Public Interest Incorporated Foundation

Japan Society of Midwifery Education
http://www.zenjomid.org

Japan Society of Midwifery Education

System Structure of the Society

Our aim is to educate midwives to be capable of providing woman-centred care with responseto the needs of the age.
Objectives:
1. Supporting women and the families to have safe and comfortable birth.
2. Improving the quality of midwifery education
3. Providing education for qualified midwives
4. Cooperate with women giving birth in order to improve their health and education.

The Committee members are selected from representatives of educational
institutions and individual members of the Society.

Midwifery Education Training and Research Centre

Education Discussion Committee
Board of directors

Education Evaluation Committee
Qualification and Professional Competency Committee

OperationalDivision

The Society has 8 committees and the members’ opinions are taken up through the regional
leaders meetings which are attended by leaders who come from 7 regions all over Japan.
(1) Activities to improve the quality of midwifery education ・to provide environment(2) Activities to provide study days for people who are in midwifery education.
(3) Networking with institutes which provide midwifery education and international
networking with other associated organisations.

Future Vision and Structure Strengthening Committee

Lifelong Education Committee
Community・International Committee

Social Contribution Committee
Public relations Committee
GeneralManagementDivision

General Affairs
Accountant

How to become a midwife in Japan
15161718

19202122232425(y/o)

National Examination for Registered Midwives
Graduate school(2years)
Professional Graduate school (2 years)

1 year*◆Nursing College/University(4 years)◆Nursing Junior College(3 years)◆Nursing School(3 years)

National Examination for Registered Nurses
8years*Nursing College/University provided Midwifery Course in 4year education, those graduates could get qualification to sit
for national examination for Midwife in addition to Nurse.

High School

9years**Only the students who passed
Graduate school(2years)**
entry exams can be accepted by theProfessional Graduate school(2 years)**
postgraduate courses.

1 year*7years**Only the students who passed
entry exams can be accepted by the
postgraduate courses.

1 year**Qualification of Enrolled Nurses are regulated by states rather than national level.

8years
7yearsGraduate school(2years)**
Professional Graduate school(2 years)**

Examination for State Enrolled Nurses

8years◆ Certified Training Courses for Nurses◇ Certified Training Courses for State Enrolled Nurses

7years◆Graduate School in High School (5 year program)

6years
6years◆Nursing Junior College (2 years)

 There is no direct-entry program in Japan.
 Midwifery education in postgraduate level started in 2004.
 We are concerned about the length of midwifery education inJapan as one year which is only a half of the global standard.
 We believe that the types of programs to become a midwife are
too many at present.

1 year*◇Nursing Course in High School

High School◆Graduate School in High School

6years◆Nursing School (2 years)

6years◇Nursing School (2 years)◆Nursing School (2 years)◇Nursing School (2 years)**

Over 3 years clinical experience

1 year***Over 10 years clinical experience isrequired for 2 year correspondence
courses

8years
8yearsThe number of midwifery educational institutions

SummaryJapan’s Ministry of education, culture, sports, science and technology

There are excessively complicated education pathways forwould-be midwives in Japan. That is because an applicant for amidwife license is required to have acquired certification as anurse, which is provided at too many different institutions suchas college, university, or training school. This prerequisite
deprives midwife applicants of the time they need for more
appropriate midwife education. They are eligible if they have atleast a one-year midwife education programme, while the ICM
global education standards say the minimum length of a postnursing programme is eighteen months. JSME is redoubling its
effort to create a system in accordance with ICM standards.