Returning to midwifery

How to get started

Still have an active registration?

If you have an active registration but have had a gap in clinical practice, we still need you!  And we can help you come back. Just get in touch with us via email and you’ll be connected to a local return to midwifery contact who can support your journey back to midwifery.

Registered midwives who are not currently working in clinical practice can also access a new online training programme on the eLearning for Health website to help them to return to frontline maternity services. It includes online modules, mentoring, and clinical supervision to help you to return to clinical midwifery with confidence.

Don't have an active registration? 

Our Return to Practice (RTP) programmes are designed to make returning to midwifery as easy as possible – whether you’ve been away for six months or six years.  

It’s not a problem if you’re no longer a registered midwife – returning to practice is really straightforward, and here’s how you can do it:     

• If you’ve got recent experience > Readmission
• If you’ve been away for a while > Updating your skills through a Test of Competence or a return to practice course

Readmission

You might be able to re-register with the NMC without doing a course or test.  You'll need:

• 450 registered practice hours over the last three years or 750 hours over the last five, including any practice hours gained on the COVID-19 temporary register
• 35 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) in the last three years
• to provide three character references  

You can apply directly through the NMC website or if you want to use hours worked through the COVID-19 temporary register, you'll need to email the NMC to request a paper copy of the readmission pack.

Further information on requirements and process is also available on the NMC website.

Test of Competence (ToC) 

If you’ve been out of midwifery for a while, the Test of Competence is a great way to update your knowledge. 

The test is made up of two parts:  

• A multiple-choice computer based test (CBT).
• A practical test known as the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)

How to apply for the test 

You can apply through the NMC website, where you’ll also find lots of preparation materials and essential reading to help you revise for the test.  

Financial support for the test  

We’ll cover the cost of you taking a Test of Competence, but you may have to pay upfront and claim it back once you’re registered and working with us.  

If you’d like to know more, you can drop us an email and we’ll put you in touch with a member of our team who can answer any questions you may have. 

Return to practice course 

A return to practice course will refresh your skills, leaving you ready to return to midwifery with confidence. It involves a combination of classroom and placement-based learning, so you can get stuck in right from the start. You’ll also be assigned a personal mentor to support you through your studies.  

The course takes between 3 and 12 months to complete, depending on how long you’ve been out of practice.  

Financial support for your studies 

You won’t just be emotionally supported by our team, you’ll be financially supported too. If you apply directly to a university, NHS England will pay for your course and placement fees. You’ll also be given £1,000 to help cover any childcare, travel and book costs. 

If you apply through an NHS organisation, your course and placement fees will be covered and you’ll either receive a salary or £1,000 to help cover your costs. 

While completing your clinical placement, you’ll be given supernumerary status, meaning you’ll be an addition to existing staff, giving you the time and space you need to learn.  

Finding a course 

There are courses available across the country, and you can browse them on our course finder

If you’d like to find out more about a specific course, you’ll find the university’s contact details on the course page.   

There are also opportunities for you to earn while you study. To search for a salaried return to practice course, visit NHS Jobs and search ‘return to practice’  

We’re here to help 

Returning to midwifery won’t just make a difference to other people’s lives, it’ll make a big difference to yours too – and we’re here to make it as easy as possible. No matter which route you choose, we can guide you through the process. If you’d like to discuss your options, simply request a call-back and a member of our team will give you a call.