How to become 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 as long as it's approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
If you already have a degree that is not in midwifery, you can do a postgraduate midwifery course to become a midwife.
You may be able to get additional student financial support through the NHS Learning Support Fund.
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 Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship.
This typically takes 48 months to complete and includes learning on the job and studying 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 volunteering experience in healthcare before you apply for a course.
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 take a conversion course to become a midwife. 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 the 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.