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Cervical screening training pathways
Training information to become a cervical sample taker, HPV screen taker, responsible clinician, or an HPV screening kaimahi.
HPV screening kaimahi: who can be a screen taker
Information about how to be a screen taker is in the 'Competencies for cervical screening training and education' document.
Competencies for cervical screening training and education
There are different training requirements for different types of screening. You can qualify to be a:
- cervical sample taker
- human papillomavirus (HPV) screen taker
- responsible clinician.
Cervical sample taker
If you have training to be a cervical sample taker, you can do a cervical sample. A cervical sample (previously known as a smear test) is taken by a health professional.
You can be a cervical sample taker if you are:
- a medical practitioner
- a nurse practitioner
- a registered nurse
- an enrolled nurse
- a registered midwife.
To be a cervical sample taker, you must:
- have a current New Zealand practising certificate
- have completed cervical screening training, either as part of a medical degree or through an NZQA accredited cervical screening course.
Human papillomavirus screen taker
You do not need to be an accredited cervical sample taker to be an HPV screen taker. You must:
- have completed the 'Cervical screening using human papillomavirus (HPV) testing' learning modules
- be working in a formally documented professional partnership with a responsible clinician who has completed cervical screening training, either as part of a medical degree, midwifery degree or through an NZQA accredited cervical screening course.
- have completed cervical screening training, either as part of a medical degree, midwifery degree or through an NZQA accredited cervical screening course.
HPV screening kaimahi: training to facilitate cervical screening using HPV self-testing
Before you can facilitate self-testing, follow the steps:
1
Read the documents for people who facilitate self-testing to find out:
- entry criteria
- responsibilities
- policies.
HPV Screening Kaimahi — Is this role right for me?
HPV Screening Kaimahi: Competence and Capability framework
Policy of professional partnerships for HPV screening kaimahi
1
Read the documents for people who facilitate self-testing to find out:
- entry criteria
- responsibilities
- policies.
HPV Screening Kaimahi — Is this role right for me?
HPV Screening Kaimahi: Competence and Capability framework
Policy of professional partnerships for HPV screening kaimahi
2
Complete modules 3 and 5 in Ko Awatea learn or healthLearn.
North Island and Nelson Marlborough
Koawatea learn E-learning modulesexternal link
South Island (excluding Nelson Marlborough)
2
Complete modules 3 and 5 in Ko Awatea learn or healthLearn.
North Island and Nelson Marlborough
Koawatea learn E-learning modulesexternal link
South Island (excluding Nelson Marlborough)
3
Complete the professional partnership and agreement form.
HPV screening kaimahi: professional partnership assessment and agreement form
3
Complete the professional partnership and agreement form.
HPV screening kaimahi: professional partnership assessment and agreement form
4
Submit a request to enter into a professional partnership. You can submit an authorisation request through the workforce request portal. You will need to upload a:
- professional partnership assessment and agreement form
- certificate or evidence that you have completed the e-learning modules 'Cervical screening in Aotearoa New Zealand — History and context and HPV screening kaimahi: professional partnership.
4
Submit a request to enter into a professional partnership. You can submit an authorisation request through the workforce request portal. You will need to upload a:
- professional partnership assessment and agreement form
- certificate or evidence that you have completed the e-learning modules 'Cervical screening in Aotearoa New Zealand — History and context and HPV screening kaimahi: professional partnership.
Responsible clinician
A responsible clinician is a registered health practitioner who supervises and delegates to HPV sample takers and screening kaimahi. This is called a professional partnership.
To be a responsible clinician, you must:
- have at least 12 months experience as a suitably qualified cervical sample taker
- complete all modules 1 to 3, and 6 National Cervical Screening Programme learning modules for HPV primary screening.
Responsible clinicians can be from:
- screening support service providers
- regional national cervical screening programme teams who can meet the criteria and ensure a continuous partnership.
Other cervical screening providers, including primary care providers, cannot currently apply.
Training grants for registered HPV takers
We allocate a capped amount for screening grants each year. The grant reimburses costs of training up to $700 (excluding GST). You must meet eligibility criteria to get a grant.
We prioritise grants for nurses who are currently working in areas that are the most closely aligned to the equity criteria in the application.
We expect employers to fund the professional development of nurses. The grants are designed to reduce training costs but not cover them completely.
To apply for a grant, complete the application form and send it to ncsp@health.govt.nz