Midwives – Qualifications – Recognition

Österreichisches Hebammengremium
Landstraßer Hauptstrasse 71/2
1030 Wien

Phone: + 43 1 71728163
email: kanzlei@hebammen.at

Fees are approximately 300 Euro.

The National Board of Austrian Midwives (Austrian Midwives Association, Österreichisches Hebammengremium ) is the competent authority for the recognition of equivalence of a diploma acquired in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland for midwives.

Working in Austria or employing persons without the state recognition and without an entry in the Austrian Registry of Midwives is an administrative offence, punishable by a fine. It may also be subject to personal liability consequences under criminal and civil law.

sections 12 , 42 , 42a , 42b of the Hebammengesetz (HebG)

• Midwives register registration ^{German text}
• Authorization of the recipient ^{German text}

Entry in the Austrian Registry of Midwives: A written application can be submitted in person or by post.

Recognition of equivalence of a diploma: A written application can be submitted in person, by post or electronic ( e.g. by email with an electronic signature).

In case of significant differences between the national qualification and the Austrian qualification, recognition can be granted only on the basis of compensation measures such as completion of adaptation training or an aptitude test in an Austrian training institution. In this case the recognition process can be expected to take four months .

If there is no training or test required, the recognition process can be expected to take three months.

Legal remedy: A complaint against the decision may be submitted to the National Board of Austrian Midwives in writing within four weeks from the delivery of the decision, which must be directed to the responsible administrative tribunal.

• Application
• Filled and signed Form midwives register registration ( Hebammenregistereintragung)
• Austrian residence permit or Austrian postal address with an authorised recipient for formal delivery (written authorisation!)
• Formal qualification confirming officially recognized and successfully completed training in an EU Member State, EEA -State or in Switzerland
• Evidence of citizenship, valid passport or personal identification document (copy)
• Police clearance certificate from the country of origin, issued within the last three months. Please note: Police clearance certificates from Croatia and Slovenia issued by Ministry of Justice only. An Austrian Criminal Record Certificate is only accepted in connection with the police clearance from the country of origin.
• Medical certificate (issued by a general practitioner within the last three months) confirming that the applicant fulfills all health requirements for the profession, issued within the last three months.
• In case the applicant's name differs from the name shown on the diploma or on the certificate, a wedding or divorce certificate or any other official document proving the change of name must be submitted
• If possible/available proof of professional experience
• Attestation certifying that the applicant is legally established in a Member State for the purpose of pursuing the activities concerned and that she/he is not prohibited from practising, even temporarily, at the moment of delivering the attestation
• One picture (as used for passport)

All documents and certificates (except evidence of citizenship) must be submitted as originals or as copies authenticated by a court, a notary public or a municipal authority. Documents in other languages than German or English have to be translated by a certified court translator.

Non authenticated copies or untranslated documents are not accepted as evidence. After processing, all original documents will be returned immediately.

Diploma for midwives, issued on the basis of a state certified training. Diploma have to be issued by the Government of an EEA -State or of Switzerland.