Add CPD activity'.
- 2
Select 'Non-participatory'
Aesthetics Unlocked courses are self-paced online learning. Select non-participatory when prompted.
- 3
Enter the activity details
Activity title: the course name. Provider: Aesthetics Unlocked. Date: your completion date from the certificate. Hours: the time you spent.
- 4
Write a brief description
The NMC asks how this CPD relates to your practice and the Code. The reflective account template below gives you a starting point.
- 5
Save your Completion Certificate
Download the certificate from your members area. File it with your revalidation evidence — you only need to present it if selected for audit.
Reflective account template
What to write in your reflective account
The NMC requires five written reflective accounts per revalidation cycle, each linked to a CPD activity and to the Code. Use this template as a starting point for any Aesthetics Unlocked course. Replace the bracketed sections with your own experience.
What was the nature of the CPD activity?
I completed [course title] through Aesthetics Unlocked, an online CPD course for UK aesthetic practitioners authored by Bernadette Tobin RN, MSc. The course covered [brief description — e.g. the four drivers of acne, clinical assessment, NICE-aligned treatment sequencing]. I completed [X] hours of self-directed study across [X] lessons.
What did you learn from the activity?
[Describe one or two specific things the course changed or clarified. Be specific. For example: I had not previously considered the role of microbiome disruption as an independent acne driver. The course changed how I assess clients who present with persistent comedonal acne that has not responded to standard treatment.]
How did you change or improve your practice as a result?
[Describe a concrete change. For example: I revised my initial consultation framework to include a structured assessment of all four acne drivers before recommending a treatment plan. In the three months since completing the course, I adjusted three existing client plans as a result.]
How does this relate to the Code?
This CPD activity relates to 'Practise effectively' (Section 6 of the Code) — specifically the requirement to keep knowledge and skills up to date and relevant to scope of practice, and to use the best available evidence in making clinical decisions.
The strongest reflective accounts describe a real change in practice, however small. Use this template as a starting point, not a script.
From Bernadette
I built these courses because I could not find CPD that treated aesthetics nurses as the clinicians they are. Most CPD available to us either covers injection technique or is so generic it barely touches our actual practice.
If you work in aesthetics as a registered nurse, your revalidation CPD should reflect the clinical reasoning you use every day: skin condition pathophysiology, treatment decisions, and the regulatory environment you practice in. That is what these courses cover.
Bernadette Tobin RN, MSc — Educator of the Year 2026 Nominee
Get started
The courses most relevant to your revalidation
The three clinical skin courses together cover 15 hours of non-participatory CPD — the full non-participatory allowance per revalidation cycle. Each is £150 and self-paced.
Also available: From Regulation to Reputation™ (£499) and The 5K+ Formula™ (£799).