Cervical screening training pathways

Cervical sample takers

A registered health practitioner, such as a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner, registered nurse, enrolled nurse, or registered midwife with a current New Zealand practicing certificate and has completed cervical screening training either through:

• Training as part of a medical degree or midwifery training programme, or 
• An NZQA accredited course to conduct cervical screening.

Responsible Clinicians

Responsible Clinicians are cervical sample takers who meet the criteria to act as a responsible clinician in a professional partnership.

• They must complete all four NCSP Cervical Screening Using HPV Testing e-learning modules
• They must have 12 months experience as a cervical sample taker

A registered health practitioner such as a nurse practitioner, registered nurse, or enrolled nurse, who is not an accredited cervical sample taker and has completed the Cervical Screening Using Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Testing learning modules and is working in a formally documented professional partnership with a responsible clinician.

For more information download the Competencies for Cervical Screening Training and Education 2023 (DOCX 3.1MB). 

From 23 September 2024 eligible unregistered kaimahi and clinicians working in NCSP Regional teams or Screening Support Services, can complete formal training and authorisation to work in a documented professional partnership to facilitate HPV self-testing for cervical screening. 

Initially this change is available for Screening Support Service providers and regional NCSP teams who can meet the criteria and ensure a continuous professional partnership. The change does not apply to other cervical screening providers including Primary Care providers at this time.

HPV Screening Kaimahi and Responsible Clinicians must complete the following learning pathway prior to facilitating HPV self-testing with participants. This learning pathway applies to all eligible kaimahi and clinicians who wish to enter a professional partnership to facilitate HPV self-testing.

1. Check is this role right for you? - Find out the entry criteria and process for becoming an authorised HPV Screening Kaimahi.

Download HPV Screening Kaimahi - Is this role right for me? (PDF 866KB)

2. View the HPV Screening Kaimahi: Competence and Capability framework – read guidance on the scope, competencies and capabilities for Kaimahi and Responsible Clinicians including:

• Entry criteria
• Skills and characteristics, training and knowledge required for the role
• Responsibilities and accountabilities

Download the HPV Screening Kaimahi: Competence and Capability framework (PDF 519KB)

3. View the policy – This policy set outs the National Cervical Screening Programme (NCSP) requirements on establishing, maintaining, and ending a professional partnership.

Download the Policy of Professional Partnerships for HPV Screening Kaimahi (PDF 132KB).

4. Complete e-learning module – there is an e-learning module for kaimahi (HPV Screening Kaimahi: Professional Partnership) and an e-learning module for responsible clinicians (Responsible Clinician: Professional Partnership). Both modules can be found online at LearnOnline.Health.nz: Log in to the site.

5. Check your understanding and knowledge – after you have completed your module, complete the quiz. There is a quiz for kaimahi and a quiz for the responsible clinician. Both quizzes can be found online at LearnOnline.Health.nz: Log in to the site.

6. Check your practical skills - kaimahi and responsible clinician work together to develop new skills, for example using the Discuss > Watch > Do > Reflect methodology outlined in the clinician module.

7. Complete Professional Partnership Assessment and Agreement – kaimahi and responsible clinician to complete together.

Download HPV Screening Kaimahi: Professional Partnership Assessment and Agreement Form (PDF 152KB)

8. Authorisation request – submit your HPV Screening Kaimahi Professional Partnership request via the Workforce Request Portal.

Workforce requests portal for unregistered HPV screening kaimahi

The Workforce Requests portal is the application and authorisation centre for Kaimahi and Responsible Clinicians wanting to enter into a professional partnership. The portal receives and processes applications and issues authorisation.

You will need to upload the following documentation as part of your request:

• HPV Screening Kaimahi: Professional Partnership Assessment and Agreement Form
• Certificate/evidence that kaimahi have completed:
  • E-Learning module: Cervical Screening in Aotearoa New Zealand - History and Context
  • E-learning module: HPV Screening Kaimahi: Professional Partnership

Visit the Workforce Requests portal

Download the Workforce Requests portal user guide (PDF 1.5MB)

Nurses and Nurse Practitioners (who are not accredited cervical sample takers and who meet certain criteria) can facilitate HPV self-testing. 

This includes enrolled nurses, registered nurses, and nurse practitioners who:

• Hold a current NZ Annual Practicing Certificate
• Have a documented professional partnership with an accredited cervical sample taker who will be the responsible clinician
• Have completed the required training

In Aotearoa New Zealand cervical sample takers have legislated responsibilities in accordance with Part 4A of the Health Act 1956. Given these responsibilities, cervical screening tests must be requested using the HPI of the responsible clinician. 

Ensuring HPV screen takers are supported, trained, and resourced appropriately, and have ongoing clinical support from a cervical sample taker (responsible clinician) is required.

Download the professional partnership clinical assessment for HPV screen takers (DOCX 879KB).

HPV screen taker learning pathway

HPV screen takers must complete the following learning pathway prior to facilitating HPV self-testing with participants. 

1. Establish a professional partnership with a responsible clinician who will be available to provide clinical support, take responsibility for results requiring follow up or referral, and undertake follow up liquid-based cytology (LBC) sample taking.
2. Complete the four NCSP Cervical Screening with HPV testing training modules at LearnOnline.
3. Be familiar with the updated National Cervical Screening Programme Policies and Standards Section Three: Cervical Screening Services (PDF 1.8MB) and the Clinical Practice Guidelines for Cervical Screening in Aotearoa New Zealand (PDF 2.8MB)
4. Complete a professional partnership assessment and agreement with the nominated responsible clinician.

Download the learning pathway flowchart (PDF 84KB)

Download the professional partnership clinical assessment for HPV screen takers  (DOC 879KB). To maintain competency, HPV screen takers must attend a cervical screening update session no less than once every two years, and complete a peer-assessment every two years. Professional partnership clinical assessments should be retained and renewed every two years following required update training. For more information about professional partnerships and maintaining competency, refer to Sections 3.1.7 and 3.1.8 (Cervical Screening Services) of the NCSP Policies and Standards.

Applications for the Cervical Screening Training Grant for year ending December 2024, have closed. Applications received up to 30 Sept 2024 will be reviewed.

About the cervical screening training grant

A capped fund is allocated for Cervical Screening Training grants each year. The grant reimburses costs of training up to $700 (excluding GST). 

Grants are prioritized for nurses currently working in areas most closely aligned to the equity criteria found in the application. 

Employers are expected to fund the professional development of nurses and any grants awarded are designed to reduce, but not eliminate, training costs for employers. The NCSP requires eligibility criteria to be met before grants are awarded. 

Download the Cervical Screening Training Grant application (PDF 514KB)

Completed applications can be sent to ncsp@health.govt.nz.