The End of the General NPP Extension
The General NPP Extension will end 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 with an Inn or Circuit by their NPP deadline did not need to seek an individual extension from us.
Our decision to end the General NPP Extension is driven by our work to assure high standards among barristers in the interests of the public and consumers. Ensuring barristers undertake training to develop and maintain the knowledge, skills, and attributes they need to provide high standards is an integral part of this work, especially during the early years of practice.
The information below explains if and how our decision to end the General NPP Extension affects you.
If you have completed all the requirements of the NPP:
- The end of the General NPP Extension will 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 2023, and you have yet to complete all the requirements of the NPP:
- You can use the General NPP Extension if you are yet to be able to complete all the requirements of the NPP.
- You must complete all the requirements of the NPP by 31 December 2024.
- If you use the General NPP Extension, you must declare that you are not up to date with the NPP requirements as part of Authorisation to Practise (this has been the case since we introduced the General NPP Extension).
- If you use the General NPP Extension but cannot complete all the requirements of the NPP by 31 December 2024, you must seek an individual waiver or extension from our Authorisations Team.
- From 31 December 2024, we will not grant individual NPP waivers or extensions solely because of a lack of availability of NPP courses with the Inns and Circuits.
- If you use the General NPP Extension but cannot access NPP courses with the Inns or Circuits by 31 December 2024, you need to inform us by emailing [email protected] as soon as possible. We will work with you to help you complete the NPP by the deadline.
If your NPP deadline is from 31 December 2024 onwards:
- You cannot use the General NPP Extension as it will end on 31 December 2024.
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 our decision to end 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 – Extended Leave area.
