Pre-registration Midwifery Education

Pre-registration midwifery education programmes are three-year bachelor degree programmes completed over 45 weeks, three trimesters per year. They are designed to prepare students for registration as a midwife in New Zealand.

Approved programmes may be offered by accredited tertiary education providers. In 2007 the Council published new Standards  for pre-registration education. The 2007 programme is an extended three year programme meaning that each year has a minimum of 45 programmed weeks rather than the more usual 36 programmed weeks. All students whether full time or part time must complete the programme within four years of commencement.

Existing students will continue with their current course of study but from 2010 all first year students will enrol in programmes which meet the new standards. Please note that Massey will NOT be accepting new students from 2010, Massey will continue to offer the former programme to their current 2nd and 3rd year students. As of 2012 Massey will no longer offer midwifery pre-registration education, those looking for courses on offer in the Wellington region should contact Otago Polytechnic.

Below are the standards for approval of pre-registration midwifery education programmes and accreditation of tertiary education organizations, with processes for approval, accreditation, on-going monitoring and audit.

Standards for pre-registration education Adobe Acrobat Document: 449 KB, 66 seconds @ 56kbps  

Midwifery students must successfully complete an approved pre-registration midwifery education programme in order to be put forward for the Midwifery Council National Midwifery Examination, which is part of the Council's registration requirements for New Zealand midwives.

Information on the Midwifery schools as of July 2011:

AUT (Auckland)

• will continue to provide the former programme to 3rd year students;
• is accredited to offer its programme under 2007 guidelines from 2010

Click here for more information on the schools programme..

Wintec (Hamilton)

• will continue to provide the former programme to 3rd year students;
• is accredited to offer its programme under 2007 guidelines from 2010

Click here for more information on the schools programme.

 Massey University (Wellington)

• will continue to provide the former programme to 3rd year students;
• is  NOT accredited to offer the 2007 programme 

Click here for more information on the schools programme.

 CPIT (Christchurch) 

• is accredited to offer the programme under 2007 guidelines from 2009

Click here for more information on the schools programme..

 Otago Polytechnic (Dunedin)

• is accredited to offer the programme under 2007 guidelines from 2009, Otago Polytechnic  will offer this in the lower South Island and in the Wellington region.

Downloadable brochure:: Otago Polytechnic, Bachelor of Midwifery  

or click here for more information on the schools programme..