The General NPP Extension has ended.
We ended the General NPP Extension on 31 December 2024. We introduced it in response to the COVID-19 health emergency. It meant that barristers who could not complete NPP courses in advocacy or ethics with an Inn or Circuit by their NPP deadline did not need to seek an individual extension from us.
We decided to end the General NPP Extension to help assure high standards among barristers in the public's and consumers' interests. As part of this work, we ensure that barristers undertake training to develop and maintain the knowledge, skills, and attributes they need to provide high standards, particularly during their early years of practice.
The information below explains if and how the end of the General NPP Extension affects you.
If you have completed all NPP requirements:
- The end of the General NPP Extension does not affect you.
- Please disregard the below information and continue to work to meet the requirements of the Established Practitioners Programme (EPP) on an ongoing basis.
If your original NPP deadline was between 31 December 2020 and 31 December 2024, and you have yet to complete all the requirements of the NPP:
- In January 2024, we said you must complete all the NPP requirements by 31 December 2024 and that, after that date, we would not grant individual NPP waivers or extensions solely due to a lack of availability of NPP courses with the Inns and Circuits.
- If you have completed 33 hours of CPD but have not been able to complete the nine hours on advocacy, three hours on professional ethics, or both (i.e. you have not been able to attend an NPP course provided by an Inn or Circuit), you must contact [email protected]. We will move you on to the EPP and ask you to undertake to complete your outstanding advocacy and/or ethics requirements in the 2025 CPD year. We will follow up on this with you.
- You can continue with the EPP as usual if you have completed the outstanding NPP requirements when we follow up.
- If you have not completed the outstanding NPP requirements when we follow up, you will be considered non-compliant with your CPD obligations. This could lead to further checks of your CPD record and referral for enforcement action. You can read more about CPD Supervision and Enforcement.
- If you have not completed the other NPP requirements (33 hours of CPD) and the nine hours of advocacy and/or three hours of professional ethics requirements, you must apply for an NPP waiver or exemption. Unlike the advocacy and ethics NPP courses, COVID-19 did not impact barristers’ ability to complete 33 hours of CPD.
If you are on an extended break from practice:
- Read the information on our website's CPD – Extended Leave area.
If you have questions about the end of the General NPP Extension.
Please email [email protected] if you have questions about the end of the General NPP Extension.
The Established Practitioners Programme (EPP)
Read our CPD Guidance to learn about the requirements of the EPP.
There is no formal extension, waiver, or exemption process for the requirements of the EPP. If your circumstances (e.g. parental leave or ill health) mean that it is appropriate for you to complete less CPD or no CPD in a given year, you need to record this in your CPD plan. You can find more information about CPD and extended leave on our website's CPD and Extended Leave area.
