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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Advanced Diploma in Midwifery 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
125624  Advanced Diploma in Midwifery 
ORIGINATOR
Netcare Education (Pty) Ltd 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Advanced Diploma  Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Curative Health 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Not Applicable  NQF Level 07  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered  EXCO 0639/26  2026-04-16  2029-04-16 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2030-04-16   2033-04-16  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
The purpose of the Advanced Diploma in Midwifery is to produce competent, independent, and critical-thinking midwives who will provide scientific, safe, and comprehensive quality midwifery care to individuals, families, and communities within the legal and ethical framework. On successful completion of this qualification, learners are eligible for registration with the SANC as Midwives.

The qualification aims to produce midwives who can function competently, independently, and critically within a wide range of midwifery health care settings. It will also produce midwives with a wide range of knowledge and skills and values and attitudes that will enable them to make a meaningful and sustained contribution to midwifery services in South Africa. The qualification will produce midwives with a developed sense of equity, justice, and service ethics that will ensure that they work in a responsible and accountable manner, irrespective of their chosen work environment.
It will also provide a wide range of transferable skills for application in other professions, disciplines, and general life, including:
  • A methodical solution-based approach to problem-solving.
  • An empowerment-based approach to development of self and others.
  • Competence in written and oral communication.
  • Capacity to assess and implement policies.
  • Ability to plan, implement, and manage projects of a varied nature.
  • Ability to implement evidence-based practice.

    Upon completion of this qualification, qualifying learners will be able to:
  • Apply specific knowledge of bio-natural, pharmacology, and social sciences in Midwifery using an integrated approach.
  • Provide safe and quality midwifery and neonatal care in a scientific, integrated, and evidence-based approach in all health care settings.
  • Practice independently and professionally within an appropriate ethical-legal framework.
  • Improve quality of midwifery and neonatal care through an analytical, reflective and problem-solving approach.

    Rationale:
    The rationale for the qualification is multi-fold, including addressing healthcare challenges and midwifery shortages, the need for progression to other speciality nursing fields, improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes, and meeting the needs of society. Globally and in South Africa, midwife shortages have been reported. In the State of the World's Midwifery 2021 Report, the UNFPA, International Confederation of Midwives, and the World Health Organisation report a global shortage of 900,000 midwives, with South Africa being one of nine countries where the largest shortages are reported (esaro.unfpa.org). In addition, the South African Nursing Council (SANC) has confirmed the shortages of nurse specialists and midwife specialists in South Africa, in a Media Release in 2023, and reiterated the requirement for all nurses wanting to specialise in any field of nursing, to first be registered as a midwife (sanc.co.za).

    This qualification requires learners who are already practising nurses to obtain a Midwifery qualification before progressing to any other nursing speciality, which provides a clear rationale for the development of the qualification. To address the shortages of nurse specialists, the shortages of nurses with midwifery qualifications must be addressed. This qualification would provide a pathway to further specialist professional development and enable midwives to specialise, which is crucial for improving the quality of care provided to mothers and babies and for meeting the diverse needs of South Africans.

    While South Africa has made significant progress concerning the improvement of maternal health and the reduction of maternal mortality in the last two decades, most maternal deaths are still preventable. Midwives play a vital role in preventing maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths (UNFPA). According to the International Confederation of Midwives, WHO, INCEF and UNFPA (2019), Midwives educated to international standards, not only improve overall health, but because they work across the entire continuum of care, from communities to hospitals, they are uniquely able to provide essential services to women and new-borns in even the most difficult humanitarian, fragile and conflict-affected settings (www.internationalmidwives.org).

    By enhancing the skill set of Midwives and producing more midwives, South Africa can make strides in improving the health and well-being of mothers and their babies, thereby contributing to achieving national and international health outcomes. Furthermore, the WHO and the ICM recognise midwives as the professional of choice for childbearing women in all regions of the world and emphasize the importance of advanced education for midwives to meet health challenges. This qualification aligns South Africa with international standards and recommendations and ensures that South African midwives are recognised in the international healthcare community.

    This qualification will enable the graduate to function as a clinically focused, service-oriented, independent midwife who can render comprehensive midwifery care from the prenatal stage to the postnatal stage. They will also form a strong and important part of the skilled birth attendants in South Africa to meet the SDG targets.

    The targeted learner population for this qualification is general nurses registered with the SANC, interested in Midwifery nursing. In general, entrants arise from Generation X and Generation Y (millennials) and, since nursing is a female-dominated profession, the majority will be female. Based on our experience with previous post-basic programmes, we expect most of these entrants to be middle-income and permanent employees with complex social responsibilities. Learners are internally motivated to improve their lives.

    The entrant arises from the pre- and post-2000 schooling system. Some learners may have challenges in learning and assessment due to varying exposure and limitations in the South African nursing education system. Most learners will be studying with English as a second language (ESL), as South Africa has 11 official languages. Furthermore, with the increased exposure to technology in society, the institution has adopted a strategic objective of technology enablement, hence it is expected that all learners will have personal smart phone devices and laptops or personal computers. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):

    RPL for access:
    For access to this qualification or credit-bearing exemptions, an application must be submitted according to the RPL and credit accumulation and transfer (CAT) policy and RPL SOP of the institution for individual assessment.

    RPL for credits:
  • A maximum of 50% of credits for a programme will be granted through CAT.
  • A maximum of 50% of credits for a programme will be granted for access or articulation into the qualification.
  • Such credits will be granted based on certified learning at an accredited institution that occurred five years or less from the date of application for the programme.

    A maximum of ten per cent (10%) of candidates in a cohort will be admitted through an RPL process.

    Entry Requirements:
  • Diploma in Nursing (General Nurse), NQF Level 6.
    Or
  • Diploma in General Nursing (Bridging course), NQF Level 6.
    And
  • Registered with the SANC as a General Nurse. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework, Level 7 totalling 120 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, NQF Level 7, 120 Credits:
  • Applied Basic Sciences, 8 Credits.
  • Professional Practice, 6 Credits.
  • Midwifery Science, 106 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Apply specific knowledge of bio-natural, pharmacology, and social sciences in Midwifery using an integrated approach.
    2. Provide safe and quality midwifery and neonatal care in a scientific, integrated, and evidence-based approach in all health care settings.
    3. Practice independently and professionally within an appropriate ethical-legal framework.
    4. Improve quality of midwifery and neonatal care through an analytical, reflective, and problem-solving approach.
    5. Effectively manage a midwifery unit through appropriate clinical governance. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Apply knowledge of bio-natural sciences and pharmacology during the assessment and care of a mother and neonate.
  • Apply knowledge of social sciences in the counselling and advocacy for a mother and baby through the pre-conception, antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum stages.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Facilitate the preparation of a woman and family for pregnancy, childbirth, and family changes, taking into consideration the woman's context/background, and by means of antepartum classes and appropriate health education.
  • Conduct obstetric history-taking and physical examination of the mother in a comprehensive manner, using a variety of available technologies.
  • Critically anatomical and physiological changes related to conception, pregnancy, and labour are evident in the practice of midwifery.
  • Accurately interpret observations of significant changes and laboratory results and appropriately refer where potential risk to mother and /or foetus exists, and the high-risk pregnancy is appropriately managed.
  • Monitor and manage the mother during labour and delivery, evidencing an understanding of the physiology of labour, the use of technology to monitor the mother, and the well-being of the foetus.
  • Illustrate the management of the newborn, the understanding of the changes taking place in the newborn baby.
  • Identify timeously and appropriately manage potential and actual emergencies of the mother and or foetus.
  • Deliver Intra-partum care to the mother and baby that complies with generally accepted regional, national, and provincial treatment guidelines and promotes the safety of both, for example, CARMMA, BANC protocol, ESMOE, Saving Mothers, etc.
  • Integrated Care delivered post-partum is integrated and provides for the long-term well-being of the mother and the child, in line with the accepted scope of practice for midwives.
  • Document, manage, and communicate Midwifery data to support decision making.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Apply knowledge of applicable ethics, professional practice, and legal aspects during midwifery practice.
  • Apply advocacy for the rights of women, children, and their families in midwifery practice.
  • Apply accountability and responsibility for own professional acts and omissions within the relevant legal and ethical parameters.
  • Illustrate Midwifery practice respect for human rights as enshrined in the Constitution and translated in the Patients' rights.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Evaluate efforts to improve the quality of midwifery practice, illustrating the use of analytic, reflective, and problem-solving skills.
  • Initiate, maintain, and utilize methods of inquiry to monitor the quality of care.
  • Utilise knowledge of the quality improvement plan, own roles and responsibilities, scope of practice, and standards of midwifery practice.
  • Utilize evidence-based practice to inform and improve the standards of midwifery practice.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Apply understanding of the value of communities of practice and clinical leadership and management principles in midwifery practice.
  • Apply Midwifery practice ability to utilize indicators for quality midwifery care.
    Promoting cost-effectiveness in midwifery practice through the use of quality indicators.
  • Existing Unit philosophy, vision, mission, goals, policies, procedures, and protocols are used to direct midwifery care.
  • Reflect inter-professional collaboration and respect for diversity within the midwifery context.
  • Apply Management of the midwifery unit reflects ability to assess and develop self and others to maintain midwifery standards of practice and continuous professional development.

    INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT:
    This qualification aligns with all the processes and procedures as described in the assessment strategy, which is further described in the assessment SOP.

    Formative and summative assessments of the qualification will be conducted by campus-based or hospital-based academic staff who are registered constituent assessors. Registered constituent moderators will moderate the assessment. No more than 20% of the assessment will be conducted in simulation.

    Formative assessments:
    The fundamental module (ADMABS), which is a first-semester module, will have two written formative assessments, each counting 50% towards the summative assessment entry mark, which must be 50% to gain entry.
  • For the ADMMS module, there will be four written formative assessments, each contributing 25% towards the summative assessment entry mark, which must be 50% to gain entry.
  • For the ADMPP module, there will be one written formative assessment and 1 assignment, each contributing 50% towards the summative assessment entry mark, which must be 50% to gain entry.

    Summative assessments:
    There will be one written summative assessment. The final mark for this module will be calculated as 50% of the summative assessment entry mark and 50% of the summative assessment mark.
  • There will be two written summative assessments, each contributing 50% towards the summative assessment mark. Both assessments must have a minimum of 50% to pass the summative assessment. The final theory mark will be calculated as 50% of the summative assessment entry mark and 50% of the summative assessment mark. This will then contribute 50% towards the final module mark, with the clinical component also counting 50% as discussed later.

    There will be one written summative assessment. The final theory mark will be calculated as 50% of the summative assessment entry mark and 50% of the summative assessment mark. This will then contribute 50% to the final module mark, with the clinical component also counting for 50%, as discussed later.

    For the ADMMS module, there will be a portfolio of evidence that must be completed. It contains the minimum clinical skills requirements that must be met to pass this component. It also contains the procedure standards for nine procedures that must be signed off as competent, and a minimum of 85% is required to be deemed competent. All nine procedures must be signed off.

    In addition, there will be four formative clinical assessments, which are comprehensive patient care assessments that are conducted at the patient's bedside. Each formative clinical assessment contributes 25% towards the summative clinical assessment entry mark, of which 60% is required to gain entry. There will be one summative clinical assessment. The final clinical mark will be calculated as 50% of the clinical summative assessment entry mark and 50% of the summative clinical assessment mark. This will contribute 50% to the final module mark with the theory component mark contributing the other 50%.

    For the ADMPP module, there will be a clinical portfolio of evidence that must be completed in a formative manner. The summative assessment is integrated into the summative clinical assessment of the ADMMS module. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification was compared with similar qualifications from Malaysia and Australia.

    Country: Malaysia.
    Institution: MAHSA University College.
    Qualification title: Advanced Diploma in Midwifery.
    Duration: One year.

    Entry requirements:
  • Possess a Diploma in Nursing from a recognized institution with a minimum of two years clinical working experience and 3 months of experience in the Midwifery field.
    AND
  • Registered with the Nursing Board Malaysia (NBM) (Local Candidates)/ Nursing Council from the country of origin (International Candidates).

    Purpose/rationale:
    Learners will be trained and given clinical exposure in the highly specialised medical divisions of gynaecology, obstetrics, neonatal care, family and culture, antepartum and postpartum nursing, psychology in motherhood, preventive medicine, recognition of the early signs of medical complications in birthing, and the education for girls and women.

    Qualification structure:
    Modules:
  • Anatomy & Physiology.
  • Normal Pregnancy.
  • Normal Labour.
  • Normal Puerperium.
  • Perinatal & Neonatal.
  • Nutrition.
  • Nursing Practice 1.
  • High Risk & Obstetrical Emergencies.
  • Pregnancy with Associated Medical Conditions & Problems.
  • Planned Parenthood.
  • Research Methodology & Statistics.
  • Personal & Professional Development.
  • Nursing Practice 2.

    Similarities:
  • Malaysia and South Africa qualifications aim to produce competent, independent, critical thinking midwives, focusing on safe, scientific, evidence based midwifery care.
  • Both qualifications are offered for a duration of one year.
  • Both qualifications lead to registration as a midwife with the respective national regulatory authority.
  • Both require significant clinical training and exposure.

    Deference:
  • The Malaysian qualification has a research component in its curriculum.

    Country: Australia.
    Institution: Western Sydney University (WSU).
    Qualification Title: Graduate Diploma in Midwifery.
    NQF Level: AQF Level: 8
    Credits: 80.
    Duration: 14 months full-time.

    Entry requirements:
  • Registered Nurse (Division 1) (currently registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency - Nursing and Midwifery).

    Purpose/rationale:
    The Graduate Diploma in Midwifery emphasises a primary health care approach to enable you to participate fully in health-promoting activities. A diverse range of teaching and learning experiences is provided to enhance your acquisition of knowledge and midwifery skills. The program provides you with the opportunity to gain a recognised tertiary degree and registration to practise midwifery.

    Upon completion of this program, graduates will be able to:
  • Explain the historical, social, and political contexts of birth and the role of the midwife within the professional, legal, and ethical frameworks and different models of midwifery care.
  • Describe the knowledge required to provide assessment for planning care of the woman during the childbearing period, including assessment for planning care of her newborn/s.
  • Analyse the impact of birth on a woman's sense of self and her emotional, psychological, social, and cultural needs and those of her newborn and her family.
  • Implement skills to promote normal physiological birthing.

    Qualification structure:
    Modules:
  • Professional Foundations of Midwifery.
  • Foundations of Antenatal and Birth Care, similar to Neonatal Care 1.
  • Foundations of Postnatal and Newborn Care.
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Maternal and Newborn Health.
  • Complex Midwifery Care.
  • Complex Midwifery Practice, similar to Applied Fundamentals of Midwifery Practice.
  • Essentials of Best Practice in Midwifery.
  • Preparation for Midwifery Practice.

    Similarities:
  • Australia and South Africa qualifications prepare learners to register and practise as midwives in their respective countries, emphasising safe, evidence based, woman centred midwifery care.
  • Both qualifications require the learner to be a Registered Nurse prior to entering the midwifery qualification.
  • Both include significant clinical components aimed at developing practical midwifery competency.

    Difference:
  • Australia is offered for 14 months full time, with 80 credits (AQF credit system). The South Africa qualification is offered for 1 year and comprises 120 credits. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification provides the following articulation options:

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Advanced Diploma in Occupational Health Nursing, NQF Level 7.
  • Possible horizontal articulation options between Sub-Frameworks for this qualification reached the registration end date in December 2025.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Emergency Nursing, NQF Level 8.

    Diagonal Articulation:
  • Higher Occupational Certificate: Occupational Health and Safety Practitioner, NQF Level 5. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A. 

    NOTES 
    N/A. 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. Netcare Education (Pty) Ltd 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.