How Does an NMC Professionalism Course Help at the Case Examiner Stage?

Written and reviewed by Dr Shehzad Iqbal, MBBS, MRCS, MRCGP, Postgraduate Certificate in Healthcare Law and Ethics · Updated 6 November 2026

Who the NMC case examiners are and what they decide

The NMC says there are two case examiners on each case: one a nurse, midwife or nursing associate, and one who is not. They ask whether there is a realistic possibility that a Fitness to Practise Committee would find that the incident happened and that your fitness to practise is currently impaired. They do not decide the facts themselves.

The NMC’s guidance on available outcomes (CAS-2) lists what can follow:

• no case to answer: the case examiners can give advice, issue a warning or close the case;
• a case to answer: they can offer undertakings to be agreed with you, or refer the case to the Fitness to Practise Committee.

Advice is a private reminder of your Code duties and can be given where you accept the basis of the concern; a warning is public. What each means is in our guide to a case closed without a hearing.

What case examiners weigh: reflection, steps taken, repetition

The NMC’s guidance on how case examiners decide (CAS-1, updated 1 October 2026) asks them to consider how easily the concerns can be addressed, “how much insight have they shown?”, the steps taken, and the risk of repetition. They weigh “the quality of the nurse, midwife or nursing associate’s reflection”. Where concerns are accepted and can be addressed, the guidance encourages avoiding a referral to the Committee.

The NMC’s guidance on whether a concern has been addressed (FTP-16b) says courses with a practical element and a formal assessment carry more weight than online courses without one, and that a reflection counts for more when it gives examples of how you applied what you learned. So send the certificate with a reflection that shows the change in your practice, and a signed, dated testimonial from a manager who knows the allegations.

When to send it: the 28-day response period

A footnote to CAS-1 says the NMC’s rules require the evidence to be sent to you, with “a 28 day period for response”, where case examiners issue a warning or advice, or find a case to answer. That response is your chance to put the course, the reflection and the testimonial in front of them. Finish the course before then, so the 28 days go on the written response.

What the NMC Code says about professionalism

Professional conduct sits under the Code’s fourth theme, Promote professionalism and trust. Section 20, “Uphold the reputation of your profession at all times”, asks you to act “with honesty and integrity at all times, treating people fairly and without discrimination, bullying or harassment” (20.2) and to be aware “of how your behaviour can affect and influence the behaviour of other people” (20.3). Section 23 asks you to cooperate with all investigations, and section 24 to respond to any complaints made against you professionally. Your reflection should name the one your concern engages.

What the professionalism course covers

Five sections and 24 lessons, with a post-course assessment at the end:

• what professionalism means in practice, and what the regulators say about it;
• integrity, accountability, communication, respect and dignity, teamwork, boundaries with patients and colleagues, and reflective practice;
• what a breach looks like, what follows, and remediation that rebuilds trust.

When a different course fits better

• a concern tied to a specific part of the Code, such as consent or confidentiality: Ethics and Ethical Standards for Nurses and Midwives;
• the reflection the case examiners will read: Module on Reflection, beside the professionalism course.

Counting the course as CPD for revalidation

The 2 hours count towards the 35 hours of CPD that NMC revalidation asks for in three years. Record section 20 as the part of the Code it relates to, keep the certificate, and use it for one of your five written reflective accounts. Our guide to CPD courses for nurses covers how to log it.

Our NMC professionalism course, for the case examiners and for CPD

Courses that sit beside it

Bulk Buy covers the £79 courses: 3 for £200, 5 for £300, 10 for £500. Not sure what to take? Book a free 15-minute call or see which course do I need.

This guide is part of our Professional Misconduct hub, which brings together every Probity & Ethics guide and course on the subject.

The CPD courses linked from this guide, Professionalism for Healthcare Professionals, Ethics and Ethical Standards for Nurses & Midwives, Module on Reflection and How to Deal with a Complaint or Investigation, are by Probity & Ethics, written by Dr Shehzad Iqbal, CPD certified and accredited by The CPD Certification Service (provider no. 13197) and offered since 2020.

Questions and answers