Postgraduate Certificate in Midwifery Practice
If you're a registered midwife and want to extend your expertise, this programme is for you. Our fully online courses allow you to study from home and participate in online discussions. This programme takes you one step closer to more advanced midwifery qualifications.
Domestic
April
July
October
About the programme
Already a registered midwife and looking for a way to extend your professional expertise?
This postgraduate programme is ideal as it is flexible, practice-focused and relevant. You'll do four nine-week courses that focus on aspects of midwifery practice and critically analyse your own midwifery experiences as a means of adding depth to your knowledge base. Tailored to meet your individual needs, our online learning option enables you to study from home. Benefit from the support of experienced lecturers while gaining new skills.
A perfect springboard into further study, the Postgraduate Certificate allows you to start slowly and increase your qualifications as you go. Each programme contributes to the next so that four papers successfully completed in the Certificate mean you only need two (30 credit) or four (15 credit) more to achieve the Postgraduate Diploma in Midwifery. Online learning resources may include PowerPoint presentations, worksheets, word documents, interactive web pages and links to relevant electronic documents or websites.
International
April
July
October
About the programme
Already a registered midwife and looking for a way to extend your professional expertise?
This postgraduate programme is ideal as it is flexible, practice-focused and relevant. You'll do four courses that focus on aspects of midwifery practice and critically analyse your own midwifery experiences as a means of adding depth to your knowledge base. Tailored to meet your individual needs, our online learning option enables you to study from home. Benefit from the support of experienced lecturers while gaining new skills.
A perfect springboard into further study, the Postgraduate Certificate allows you to start slowly and increase your qualifications as you go. Each programme contributes to the next so that four papers successfully completed in the Certificate mean you only need two or four more to achieve the Postgraduate Diploma in Midwifery. Online learning resources may include PowerPoint presentations, worksheets, Word documents, interactive web pages and links to relevant electronic documents or websites.
What You Study
What you will learn
Course dates
Learning packages will be displayed on our online learning management system (Moodle), and may include tutorials, quizzes, completion of worksheets, and the use of a forum for discussion and presentations.
|
2026 dates |
Course options |
|
02 February - 03 April |
|
|
20 April - 26 June |
|
|
20 July - 18 September |
|
|
5 October - 4 December |
|
*NB this is a 30-credit course and runs from 20 July to 04 December 2026
A course summary document is available here.
If you are a returning student, please contact ebsMID@op.ac.nz for a course selection form. If you're a new student, please apply online.
Interested in becoming a midwifery educator?
We offer an Educator pathway to the Postgraduate Certificate in Midwifery Practice.
Further study options
If you have completed your Postgraduate Certificate, please contact Suzanne Miller (suzanne.miller@op.ac.nz) to plan your ongoing study.
If you have completed the pre-thesis Diploma courses (Pathway to Thesis: Midwifery Knowledge, and Pathway to Thesis: Midwifery Research Methodologies), please contact Suzanne Miller (suzanne.miller@op.ac.nz) for advice on enrolling in the Master of Midwifery.
Midwifery organisations
- Te Kāreti o ngā Kaiwhakawhānau ki Aotearoa | New Zealand College of Midwives (“The College”) is the professional organisation and recognised 'voice' for midwives and student midwives in New Zealand. It represents more than 2800 members: NZ College of Midwives.
- Ngā Maia Trust | Māori Midwives ō Aotearoa (Ngā Maia) is the national organisation representing Māori birthing. The kaupapa of Ngā Maia focuses on Māmā, Pēpi and Whānau and promoting Mātauranga Māori in pregnancy and childbirth: Ngā Maia.
- The International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) supports, represents and works to strengthen professional associations of midwives on a global basis. At present ICM have more than 90 member associations in more than 70 countries. The ICM works with midwives and midwifery associations globally to secure women's right and access to midwifery care before, during and after childbirth: International Confederation of Midwives.
- Te Tatau o te Whare Kahu | Midwifery Council is the regulatory body for New Zealand midwives. It is responsible for the health and safety of women and babies during the childbirth process by providing mechanisms to ensure that midwives are competent and fit to practise midwifery: Midwifery Council NZ.
Workload
Your workload
Each course requires working through online resources and participating in online discussions. There will be additional reading and preparation of assessments. Individual pathways and hours will vary but each 'credit' in a course equates to approximately 10 learning hours.
Entry
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
- You must be a registered midwife and hold a bachelor's degree OR have relevant equivalent skills and knowledge acquired through appropriate work or professional experience.
- International students will be individually assessed to ensure they are ready for this study.
English Language requirements
For New Zealand registered midwives:
If English is not your first language, you must provide:
- Overall Academic IELTS 7.5 (achieved in one test completed in the last two years), OR
- Acceptable alternative evidence of the required IELTS (see here for internationally recognised proficiency tests and proficiency outcomes for international students).
For International midwifery students who are not registered in New Zealand:
If English is not your first language, you must provide:
- Overall Academic IELTS 6.5 (achieved in one test completed in the last two years)
- Speaking band >/=7.0
- Listening band >/=7.0
- No individual band less than 6.0, OR
- Acceptable alternative evidence of the required IELTS (see here for internationally recognised proficiency tests and proficiency outcomes for international students).
If you need to improve your English Language skills, we offer a wide range of English programmes.
All fees and costs are approximate.
Fees
Domestic fees
International fees
Tuition fees
The tuition fees shown above are approximate only. There may be a slight fee increase per year once Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) rules and guidelines are applied. These fees also don’t include additional costs or living costs.
Studylink
Visit Welcome to StudyLink studylink.govt.nz to apply for a student loan to cover your course fees, course-related costs or living costs, or to apply for a student allowance.
Student Services Fee
For most students, your tuition fee shown above includes a Student Services Fee – also known as the Student Levy. This compulsory fee covers your access to the student services we offer. This cost is tailored depending on how you're studying.
The international tuition fee does not include your Student Levy. This will be calculated when you enrol with us.
Click below to find out more about the Student Levy costs and services provided.
Fees Free
Starting tertiary study or work-based learning for the first time? You may be able to get Fees Free after you complete your first eligible qualification or programme.
Fees Free covers the cost of your fees for the final year of study or final two years of work-based learning, up to $12,000.
When you enrol, you will need to pay your fees. To help you cover this cost, you may wish to apply for a student loan. Find out more at Student loan – StudyLink.
For more information on the eligibility requirements and when it is best to apply for Fees Free, visit Fees Free – Inland Revenue.
