Maternity Nurse Qualifications

Navigating the various childcare qualifications in the UK can be challenging—particularly when you're also managing the demands of finding the right professional to support your family. For some parents, the first childcare professional they seek is someone experienced and qualifed in newborn care, such as a Maternity Nurse.

This guide explains the types of qualifications and continuing professional development (CPD) training that are commonly associated with Maternity Nursing roles.

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Nationally Recognised Qualifications

A nationally recognised qualification is developed according to an agreed syllabus and includes externally moderated assessments that meet a minimum academic and professional standard. This means that a student who earns such a qualification will achieve the same recognised status, regardless of whether they study in London, Birmingham, or Leeds.

One example is The National Nursery Examination Board (NNEB) Nursery Nurse Diploma in Childcare and Education—a two-year, in-person qualification historically awarded to Nursery Nurses. These qualifications can be verified using the UK Government’s official tool:


 

👉 Check early years and childcare qualifications

Colleges, training providers, and universities offering nationally recognised qualifications are subject to inspections and oversight by external examiners and regulatory bodies. Tutors must also be appropriately qualified.

Examples of nationally recognised qualifications relevant to Maternity Nursing include:
NNEB Nursery Nurse (Diploma in Childcare and Education)
BTEC Level 3 in Children’s Care, Learning and Development
Registered Nurse (NMC registered)
Registered Midwife (NMC registered)

⚠️ Legal Note: It is a criminal offence under the Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001 to use the protected titles "nurse" or "midwife" unless you are registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). You can check an individual’s registration using their name or NMC PIN here:


👉 Check the NMC Register

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Bespoke Training and CPD Courses

Bespoke training refers to non-regulated courses created by private companies, often marketed as CPD (Continuing Professional Development) or specialist maternity nurse training. These courses are not part of a nationally agreed curriculum, and there is no standardised system of assessment or formal regulation.

Each training provider sets its own syllabus, learning outcomes, and assessment processes (if any). Many issue a “Certificate of Completion” or “Diploma” after the course, which may last anywhere from 1 hour to 6 weeks. Such training is often conducted online, without mandatory in-person attendance.

⚠️ Please note: These do not confer a nationally recognised qualification, though some providers may still use the word “qualified” in promotional material.

Examples of bespoke maternity-related training include:

BabyEm – “Maternity Nurse” (3-day course)
MNT (no longer trading) – “Maternity Nurse Technician”
NEST – “Postnatal Carer” or “Non-Medical Maternity Nurse” (6-week course)
Some of these companies use accreditation services, such as:
OCN London
OCN4Learning
Accreditation means a third-party company has reviewed the course's quality—but it does not make it a regulated qualification or place it on a government framework. These accreditors may also assist with branding and marketing.

🔍 There is currently no national register for individuals completing bespoke training courses or for the training providers themselves.

 

CPD for Qualified Professionals
Qualified professionals such as  NNEB Nursery Nurses, nurses, midwives and other level 3 early years educators may sometimes undertake bespoke training as part of their CPD. However, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has strict criteria for what counts towards CPD, and not all bespoke maternity courses meet these standards.

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✅ Summary: Choosing the Right Maternity Nurse
When selecting a Maternity Nurse, parents should be aware of the difference between nationally recognised qualifications and private or bespoke training.

Nationally recognised qualifications (such as the NNEB or BTEC Level 3) are  full and relevant, regulated, consistent across the UK, and externally moderated. They can be checked using the Government’s childcare qualifications tool above.
Bespoke courses vary in content, quality, and duration and are not recognised by national awarding bodies. These are often used for general CPD or personal development.

Always verify professional titles such as “nurse” or “midwife” via the NMC Register and be cautious of marketing that implies a regulated status where there is none.