Updated May 2025

Recognising Experienced Advanced Practitioners

The ePortfolio (supported) Route is designed to enable recognition of existing, experienced advanced practitioners.

This route is ideal for those who:

• Are currently working in advanced practice roles
• Completed their advanced practice education before 2017, or through a non-accredited programme

While completing this route is voluntary, it demonstrates your commitment and plays a key role in ensuring that advanced practitioners are recognised.

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Why Choose the ePortfolio (Supported) Route?

This pathway offers a structured, quality-assured process to:

• Acknowledge your existing skills, knowledge, and experience
• Demonstrate that you meet the standards set out in the Multi-professional framework for advanced practice in England
• Gain formal recognition from the Centre for Advancing Practice

If you completed your education after 2017, you may be eligible for recognition through an accredited MSc programme. Check if your programme is accredited.

The ePortfolio (Supported) Route offers experienced advanced practitioners a clear path to gain formal recognition.

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How to Get Started?

We invite you to view eligibility criteria. If eligible, gain support from your supplier and submit an Expression Of Interest (EOI) to begin your journey toward formal recognition and demonstrate your impact as a leader in advanced practice.

Please note: Due to high demand, there is a waiting period before starting. We appreciate your patience and will contact you as soon as a place becomes available.

If you have already submitted an Expression of Interest you do not need to submit another one, unless your details have changed.

Submit your Expression Of Interest

We look forward to supporting you on your journey toward formal recognition.

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Eligibility criteria

To apply for the ePortfolio (Supported) Route, you must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be working within an NHS commissioned service
• Be currently working clinically in an advanced practice role
  • If this is not your main role, you must maintain sufficient clinical time (normally at least one day per week or equivalent) to uphold your capabilities and complete any workplace-based development identified in your Learning Needs Analysis (LNA)
• Have the endorsement and support of your employer, confirmed by your organisation’s lead for advancing practice (or equivalent, such as a senior manager in a GP practice)
• Have a commitment from your employer to provide appropriate supervision and support for any additional training identified in your LNA
• Be able to provide Level 7 (master’s level or equivalent) evidence demonstrating that you meet the capabilities across all four pillars of advanced practice
  • Alternatively, be able to do so with minimal additional evidence that can be achieved within 12 months of completing your LNA
• Be prepared to sign a learning agreement with your employer and the relevant education provider

Note: Holding a specific job title or being paid at a particular band does not, by itself, demonstrate eligibility.

You are not eligible if you:

• Have enrolled in or are currently completing an MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice programme after 2017
• Are not already working at an advanced practice level
• Have significant gaps in evidence that would require more than 12 months of education or training to meet the required capabilities

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ePortfolio requirements

What you will need to complete the route

Written Requirements

You’ll be asked to submit the following written work, all at Level 7 academic standard:

• Critical Narrative: A critical narrative of 3,500 to 5,000 words
• A structured reflection on your advanced practice across the four pillars:
  • Introduction
  • Clinical Practice
  • Leadership & Management
  • Education
  • Research
  • Conclusion

• Reflective Case Studies:
  • Two critical reflective case studies (minimum of 800 words) focused on assessing and managing complex or unpredictable clinical situations
• Reflective Accounts:
  • Two critical reflective accounts (minimum of 800 words) reflecting on the other pillars of advanced practice
• Leadership and Management: One of the reflective accounts should include a summary of a team leadership experience related to leadership and management

All submissions must include appropriate citations and references (not included in the word count).

Evidence Requirements

You will need to provide:

• A maximum of 35 pieces of evidence
  • 1-2 pieces of evidence per capability
  • A total of 4–6 pieces per pillar is recommended
  • Evidence can demonstrate multiple capabilities

Evidence

• Your current CV 
• Your current advanced practitioner job description
• Observed assessment of your competence by an experienced advanced practitioner or medical doctor
• Evidence of delivering education/training (formal or informal)
• Examples of how you apply research in your advanced practice work
• Feedback from:
  • At least two colleagues 
  • At least two patients, service users, or carers

Full and detailed guidance is provided to support those on the route

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Ready to Begin?

Further information