Entry requirements (public health nurse)

In order to work as a public health nurse, you must first qualify and register as a nurse [1] or midwife [2]. Following on from this, entry requirements will vary and may well be specific to individual positions.  

Experience or a qualification (or both) in one of the following areas may be an advantage:

• community nursing
• school nursing
• staff nurse in health visiting team
• work in A&E or walk-in centre settings
• counselling and psychological help
• occupational health
• infection prevention and control 
• health protection
• practice nursing

There are other educational options and courses for those working in infectious disease, health protection, infection control, sexual health, drug and alcohol, smoking cessation and other areas.

A public health nurse may or may not hold a specialty community public health nurse (SCPHN) qualification.

Find out more about the training and development of public health nurses [3]

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