Professional Competence Scheme

Background

Part 11 of the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011 (yet to be enacted  ) refers to the ‘Maintenance of Professional Competence’.  

When Part 11 of the Act is enacted, the Professional Competence Scheme, which is aligned to the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Nurses and Midwives (the Code) will be one of several tools that underpin, guide and support your professional practice.  

This part of the legislation outlines the responsibilities of the following: 

• Registered practitioners (nurses and midwives): are required to maintain their professional competence in accordance with a scheme developed by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).
• Employers of a registered nurse or a registered midwife:  shall facilitate the maintenance of their professional competence under the relevant scheme. The employer may facilitate the maintenance of professional competence by providing workplace learning opportunities in the workplace. 
• NMBI (the regulator): is legally required to develop, establish, and operate one or more schemes to monitor how registered nurses and midwives maintain their professional competence. 

For more information read our guidance documents: 

• Guidelines for the Professional Competence Scheme for Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives
• Guidance on the Employer Facilitation Framework for the NMBI Professional Competence Scheme  

Disclaimer
The information provided on this webpage pertains to the pilot phase of the Nursing and Midwifery Professional Competence Scheme. Please note that all details - including processes, requirements and timelines - are subject to change based on the outcomes and evaluations of the pilot. Finalised information will be made available once the scheme moves beyond the pilot stage. We recommend checking this page regularly to ensure you have the most current information.