TITLE III

FREEDOM OF ESTABLISHMENT
CHAPTER III

Recognition on the basis of coordination of minimum training conditions
Section 6

Midwives

The training of midwives
Article 40
1
The training of midwives shall comprise a total of at least:
a
specific full-time training as a midwife comprising at least three years of theoretical and practical study (route I) comprising at least the programme described in Annex V, point 5.5.1, or
b
specific full-time training as a midwife of 18 months' duration (route II), comprising at least the study programme described in Annex V, point 5.5.1, which was not the subject of equivalent training of nurses responsible for general care.
The Member States shall ensure that institutions providing midwife training are responsible for coordinating theory and practice throughout the programme of study.
The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 57c concerning the amendment of the list set out in point 5.5.1 of Annex V with a view to adapting it to scientific and technical progress.
The amendments referred to in the third subparagraph shall not entail an amendment of existing essential legislative principles in Member States regarding the structure of professions as regards training and conditions of access by natural persons. Such amendments shall respect the responsibility of the Member States for the organisation of education systems, as set out in Article 165(1) TFEU.
2
Admission to training as a midwife shall be contingent upon one of the following conditions:
a
completion of at least 12 years of general school education or possession of a certificate attesting success in an examination, of an equivalent level, for admission to a midwifery school for route I;
b
possession of evidence of formal qualifications as a nurse responsible for general care referred to in point 5.2.2 of Annex V for route II.
3
Training as a midwife shall provide an assurance that the professional in question has acquired the following knowledge and skills:
a
detailed knowledge of the sciences on which the activities of midwives are based, particularly midwifery, obstetrics and gynaecology;
b
adequate knowledge of the ethics of the profession and the legislation relevant for the practice of the profession;
c
adequate knowledge of general medical knowledge (biological functions, anatomy and physiology) and of pharmacology in the field of obstetrics and of the newly born, and also knowledge of the relationship between the state of health and the physical and social environment of the human being, and of his behaviour;
d
adequate clinical experience gained in approved institutions allowing the midwife to be able, independently and under his own responsibility, to the extent necessary and excluding pathological situations, to manage the antenatal care, to conduct the delivery and its consequences in approved institutions, and to supervise labour and birth, postnatal care and neonatal resuscitation while awaiting a medical practitioner;
e
adequate understanding of the training of health personnel and experience of working with such personnel.
Substituted by Directive 2013/55/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 November 2013 amending Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications and Regulation (EU) No 1024/2012 on administrative cooperation through the Internal Market Information System (‘the IMI Regulation’) (Text with EEA relevance).