Midwives Qualifying in New Zealand

Graduates from approved midwifery programmes offered by approved tertiary education providers in New Zealand can apply for registration as a midwife.  The application will be assessed in accordance with the Midwifery Council policy for registration of New Zealand graduates.

The Midwifery Council consulted on this policy in 2004. These discussion documents can still be downloaded or viewed on the consultation section of this website but the final policy has been approved.

Graduates must satisfy four criteria before they can be registered. These are:

1. Qualifications.  The theoretical and clinical components of an approved midwifery education programme by an accredited provider must be fully completed.
2. Competencies. Graduates must be able to meet the Competencies for Entry to the Register of Midwives. These provide evidence that graduates are able to practise in the Midwifery Scope of Practice. The Head of School at the institution at which graduates complete their degree programme must confirm that graduates meet the Competencies.
3. Fitness for registration.  This requirement is defined in the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003.  In summary, graduates must be of good charcter, have no mental or physical conditions which might adversely affect practise as a midwife and must be able to communicate effectively in written and spoken English.     
4. National Midwifery Examination. Graduates must obtain a pass in this examination.  

The registration process can be visualised in the flowchart below.

Flow Chart for NZ Graduates Adobe Acrobat Document: 83.0 KB, 12 seconds @ 56kbps Registration Flow Chart for Graduates of New Zealand Midwifery Programmes

The application pack for NZ graduates to apply to sit the National Midwifery Examination and to apply for entry to the Register of Midwives can be downloaded below. Please note that the pack includes the application form and accompanying information that should be read before the form is completed and submitted to the Midwifery Council.
Application Pack - to sit the National Midwifery Examination and to be registered as a midwife.

Examination & Registration application form Adobe Acrobat Document: 162 KB, 24 seconds @ 56kbps

 When applications are received, applicants' fitness for registration is assessed. The Council aims to address any issues which might arise before graduates sit the National Midwifery Examination so in the rare circumstance that a graduate does not meet the fitness criteria she need not sit the examination.  After the examination, a transcript of each graduates' midwifery programme is sent to the Council.  Provided graduates are fit for registration, have satisfactorily completed the programme, are confirmed by their Head of School as being competent and achieve a pass in the examination they will be entered onto the Register.     

Before being entitled to work, midwives must apply for a practising certificate. Application forms will be sent to each midwife at the same time as the Certificate of Registration.  

Council has approved:

• a reduced fee for the first part annual practising certificate application provided this application is made immediately after the National Midwifery Examination results are notified; and
• for those graduates who register and obtain their first practising certificate in December/January, a reduced fee of $280 for the next full years' practising certificate.   

Thereafter these NZ midwifery graduates will pay the same APC fees as other midwives. All fees are listed on the fees section of this website.