NMBI has launched the pilot of the Professional Competence Scheme which requires nurses and midwives to demonstrate maintenance of professional competence.

Members of our Education, Policy and Standards Department are currently providing regional information sessions about the Professional Competence Scheme (PCS) to the volunteer pilot sites. These sessions have been facilitated by Regional Centres of Nursing and Midwifery and Centres of Education within the pilot site organisations.

There are 33 pilot sites across all provinces of Ireland. Nurses and midwives who volunteered to participant in the pilot scheme are representative of all divisions of the Register.  Participants of the pilot PCS are working in the private and public sector, acute and community care setting, as well as industry and education. The first regional information session for pilot sites was held on 9 January 2025 in the Midlands area.   

To date the feedback has been very positive with registrants involved stating: 

NMBI will evaluate the scheme regularly during the pilot year. 

For any queries relating to the NMBI Professional Competence Scheme, please email mmpc@nmbi.ie 

About the Professional Competence Scheme

In 2022, NMBI began developing the Professional Competence Scheme. In 2023 and 2024, we held a public consultation on the draft Professional Competence Scheme Guideline for Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives. An analysis of the data from the consultation phase has been fundamental in refining the pilot Professional Competence Scheme, ensuring it is both practical and feasible for registered nurses and midwives to use. 

Part 11 of the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011, as amended, which is yet to be enacted, relates to the maintenance of professional competence. 

It outlines the duties of:

• Registered nurses and midwives to maintain professional competence and demonstrate professional competence to the satisfaction of the Board. 
• NMBI to develop, establish and operate one or more than one scheme for the purpose of monitoring the maintenance of professional competence of nurses and midwives  
• Employers to facilitate the maintenance of professional competence.  

The requirement to maintain professional competence will:  

• promote the continuous improvement of quality of care and patient safety  
• facilitate nurses and midwives to keep their professional practice safe and relevant  
• enable nurses and midwives to develop new practice and skills in line with changing population health needs, and  
• respond to changes and advances in nursing and midwifery.