Midwife
Midwives support pregnant people and their babies before, during and after, childbirth.
- Starter salary£32,000 a year
- Experienced£48,000 a year
- Typical hours37 to 40 a week
What you'll do
In this role you could:
- advise pregnant people and check they are healthy
- run classes about pregnancy and parenting
- manage labour and deliver babies
- advise on ways to manage pain during labour
- give advice after the baby is born
- visit homes to check on parents and the baby
Working environment
You could work at a client's home, at a health centre, at a GP practice or in an NHS or private hospital.
Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.
You may need to wear a uniform.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- knowledge of medicine and neonatal care
- sensitivity and understanding
- knowledge of psychology
- customer service skills
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
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 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
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
Volunteering
Volunteering in the NHS is a good way to get work experience in healthcare. This can be helpful when you apply for jobs or training.
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.
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to:
- pass enhanced background checks
Career path and progression
You must renew your Nursing & Midwifery Council registration every 3 years to show you're keeping your skills up to date.
You could take further training to specialise in areas like ultrasound or neonatal care.
With experience, you could become a ward manager or team leader.
You could also train to become a health visitor, a director of midwifery or midwifery consultant.
Career tips
You would be expected to have an understanding of how the NHS values would apply in your work.
Registration
- you'll need to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council
Guides for this industry
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