How to become a midwife
You can get into this job through:
- a university degree
- an apprenticeship
- a specialist course run by a professional body
University
You can do a degree in midwifery, approved by the Nursing & Midwifery Council.
Full-time courses take 3 years.
You may be able to get additional student financial support through the NHS Learning Support Fund.
If you already have a degree you could do a postgraduate midwifery course. The length of time it takes to qualify will vary, depending on the relevance of your degree. For example, with an adult nursing degree you could qualify within 2 years instead of the typical 3 years.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
- 2 or 3 A levels, including a science, or a level 3 diploma or access to higher education in health, science or nursing
- a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
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Apprenticeship
You can do a midwife degree apprenticeship.
This typically takes 48 months to complete as a mix of learning in the workplace and academic study at an approved university.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship
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Volunteering
You'll find it helpful to get some paid or voluntary experience in the health or care sector before you apply for a course.
You could contact the voluntary services co-ordinator at your local NHS trust for further advice.
You can also find volunteering opportunities through The National Council for Voluntary Organisations and Do IT.
Other Routes
If you're a registered adult nurse you may be able to qualify through a conversion course. These usually take between 18 and 24 months.
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Registration
- you'll need to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council
Career tips
When applying for degree courses and apprenticeships, you'll be expected to show an understanding of how NHS values apply in your work.
Further information
You can find more on how to become a midwife from the Royal College of Midwives and Health Careers.