Return to Professional Practice: Nursing
| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2025-09-01 | - |
| 2026-02-01 | - |
Program Overview
Return to Professional Practice
Key Facts
- Level: Post RegistrationPO
- Duration: 4-6 months part-time
- Starting: September, February
- Location: Waterside
Overview
This return to nursing course enables nurses who have had a break from practice to enhance and refresh their existing knowledge and skills so that they can confidently return to professional practice. Please note that NUR3039 (return to practice for specialist community public health nurses) is no longer available.
Our Return to Professional Practice course is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
Highlights
- Strong links with NHS stakeholders.
- Flexible arrangements to suit individual needs.
- Comprehensive support available from a designated and experienced course team
Entry Requirements
The course is open to nurses without current NMC registration.
You will need to submit the following documents with your application:
- Personal Statement
- Health CPD Reference Request Form (information can be found on the additional documents page)
- Proof of lapsed PIN (information can be found on the NMC website)
All offers of a place on the programme are subject to:
- a successful Occupational Health Screening,
- a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) report and an Enhance Disclosure for non-UK residents and for those who have live outside of the UK within 5 years prior to the course start date,
- Successfully securing a satisfactory practice placement (please email Ros Wray orMary Kitson if you have any queries), and
- a successful interview by the University
Please contact the Course Team for further information at ****or .
Further information and documents can be found on the postgraduate application guidance page.
English Language Requirements
On entry applicants are required to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. This is determined by following the NMC requirements for Return to Practice Nursing Programmes:
- Trained in English within an NMC Pre-Registration Nursing approved programme;
- Registered and practised in English evidence of one year of recent practice in a majority English speaking country;
- Accepted English language tests IELTS and OETs at required level
These requirements are reconfirmed through the programme admissions process and subsequent personal statements and interviewing processes.
Course Content
Our Return to Professional Practice course is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). This course is provided for all nurses 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 nursing 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 accessed at Level 6. This professional accreditation is unlike other back to nursing courses, as our teaching staff are specialists within health disciplines and use their experience and knowledge to inform their teaching and practice. The programme length is 4 – 6 months. 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 will have supernumerary status.
For more information about financial, clinical and academic support available to any allied health professional wishing to take the Return to Practice nursing course, please visit the Health Education England site.
For further information, please contact either Ros Wray, Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for Return to Practice or Mary Kitson, Senior Lecturer.
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 practice.
What is the schedule?
Our return to nursing course commences with a three-week induction which aims to refresh key areas of knowledge and provide updating in mandatory skills. Practice placements then become the focus with follow up monthly study days taking place on Tuesdays.
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 practice.
How will I be assessed?
Assessments take place in the practice setting and through submission of academic work.
Fees and Funding
Back to nursing courses are currently 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 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.
Please contact Karen Edwards for further information about fees for this module.
For more information about possible funding options, please visit our Fees and Funding pages.
Staff
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Senior Lecturer - Return to Practice
Faculty of Health, Education and Society
Ros Wray
Senior Lecturer - Return to Practice/ Int Healthcare Progs
Faculty of Health, Education and Society
Mary Kitson
Senior Lecturer - Leadership in Health & Social Care
Faculty of Health, Education and Society
Tracey Ali
Careers and Employability
Once you have completed a return to practice nursing programme and are back on the professional register, you will find that there are many varied opportunities available to work as a qualified nurse in the NHS or other healthcare arena.
Is this course for you?
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Contact us
- UK Enquiries:
****|**
- International Enquiries:
****|**
- Current Students:
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How to find us
University of Northampton
Waterside Campus
University Drive
Northampton - NN1 5PH
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Entry Requirements:
- The course is open to nurses without current NMC registration.
- Applicants must submit the following documents with their application:
- Personal Statement
- All offers of a place on the programme are subject to:
- a successful Occupational Health Screening,
- a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) report and an Enhance Disclosure for non-UK residents and for those who have live outside of the UK within 5 years prior to the course start date,
- Successfully securing a satisfactory practice placement (please email Ros Wray or Mary Kitson if you have any queries), and
- a successful interview by the University
Language Proficiency Requirements:
- On entry applicants are required to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. This is determined by following the NMC requirements for Return to Practice Nursing Programmes:
- Trained in English within an NMC Pre-Registration Nursing approved programme;
- Registered and practised in English evidence of one year of recent practice in a majority English speaking country;
- Accepted English language tests IELTS and OETs at required level These requirements are reconfirmed through the programme admissions process and subsequent personal statements and interviewing processes.
