Midwife

Conditions of authorisation

For midwives there are two normal situations relating to applications for licencing or authorisation:

1. Authorisation: Authorisation is granted to applicants who have successfully completed their education/training as midwife and who have completed the necessary "turnus" (practical service). The conditions for authorisation are stated in the Health Personnel Act, section 48.
2. Licence: A licence represents permission to practise as midwife, but under certain conditions. A licence can be restricted in terms of e.g. duration and location, and can only be granted following concrete evaluation as to whether the licencee is capable of practising her/his profession responsibly. A licence provides the holder with a new opportunity. Typically, a licence applies to foreign midwives who are not in possession of basic education/training equivalent to that of Norwegian midwives. A licence may also be awarded to a midwife who has earlier had her/his national authorisation withdrawn, but who is in process of regaining acceptability. The licence is awarded for completion of "turnus", or may upon application be granted to midwives over 75 years of age.

Special regulations relating to authorisation apply to applicants with foreign authorisation as midwife.

Norway has through a special Nordic Agreement (not currently available in English) agreed to acknowledge authorisation of midwives by other Nordic countries. In such cases, no assessment is made as to whether the qualification is the equivalent of the corresponding Norwegian qualification.

Authorisation may be granted to other EEA-citizens who present the Diploma referred to in Council Directives 80/154/EEC and 80/155/EEC (The Midwife Directives) or other evidence. These rules have been incorporated in a separate EEA Regulation of 21 December 2000, see Ch. VII.

Applicants with other foreign qualifications as midwife

For applicants with foreign qualifications from outside the EEA, it is required that such qualification be judged as the professional equivalent of Norwegian certificate, cf. Health Personnel Act, section 48, subsection 3a. Such assessment is made by the applicant's documentation of her/his own qualification as described in curricula, work experience etc. representing the equivalent of curricula related to Norwegian education/training. Applicants will be expected to be acquainted with Norwegian health services. In certain cases external advisers will assist SAFH in making an assessment. Advisers do not make the final decision but provide professional advice which SAFH takes into account when assessing applicants' qualifications. Only when foreign qualifications have been evaluated will processing of an application for authorisation be finalised.

Updated 08.09.2011