A nurse, midwife or nursing associate whose registration is effective means that they have satisfied

the Registrar that they are capable of safe and effective practice. Please be advised that in order to
practise in the United Kingdom (or in England for nursing associates) effective registration is
required. Further information about registration status can be found overleaf in the glossary of
terms.
Details about FtP sanctions or disposals can be found on our Published Register when searching
against the nurse, midwife or nursing associate’s details.
A nurse, midwife or nursing associate who is registered or has been registered with the NMC will
have to have met the qualification requirements. UK-trained nurses or midwives must have
completed a programme approved by the NMC or by our predecessor bodies. Nurses, midwives and
nursing associates who trained outside the UK, and nursing associates who trained outside England,
must meet our statutory requirements for having an approved qualification.

Glossary of terms
You may see any of the following terms used to describe the registration status of a nurse, midwife
or nursing associate.
Effective Registration
The nurse, midwife or nursing associate is on our register with no restrictions or cautions.
Lapsed Registration
Nurses, midwives and nursing associates allow their registration to lapse for a variety of reasons, if a
registered part is lapsed it means they are unable to practise in the UK as a nurse and or midwife (or
in England as a nursing associate). They can make an application at any time to be readmitted to the
register.
Removed by a fitness to practise (FtP) panel
This nurse, midwife or nursing associate is not allowed to practise if they have been struck off or
removed from the register.
Suspended by an FtP panel
This nurse, midwife or nursing associate is not allowed to practise if they have been suspended from
the register for a fixed period. The suspension order will be reviewed before it expires and might be
replaced or revoked.
Voluntarily removed
This nurse, midwife or nursing associate is not allowed to practise if they have admitted that their
fitness to practise is impaired and they have no intention of practising again. They can request to
voluntarily remove their name from the register.
Interim suspension order
This nurse, midwife or nursing associate is not allowed to practise, following the making of an
interim suspension order by a FtP panel. This will remain in place while we investigate allegations
about their fitness to practise or pending an appeal. This interim suspension order will be regularly
reviewed and might be replaced or revoked.
Conditions of practice order
The circumstances under which this nurse, midwife or nursing associate can practise are restricted
following a final order by a FtP panel. These conditions can be in place for one to three years. They
are reviewed before they expire and might be replaced, varied or revoked.
Interim conditions
The circumstances under which this nurse, midwife or nursing associate can practise are currently
restricted following the making of an interim conditions of practice order. This will remain while we
investigate allegations about their fitness to practise or pending an appeal. These conditions will be
regularly reviewed and might be replaced, varied or revoked.
Undertakings
These are agreed measures to address areas of practice which cause a current clinical risk to
patients. Undertakings include steps the nurse, midwife or nursing associate should take within
defined time periods to demonstrate remediation. If undertakings are agreed, they will be published
against the nurse, midwife or nursing associate’s entry on our register in all cases, with a brief
summary of the regulatory concern (except in cases relating to health).
Sanction pending
This nurse, midwife or nursing associate has had a final sanction imposed on them by a fitness to
practise panel, but it will not take effect until the end of a 28 day appeal period or the outcome of
any appeal. Their practice may be restricted by an interim order in the meantime.
Caution order
This nurse, midwife or nursing associate is allowed to practise without any restriction but has been
made the subject of a caution order following a final order by an FtP panel. This can last from
between one and five years.
Warnings
This is a public marking (on our register) of serious concerns about a nurse, midwife or nursing
associate without the need for a hearing. Warnings are only appropriate where the nurse, midwife
or nursing associate shows insight, remediation, and there is no risk to patients. Warnings will be
published for 12 months on the nurse, midwife or nursing associate’s online entry on our register,
including a short summary of the regulatory concern.