Previously, nurses would be required to undertake study post-registration to enable them to support students in practice. These courses were often referred to as mentor training. Students will now have supervisor training during their undergraduate course leading to them being supervisor ready when qualifying.

What is a SSSA Practice Supervisor?

  • • The practice supervisor can be any registered health and social care professional working in a practice environment. They’ve been prepared and supported to take up their role and have up-to-date knowledge and experience relevant to the student they are supervising.
  • • All nurses, midwives and nursing associates in any practice learning environment should be able to undertake a practice supervisor role.

What is a SSSA Practice Assessor?

  • • Practice assessors are registered nurses, midwives, and nursing associates, or in the case of prescribing programmes any qualified prescriber, who assess a student’s practice learning for a placement or a series of placements. A nominated practice assessor also works with the academic assessor to make recommendations for progression for the student they are assigned to.
  • • They have been prepared and supported to take up their role and have current knowledge and experience relevant for the proficiencies and programme outcomes they are assessing.

Nottingham Alliance Training Hub have developed slide decks for the relevant training to either become a (i) Supervisor, (ii) Assessor, or (iii) Supervisor and Assessor (see below), which you can download and use for self-directed study. They have shared this programme with us in order to make these programmes available for Practices in Northamptonshire

Upon completion of the self-directed study, you will be required to complete a NMC SSSA Knowledge Test. A score of 80% or more results in a pass and you will be added to the NTH Supervisor and Assessor Register. A certificate will be provided for use as evidence in the NMC re-validation process.

This Supervisor and Assessor Register will be stored by the Northamptonshire Training Alliance (NTH), but will also be shared with local university placement teams to facilitate student nurse placements within primary care in Northamptonshire.

When your certification is due for renewal (every two years), you will receive an email from NTH to prompt you to retake the NMC SSSA Knowledge Test. It is therefore important that you keep NTH informed of any changes to your contact details.

There are documents and workbooks that you will need to download which can also be found on our Resources page. They are;

Once you have completed the training, please complete the online assesment

Start Assessment.

The pass mark is 80%

Standards for Student Supervision and Assessment (SSSA) update

This is the update module that you may complete after the initial SSSA assessment.

Description:This update provides a refresher of the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to support learners to become outstanding nurses and midwives.

In this module, you will learn how to:



  • • Employ strong interpersonal skills to have productive and inclusive conversations with learners and colleagues

    • Create a safe, engaging, and inclusive learning environment for your learners

    • Effectively manage learner performance by setting clear objectives, providing feedback, supporting struggling learners, and escalating where appropriate.



This module should take around 30 - 45 minutes to complete.

There are interactive activities and reflection activities throughout this module to check your understanding.

E-LFH SSSA update Course