Midwifery involves caring for pregnant women during pregnancy, birth and after birth. Midwifery is a separate profession from nursing.
Work Environment
This occupation is typically found in the following Career Sector(s):
Videos & Interviews
Videos on the Web
- Midwife - from: Youtube Search
Working Life
Midwifery is a hugely rewarding career providing much in terms of job satisfaction. As a midwife you will be with parents at the most special time of their lives and be involved in welcoming their new baby to the world. Although the work can be challenging at times, you will be well supported in an environment that supports learning.
During training, student midwives develop professional knowledge, skills and behaviours so that they are prepared when qualified, to provide care for women and newborn babies throughout pregnancy, childbirth and up to six weeks from birth.
Midwifery is not the same as nursing—it is a separate profession with different roles, philosophy, scope, education, and standards. Some of the values in midwifery include; childbirth is a profound experience, the woman is the primary decision maker in her care and childbirth is usually a normal physiological process.
It is an exciting time to be a midwife in Ireland with lots of progress being made with the implementation of Ireland’s National Maternity Strategy and you will be part of a team providing safer and better maternity care and improved choice for women
From the start of your training, you will actively participate in giving care appropriate to your level of knowledge and practical experience, with the supervision and direction of a registered midwife. In partnership with women, you will learn how to give professional support and advice.
Midwives establish a trusting relationship with women and their families and aim to provide high quality care to women and newborn babies, whatever their situation. As a midwife, you will have an important role in providing antenatal care including assessment, monitoring the progression of pregnancy, health promotion and provision of parenting preparation classes.
You will monitor women and babies and support them during labour and their birth, detecting any deviation from the normal, and referring care as necessary. You will educate and empower women including on how best to feed, care for and bathe their newborn babies. As a midwife you will promote and support breastfeeding.
Where Will I Work?
You could work in a variety of settings: antenatal and postnatal wards and clinics, birthing rooms, Midwifery Led Units (MLUs), community midwifery services, neonatal units and obstetric theatres. Midwives are the lead healthcare professionals for women whose pregnancies are uncomplicated.
Midwives can provide care in the home for women and provide homebirth services. Midwives work autonomously and within a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals including obstetricians, GPs, public health nurses and social workers.
Listen to Amy Walsh who is currently doing her Postgraduate Higher Diploma in Midwifery in the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin and hear a little bit about her career journey so far:
The HSE is the biggest employer in Ireland for this occupation. Further information from the HSE on the duties and skills for this occupation can be found here.
Further Information
- Maternity Support Worker- from: N.C.S. [UK]
- Midwife- from: N.C.S. [UK]
- Midwife- from: GradIreland
Qualities - Midwife
There are many reasons why you should consider a career as a general Midwife. It offers you the chance to make a difference from day one. You are a highly educated professional, with an honours degree and it is a career with excellent employment opportunities. Midwifery will appeal to you if you have an interest in pregnancy and birth, women’s health and care of the newborn baby.
If you have some of the personal qualities outlined below then midwifery is an excellent career choice for you:
- a caring, kind and understanding attitude
- being able to get on well with people from a wide range of social and cultural backgrounds
- being a good communicator and listener
- having good emotional and mental strength
- being able to act on own initiative
- willingness to take responsibility
- an ability to cope with difficult situations and to remain calm in stressful situations
Skills and competencies that you will develop during your training and as a practicing midwife include:
- Clinical knowledge, clinical reasoning skills and evidence-based practice to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the role
- Facilitate normal birth processes in hospitals and community settings including women’s homes
- The ability to practice in accordance with legislation.
- The ability to plan and organise yourself and your care for women and babies effectively
- Facilitate women to make individual choices about care
- The ability to build and maintain relationships and work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team
- Effective analytical, problem solving and decision-making skills
- Excellent communication skills to effectively carry out the duties and responsibilities of the role and to present information in a clear and concise manner
- The ability to empathise with and treat women, relatives and colleagues with dignity and respect and uphold fundamental human rights of individuals when providing midwifery care
- A commitment to continuing professional development
- A commitment to providing a quality service
Interests - Midwife
This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:
Social
The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.
Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.
Investigative
The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.
Realist
Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.
Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.
Entry / Progression - Midwife
There are two pathways to becoming a midwife in Ireland – the undergraduate or pre-registration route (BSc (Hons) Midwifery) and the post-registration route (Higher Diploma in Midwifery).
The Pre-registration route: a 4 year Bachelor of Science (Midwifery) level 8, following which you register on the Midwives Division of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI), register.
The Post-Registration route: this 18 month Higher Diploma in Midwifery programme level 8 is only open to applicants who already have a general nurse qualification.
Both programmes are currently available through:
- Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and DKIT
- University College Hospital Galway and NUIG
- Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital TCD
- Rotunda Hospital and TCD
- Cork University Maternity Hospital and UCC
- National Maternity Hospital Holles St and UCD
- University Maternity Hospital Limerick and UL
Go to NMBI Careers in Nursing and Midwifery for further information on how to train and register as a midwife including:
- Programme: type, purpose, structure and competencies.
- Making an application: including CAO application, Higher Education Access Route (HEAR), Disability Access Route to Education (DARE), allowances and grants.
- Clinical and theoretical components of the pre-reg programme
- Entry requirements: health requirements, Garda Vetting, English competency, non-EU applications. Standard and Mature applications.
Post registration courses; Higher Diploma in Midwifery, Midwife Prescriber, Midwife Tutor, Advanced Midwifery Practice.
Entry requirements for these courses can vary depending on where and how you would like to study, so it is important to check with the particular college.
Application Information from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland
Further Education & Training Entry Pathways
A number of courses are available throughout the country that focus on learning and skills that may be useful for this career. The examples and links below may guide you in your research.
Further Education (FET)
Further Education & Training (FET) Courses are delivered by local ETBs, ranging in duration from several weeks up to 20 months. Courses are designed to meet the labour market needs and often include a large element of work experience.
Example search terms include: nursing studies, healthcare support, community and health services, anatomy and physiology, human growth and development, biology.
Search for FET Courses
PLC Courses (FET)
PLC courses are full-time courses, one or two years duration, with awards at Level 5 and 6 on the NFQ. They are offered nationally in Schools and Colleges of Further Education.
Certain Specific QQI Level 5 Certificate Programmes can provide links to Nursing Degree Programmes.
- Nursing Studies (5M4349)
- Community and Health Services (5M4468)
- Healthcare Support (5M4339)
In all cases places are limited and applicants must have achieved distinctions in five components including;
- Anatomy and Physiology (5N0749)
- Nursing Theory and Practice (5N4325)
- Human Growth and Development (5N1279) or Biology (5N2746)
You can find details of where these courses are run by entering the course titles into the Course Finder from the link below.
Search for PLC Courses
If you are in a PLC course or considering taking one, you can check to see if there is a progression pathway to courses in the CAO system. The following link will list all PLC courses that are related to the Healthcare sector in Ireland. Use the filters on that page to narrow your search as required.
Note: Courses completed at PLC/FET level require specific FETAC awards and modules to meet minimum entry requirements to apply via CAO for a place in nursing under the HELS Higher Education Links Scheme.
Contact the Admissions Office of the individual (EB’s) Education Body or visit CAO Nursing FET- QQI places.
You can also check NMBI Careers in Nursing & Midwifery for any changes.
Higher Education CAO (Undergraduate)
Higher Education courses at Levels 6 to 8 on the NFQ, delivered in Universities and Technological Universities & Institutes. Courses run from 2 – 5 years and places are allocated on a points-based system, processed by the Central Application Office.
The Higher Education route is the most common route for students considering a nursing career. A full list of nursing courses can be found by entering the term 'Nursing or Midwifery' into the Coursefinder from the link below, or following this link for all medical related courses.
Search for CAO Courses
Mature Entry
All candidates are required to apply through CAO. Mature Entry is for those that are 23 years of age or older by 1st January in the year of entry, applicants are also required to sit a test. The Nursing Careers Centre (NCC) of Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, NMBI) assesses candidates.
Mature entry route is based on applying for a nursing course via www.cao.ie by 1st February or late application date of 1st May. Applicants can also avail of the change of mind facility on CAO up to 1st July. Although it is possible to make a late application to mature nursing, it is not possible to apply late for other mature entry routes. Other mature entry routes should be applied for by 1st February, to ensure they can engage in any mature assessments.
Places are limited and mature applicants must satisfy the minimum entry requirements for the Nursing programme and will also be assessed based on each Colleges [RPL] Recognition of prior learning.
Check out NMBI Mature student guide for more information.
Higher Education (Postgraduate)
Postgraduate courses are courses at Levels 9 and 10 on the NFQ and usually last 1 – 2 years full time, or longer if a PhD or part time. Entrants typically require an undergraduate award (Level 8). A full list of postgraduate nursing courses can be found by entering the term 'Nursing or Midwifery' into the Coursefinder from the link below, or following this link for all medical related courses.
Search for Postgraduate Courses
Career / Professional Development
Registered Midwives can progress their careers with choices for midwives existing in the clinical, management, education and research settings. These options include Clinical Midwife Specialist and Advanced Midwife Practitioner roles.
Specialist areas of practice include ultrasonography, bereavement and loss and foetal assessment.
The National Office of Nursing and Midwifery will provide further information and guidance on supporting your nursing career options. Check out a list of current CPD
Pay & Salary - Midwife
Salary Range (thousands per year)* €37k - €55k
Your standard working week will be rostered up to 37.5 hours on a shift pattern, which can include nights, early starts, evenings, weekends, and bank holidays.
Other benefits include:
- Professional development and continuous learning
- Mentorship
- Employee Assistance Programme (Confidential and independent work-based support service available to all employees of the HSE including counselling, staff wellbeing and debriefing after critical incidents)
- Opportunities for career advancement
- Paid time off for holidays
- Employee recognition
- Rewards for years of service (increments)
See below link for information for information about salary:
Data Source(s):
HSE.ie
Last Updated: February, 2025
Labour Market Updates - Midwife
This occupation has been identified as a Job in Demand by the most recent National Skills Bulletin.
Note: The following information relates to occupations that include: Nurses and midwives.
This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2024).
This occupation is the second largest (after sales assistants) across all occupations. Employment growth was above average, with particularly strong growth between 2021 and 2023 (an additional 20,500 persons employed). There was also a high number of recent job hires for this role, reflecting both the employment growth and turnover in roles with short-term contracts. Almost all employed were female (90%) and 37% were non-Irish citizens. This is also reflected in the high number of employment permits, the highest across all occupations, with staff nurses the most common role where permits were issued.
There was a relatively high volume of jobs advertised online (Eurostat/CEDEFOP) and of posts notified to DSP for nurses; difficult-to-fill vacancies in the Recruitment Agency Survey included for staff nurses, theatre, ICU, oncology, and nurse managers. Recent changes to the education/training for nurses has seen additional places on existing courses and new routes (e.g. tertiary programmes and allocated places for students from the Republic of Ireland to study in Northern Ireland) which will go some way to alleviating issues with sourcing nurses in the coming years.
A high demand for nurses is likely to persist and replacement demand alone for such a large occupation will also contribute to continued job openings.
Useful Contacts - Midwife
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Office of the Nursing and Midwifery Services Director, HSE Dr Steevens’ Hospital
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Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI)
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Regional Nursing and Midwifery Planning & Development Units
