The studies to be a midwife in France

Mis à jour (Lundi, 09 Février 2009 01:51)

 5 years   of study are necessary to be a midwife in France. 

Both boys and girls are able to follow this training, but whether you are a boy or a girl, you will still be called “a midwife”. The first year is common with Medicine and Odontology. From 2009 or 2010, it will be common with Pharmacy, through the university global course to be, called “L1 Santé”.

This first step is a competitive examination allowing the entrance to a second year of studies  in the medical sector following the number of available places for students allocated by each branch : it is what is called “numerus clausus”,  which is officially defined each year by the Health Department.

The following 4 years of midwife studies take place at an “Ecole de Sage-Femmes”. They are organized in 2 cycles of 2 years, the first one physiology-orientated, and the second one pathology-orientated. The theoretical subjects are obstetrics, gynaecology or paediatrics, but you also have to have a good knowledge of physiology, pharmacology, microbiology, cardiology, infections, sociology, psychology, ..  

The training is organized as a sandwich course called “bloc système” : it is academic courses alternately with 40-hour-a-week work experiences, which allows the midwife students to implement the theoretical knowledge and therefore reinforce their immediate efficiency.   Being a Registered Midwife is submitted to different conditions :

-        writing and presenting a thesis on a professional subject on the last year

-        passing the academic requirements of the 2 phases

-        validating the work experience items.