Midwifery Education in New Zealand
There are several types of midwifery education in New Zealand. These are:
- Pre-registration midwifery programmes to prepare students for registration as a midwife (these are bachelors degree programmes)
- Postgraduate midwifery education for registered midwives who wish to gain further qualifications such as a masters degree in midwifery or a PhD
- Continuing education courses, which are short courses and workshops to keep midwives up to date with clinical skills or aspects of midwifery practice. These courses are used as evidence of competence within the Recertification Programme.
- Return to Practice programmes for midwives who have been out of practice for three or more years
- Registration competence programmes for overseas midwives seeking registration in New Zealand. These programmes are approved by the Midwifery Council and comprise of courses on the New Zealand health system, the New Zealand maternity system, Legislation, Midwifery Partnership, the Treaty of Waitaingi, Cultural Safety and pharmacology and prescribing.
Further information on these education programmes can be found on the education pages of this website by clicking on the relevant section above.
Information for Education Providers
Education providers must be approved by the Midwifery Council in order to deliver the following education programmes and courses:
- Pre-registration Midwifery degree programmes
- Registration Competence Programmes for overseas qualified midwives
- Return to Practice Programmes
- Compulsory components of the Recertification Programme (except breastfeeding courses).
The folllowing courses must be approved by the Midwifery Council before any education provider can deliver them:
- Pre-registration Midwifery degreee programmes
- All courses that are part of Registration Competence Programmes for overseas qualified midwives except Treaty of Waitangi workshops
- Technical Skills Workshops (being a compulsory component of the Recertification Programme)
- Return to Practice Programmes
- any specific courses developed as part of a Return to Practice Programme or as part of a Competence Programme.
The criteria and processes for approval of providers and courses are outlined in the document below.
Education providers are invited to develop courses that meet the Midwifery Council's criteria for the elective education component of the Recertification Programme. Those applying for course approvals should complete the points assessment sheet which can be downloaded by clicking on the icon below. Points are assessed against the criteria for approval as indicated on the form. Please then send full details of the course or workshop, with the completed points assessment form to the Midwifery Council.
The deadline for receipt of applications by the Council secretariat is ten days before a Council meeting. Click here to see scheduled meeting dates.
When courses are approved, the Midwifery Council requires education providers to forward attendance lists to the Midwifery Council of completion of each course. Council also requires education providers to provide a certificate to each participant for thier portfolios. The following templates are provided below for your use. They contain all the necessary information the Council requires.
Course re-approvals
We will contact you if there are any issues that require discussion prior to a course being re-approved. Otherwise re-approvals will be noted on these pages. Please contact us if you have any queries.
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