CPD Tracker for Nurses
Registered nurses and enrolled nurses generally need at least 20 hours of CPD in each registration period. CPD must be relevant to their context of practice; pro-rata, endorsement and multiple-registration requirements can change the total.
By CPDKeep Team · Requirements reviewed 4 October 2026
CPD requirements for nurses
Nurses must generally complete at least 20 hours of CPD each registration year, with activities relevant to their context and scope of practice.
20 hours
Requirement details at a glance
The 20-hour figure is the default starting point, not an individual compliance decision. Check your registration type, endorsements, time registered and any overlapping nursing or midwifery registrations against current NMBA guidance.
| Area | Board requirement | Practical context |
|---|---|---|
| Base requirement | At least 20 hours in each registration period. | This is the default for registered nurses and enrolled nurses. |
| Relevance and work pattern | CPD must be directly relevant to the nurse's context of practice. | The standard applies to full-time and part-time practice, whether paid or unpaid; students and people with non-practising registration are outside this standard. |
| Possible adjustments | Pro-rata hours apply when registration has been held for less than 12 months, and some endorsements add CPD. | For example, a nurse practitioner endorsement carries 10 additional hours in specified endorsement-related areas. Multiple registrations can create separate obligations. |
| Records | Keep CPD records for five years from the date the CPD was completed. | Records should support the learning need, plan, activity and reflection or outcome, and be available if audited. |
Source-linked requirement
Under the current effective NMBA standard, registered nurses and enrolled nurses complete at least 20 hours of CPD each registration period.
- Source
- Nursing and Midwifery Board CPD registration standard
- CPD unit
- hours
- CPD period
- Nursing registration year: 1 June to 31 May; AHPRA registration renewal is 31 May.
- Registration renewal
- 31 May
- Last reviewed
- 4 October 2026
- Review cadence
- Every 3 months; next due 4 January 2027
Category and topic requirements
- Scope-relevant CPD: The standard does not set a fixed CPDKeep category split; CPD must be relevant to the practitioner's context and scope of practice.
Caveats
- Existing CPDKeep nursing/midwifery profile values remain classified as nursing unless the practitioner explicitly selects the standalone midwifery profession.
- Practitioners with more than one nursing or midwifery registration may have separate CPD obligations for each registration.
- Nurse practitioners and endorsements can carry additional CPD obligations that are not represented by the default 20 hour profile target.
- Pro-rata arrangements and exemptions should be checked against NMBA guidance.
- NMBA's consultation on draft CPD and recency standards closed on 17 July 2026. This record continues to use the 2016 standard shown by NMBA as current on 4 October 2026 and does not treat draft proposals as effective requirements.
Nursing requirement data is a default setup aid for CPDKeep and is not a substitute for NMBA registration advice for a practitioner's exact registration type.
What counts as CPD for nurses?
All of these activities can be logged in CPDKeep
- Conferences, workshops, and seminars relevant to nursing practice
- Online courses, webinars, and e-learning modules
- Clinical supervision, case discussions, and professional debriefs
- Reading and reflecting on professional journals or research
- Mentoring, preceptoring, and workplace teaching
- Quality improvement projects, audits, and portfolio development
How CPDKeep helps nurses
Practical tools to track source-linked AHPRA CPD requirements
Source-linked setup
Starts from 20 hours per year (annual cycle) and the CPD period recorded from Nursing and Midwifery Board CPD registration standard.
Requirement breakdown
Shows the registry category, topic, and standalone requirements that apply: Scope-relevant CPD: The standard does not set a fixed CPDKeep category split; CPD must be relevant to the practitioner's context and scope of practice.
Report-ready records
Generate CPD reports with activity details and an evidence appendix for uploaded files.
Individual tools
Upgrade to Individual for the PDP builder, gap analysis, and AHPRA renewal tracking.
Why nurses choose CPDKeep
Tracks progress against 20 hours per year (annual cycle) using hours from the profession registry.
Uses Nursing registration year: 1 June to 31 May; AHPRA registration renewal is 31 May. for CPD period and renewal context.
Surfaces registry-linked category, topic, and standalone rules: Scope-relevant CPD: The standard does not set a fixed CPDKeep category split; CPD must be relevant to the practitioner's context and scope of practice.
Stores activity details and evidence so audit reports can be generated from the same record set.
Keeps source, review, caveat, and disclaimer metadata attached to the public requirement summary.
Use guided reflection prompts while you log CPD, and unlock the PDP builder, gap analysis, and AHPRA renewal tracking when you upgrade to Individual.
What happens if you don't meet CPD requirements?
CPD is mandatory for every registered nursein Australia. Here's what's at stake if you fall short.
Registration can be refused or cancelled
Your National Board can refuse to renew your registration if you cannot demonstrate that you have met your CPD requirements.
You can be audited at any time
Your National Board may select you for a CPD audit at any point during your registration period. You must be able to substantiate every hour you claim.
Disciplinary action may follow
If you are selected for audit and cannot provide evidence of your CPD, the Board may take disciplinary action — which can become part of your public record.
Conditions may be placed on your practice
The Board may impose conditions or undertakings that restrict how, where, or what you can practise until your CPD is brought up to standard.
You still pay the registration fee
Even if your renewal is refused because required CPD is missing, you are still liable for the registration renewal fee.
CPDKeep keeps activity, certificate, and hour records together so they are ready to review.
Recommended reading
Guides and resources to help you stay on top of your CPD
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about CPDKeep
How much CPD do nurses need in Australia?
Nurses should track 20 hours per year (annual cycle). Nurses must generally complete at least 20 hours of CPD each registration year, with activities relevant to their context and scope of practice. Source: Nursing and Midwifery Board CPD registration standard.
When is the CPD period for nurses?
Nursing registration year: 1 June to 31 May; AHPRA registration renewal is 31 May.
What counts as CPD for nurses?
CPDKeep shows the registry-linked requirement breakdown for 20 hours: Scope-relevant CPD: The standard does not set a fixed CPDKeep category split; CPD must be relevant to the practitioner's context and scope of practice.
How do I prove my CPD for an audit?
Keep dated activity records, reflections where relevant, and supporting evidence such as certificates or notes. CPDKeep stores these details and can generate an audit report.
Is CPDKeep free for nurses?
The Free plan covers CPD activity logging, guided reflection prompts, and a basic progress dashboard. Paid plans add reports, reminders, evidence uploads, and professional planning tools.
What should I check before relying on this requirement summary?
Nursing requirement data is a default setup aid for CPDKeep and is not a substitute for NMBA registration advice for a practitioner's exact registration type.
CPD tracking for other professions
CPDKeep supports 16 AHPRA-registered health professions
Midwives
20 hours per year (annual cycle)
Medical Practitioners
50 hours per year (annual cycle)
Pharmacists
40 CPD credits per year (annual cycle)
Dental Practitioners
60 hours per 3-year cycle
Psychologists
30 hours per year (annual cycle)
Physiotherapists
20 hours per year (annual cycle)
Occupational Therapists
20 hours per year (annual cycle)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners
20 hours per year (annual cycle)
Chinese Medicine Practitioners
20 hours per year (annual cycle)
Paramedics
30 hours per year (annual cycle)
Podiatrists
20 hours per year (annual cycle)
Osteopaths
25 hours per year (annual cycle)
Optometrists
20 hours per year (annual cycle)
Medical Radiation Practitioners
60 hours per 3-year cycle
Chiropractors
20 hours per year (annual cycle)
Start tracking your CPD today
Track CPD records, evidence, and readiness against your profession requirements in one place.