Information for Midwifery Students
The Midwifery Council hopes that the following information will assist you as a Bachelor of Midwifery
student to ensure that on completion of your programme, all requirements to be registered as a midwife will
have been met.
1.
Requirements for Entry to the Register of Midwives
You must satisfy the requirements in four broad areas before the Council is able to register you as a midwife:
• Qualifications You must complete an approved education programme in midwifery with an
accredited education provider
• Competencies You must meet the Competencies for Entry to the Register of Midwives
• Fitness for Registration You must:
o
be of good character
o
not have any mental or physical condition that will prevent you from practising effectively as
a midwife
o
be able to communicate effectively
o
be fluent in written and spoken English
• National Midwifery Examination You must obtain a pass in the National Midwifery Examination
2.
Qualification and Competencies
The approved programme is a 480 credits/points bachelor’s degree in midwifery. There are four accredited
providers: Otago Polytechnic (Dunedin), Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology, Waikato Institute
of Technology (Hamilton) and Auckland University of Technology.
Your Head of School is required to supply confirmation that you have completed the requirements of your
undergraduate programme directly to the Midwifery Council prior to sitting the examination. In some
circumstances, students may be allowed to sit the examination if they have to facilitate only a small number
of births to complete their programme. You will not be registered until the necessary births have been
facilitated and the Council has been advised.
Your Head of School will also provide the Council with a statement that in their opinion, you meet the
competencies for practice as a midwife and are able to communicate effectively.
3.
Time Limit to Complete Your Bachelor’s Degree
Midwifery is not suited to part time or broken study. The Council has placed limits on the time you can take
to complete your degree. If you require more than four years to complete your programme, you must apply
to the Council for consent. The Council’s main priority is to ensure that students extending the programme
time retain the body of knowledge and skills which they are developing. Your Head of School must provide a
letter of support for your application. Your application should explain the reasons for your request and
include a programme re-entry plan to ensure that your learning remains integrated and that you retain your
body of midwifery knowledge and skills.
The Council does not approve application for an extension of time as a formality and you should not
anticipate that the Council will approve such an application. If you are contemplating taking a break from
your midwifery studies, you should discuss this with your Head of School and contact the Council at the
earliest opportunity.
4. Convictions and Health
The Council will ask you to disclose any convictions and to consent to New Zealand Police vetting when you
apply to sit the National Midwifery Exam and to be registered as a midwife.
International students, or New Zealand students who have lived in an overseas country for 12 months or
more, are also required to obtain a Police certificate from the overseas country where they lived. Usually
this is straight forward but in some cases it can be a protracted process. It is suggested that you check the
requirement in your situation well in advance of applying to sit the National Midwifery Exam and to be
registered as a midwife. This link to New Zealand Immigration internet site explains the process to obtain a
Police certificate that will also be acceptable to Council - https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealandvisas/apply-for-a-visa/tools-and-information/police-certificates . Please do not obtain a Police certificate of
a type other than specified there.
The Council will consider factors such as the nature of the offence and the circumstance surrounding it, the
penalty imposed, the time passed, and any discernible pattern of offending. If you have lived overseas for a
period of more than one year, you must obtain a police check from those countries as well.
The Council will also ask you to disclose any physical or mental health issues that could affect your ability to
practise as a midwife. A medical certificate is required and a form is included in the registration application
pack.
You should put your circumstance before the Council for its consideration if in doubt. Failure to disclose any
convictions or health issues is in itself grounds to question your honesty and fitness for practice. Any
convictions or health issues will not necessarily prevent your being registered. You may be asked to meet the
Council Registration Committee before your application is decided. You will not be refused registration
without being given the opportunity to discuss any issues and convince the Council of your fitness for
registration.
If you have any serious conviction or health concerns, you may discuss these with the Council when you
enter the programme before committing yourself to three years’ midwifery study.
5. The National Midwifery Examination
The Midwifery Council conducts the National Midwifery Examination. Each School of Midwifery provides a
venue but is otherwise not involved. Students may elect to sit the examination at any of the schools.
Students can also write to the Council and request to sit at another location but this will be at the Council’s
discretion and may not be approved in all cases. If approved, there are additional administration fees plus
the costs of hire of the alternative venue and supervisor/s that the candidate must pay.
The examinations are held three times (March, July, and December) each year. Candidates who do not sit
the examination on completion of the Bachelor of Midwifery Programme because of illness or bereavement
or other unavoidable circumstance must sit at the next available opportunity.
If you fail the first time, you are permitted to attempt the examination once more only.
6. Further information
If during your studies, you require further information on any matters relating to the regulation of
midwifery, please contact the Council. Please also refer to the NZ graduates’ application guidelines.
The Midwifery Council wishes you well in your study.