Returning to midwifery

Ready to be someone’s first hello once again? Your experience and skills are invaluable to us, and we’re here to help you return to midwifery with confidence. 

Benefits of returning

Few other roles will give you the same kind of fulfilment as midwifery – think how many new parents you’ve already helped? But it’s not just emotionally rewarding, there are plenty of practical benefits too, including some you may not have experienced before:  

  • One of the most generous pension schemes in the UK.  
  • Flexible working and opportunities to work part-time, helping to create a balance that suits you. Childcare support may also be available but it varies between NHS trusts. 
  • At least 27 days holiday a year plus public holidays, and a standard working week of 37.5 hours. 
  • Additional support for professional development, helping you to feel confidence in your skills and achieve your career goals.   
  • A greater emphasis on working in multidisciplinary teams, allowing you to work with experts from many different departments.  

Michaela Mecuri

Return to practice midwife
The best part of returning was being able to work with and support women and their families at this moment in their lives.

How to get started

Still have an active registration?

If you have an active registration but have been out of clinical practice for up to three years, 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:     

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:  

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.   

  • Displaying 1 - 5 of 10 matches

    Return to practice (RTP) midwifery

    University of Wolverhampton

    View course Opens in a new window
    • Study mode
      Part-time
      Duration of the course
      1 year
      Leading to a career in
      Midwifery (return to practice)
    • Contact details
      [email protected]
      01902 32 22 22
    • Region
      West Midlands
      Admissions address
      Gorway Road
      Walsall
      West Midlands
      WS1 3EZ
    Entry Requirements

    This course is for midwives who have had a break from the profession and wish to return. 

    Please contact the university directly for more information about this course and how to apply. Alternatively, you can contact NHS Health Education England in the Midlands on [email protected]

    Return to practice (RTP) midwifery

    University of Plymouth

    View course Opens in a new window
    • Study mode
      Part-time
      Duration of the course
      Flexible - depends on individual needs
      Leading to a career in
      Midwifery (return to practice)
    • Contact details
      [email protected]
      01752 586951
    • Region
      South West
      Admissions address
      Level 4 Rolle Building
      Drake Circus
      Plymouth
      PL4 8AA
    Entry Requirements

    This course is for midwives who have had a break from the profession and wish to return. 

    Please contact the university directly for more information about this course and how to apply. Alternatively, you can contact NHS Health Education England in the South West on [email protected]

    Return to practice (RTP) midwifery

    Bristol, University of the West of England

    View course Opens in a new window
    • Study mode
      Part-time
      Duration of the course
      Flexible - depends on individual needs
      Leading to a career in
      Midwifery (return to practice)
    • Contact details
      [email protected]
      0117 32 81158
    • Region
      South West
      Admissions address
      Glenside Campus
      Blackberry Hill
      Stapleton
      Bristol
      BS16 1DD
    Entry Requirements

    This course is for midwives who have had a break from the profession and wish to return. 

    Please contact the university directly for more information about this course and how to apply. Alternatively, you can contact NHS Health Education England in the South West on [email protected]

    Return to practice (RTP) midwifery.

    University of Greenwich

    View course Opens in a new window
    • Study mode
      Part-time
      Duration of the course
      1 year
      Leading to a career in
      Midwifery (return to practice)
    • Contact details
      [email protected]
      020 8331 7593
    • Region
      London
      Admissions address
      Southwood Site
      Avery Hill Campus
      Avery Hill Road
      Eltham
      London
      SE9 2UG
    Entry Requirements

    This course is for midwives who have had a break from the profession and wish to return. 

    You will need to be employed by a local trust in the London area that is linked to this university. 

    Please contact the named contact at the university (see contact details above) for more information about this course and how to apply. Alternatively, you can contact NHS Health Education England in London on [email protected]

    Return to practice (RTP) midwifery

    University of Greenwich

    View course Opens in a new window
    • Study mode
      Part-time
      Duration of the course
      1 year
      Leading to a career in
      Midwifery (return to practice)
    • Contact details
      [email protected]
      020 8331 7593
    • Region
      South East
      Admissions address
      Southwood Site
      Avery Hill Campus
      Avery Hill Road
      Eltham
      London
      SE9 2UG
    Entry Requirements

    This course is for midwives who have had a break from the profession and wish to return. 

    You will need to be employed by a local trust in the London area that is linked to this university. 

    Please contact Heather Bower at the university for more information about this course and how to apply. Alternatively, you can contact NHS Health Education England in the South East on [email protected]

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