Frequently Asked Questions: Education and Training.
Q. Who should complete an accredited Cervical Screening Education Programme (CSEP)?
A. All doctors and nurses/midwives involved in taking screening tests (sample takers) should complete an accredited evidence-based CSEP.
Q. Am I eligible to do the Cervical Screening Education Programme (CSEP)?
A. You must be one of the following registered healthcare professionals to undertake the CSEP:
- a nurse registered on the General Nurse Division of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) register (excluding any other nursing division)
- a midwife registered on the Midwife Division of the NMBI register
- a doctor registered with the Irish Medical Council.
All trainee sample takers are required to have access to a clinical practice area where cervical samples are taken.
Novice and experienced sample takers:
Q. What is a novice sample taker?
A. A novice sample taker is someone who has limited experience, or has not yet conducted a screening test, and has not successfully completed an accredited Cervical Screening Education Programme.
Q. What is an experienced sample taker?
A. An experienced sample taker is a sample taker who has extensive experience in taking cervical samples and offering a cervical screening service. They may be nurses or doctors working under the supervision of a Clinically Responsible Doctor (CRD), or may be CRDs themselves. Experienced sample takers may choose to undertake a recognised sample taker training course to update their skills and consolidate their knowledge.
Q. Do nurses/midwifes have to complete the Cervical Screening Education Programme (CSEP)?
A. Yes, sample taking is an extension to a nurse or midwife’s scope of practice*. Nurses and midwives must be theoretically and clinically competent to expand their scope of practice to provide cervical screening consultations and to provide best practice in sample taking. Please refer to the NMBI Scope of Practice decision-making flow chart (NMBI, 2015).
* Scope of practice is a concept that several professions use in the context of professional regulation. The scope of practice sets out the procedures, actions and processes that the registered or licensed professional is allowed to perform. The individual practitioner’s scope of practice is determined by a range of factors that gives them the authority to perform a particular role or task. Scope of practice for nurses and midwives in Ireland is determined by legislation, European Union (EU) directives, international developments, social policy, national and local guidelines, education, and the individual practitioner’s levels of competence.
Q. Where can I complete a Cervical Screening Education Programme (CSEP)?
A. CervicalCheck’s Screening Training Unit (STU) offers two pathways to achieving cervical screening accreditation and compliance with Cervical Screening Education Programme: Standards and Requirements:
- Through higher education institutions: CervicalCheck collaborates with three higher education institutions – University of Galway (UoG), Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), and University College Cork (UCC). These programmes are delivered by CervicalCheck STU staff and offer 10 European Credit Transfers (ECTS) (Level 9 qualification).
- CervicalCheck Cervical Screening Education Programme (CSEP): This program is delivered by STU clinical trainers in multiple sites around the country, and on a one-to-one basis in the trainee’s own clinical environment. The CSEP is available to all eligible sample takers free of charge. The novice programme offers 30 Continuing Professional Development (CPD)/ Continuing Education Units (CEU) points, and the experienced programme offers 27 CPD/CEU points. On completion of the CervicalCheck CSEP novice programme, you will receive 30 Continuing Education Units (category 1 accreditation) from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI), or 30 CPD points as recognised by the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP).
Whether you choose to enrol through a higher education institution or opt for our tailored programme, you'll receive education to become proficient in cervical screening. For more information and to start your journey, explore the options here.
For more information about workshops and webinars, please click here to view and download our Schedule of Learning Events Jan – June 2024.
Q. How can I apply to the novice education programme?
A. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to apply for the novice cervical screening education programme:
1. Create an Account: To begin your educational journey, please create an account on our e-learning portal, which can be found on www.nssresources.ie. It's crucial to use your correct NMBI (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland) or MCRN (Medical Council Registration Number) PIN as this will serve as your unique identifier within CervicalCheck.
2. Log in and Explore: Once you have your account set up, log in and navigate to the 'Application Process’ section, which provides an overview of your available options.
3. Cervical Screening Education Course Details:
- Novice education course: This includes both theoretical and clinical components. The theoretical component is completed online and at a face-to-face three-hour clinical workshop, and the clinical component is undertaken in your workplace. This course usually has a closing date approximately four weeks before the clinical workshop (see locations of clinical workshop below).
For the novice cervical screening programme, the clinical workshops will take place in the following locations in 2024:
Locations |
Dates |
St Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny |
18/01/2024 |
National Screening Service Central Office, Parnell Street, Dublin |
08/02/2024 |
Primary & Mental Health Centre, Townparks, Carrick on Shannon |
13/03/2024 |
Roselawn House, University Business Complex, Limerick |
02/04/2024 |
National Screening Service Central Office, Parnell Street, Dublin |
15/05/2024 |
Centre of Midwifery Education (CME) Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) |
03/09/2024 |
National Screening Service Central Office, Parnell Street, Dublin |
10/10/2024 |
Q. How much does the Cervical Screening Education Programmes (CSEP) cost?
A. CervicalCheck CSEP is free of charge.
The higher education institutions charge a registration fee usually from €35-€50 and the course costs from €500-€550, depending on the institution.
Q. What is the difference between completing cervical screening education in a higher education institution (HEI) compared to the CervicalCheck programme?
A. By completing a CSEP in a HEI you will be awarded 10 European Credit Transfers (ECTs) at a Level 9 National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).
On completion of the CervicalCheck CSEP novice programme, you will receive 30 CEUs (category 1 accreditation) from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI), or 30 CPD points as recognised by the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP).
The CervicalCheck CSEP experienced programme is eligible for 27 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) category 1 accreditation from the NMBI, or 27 CPD points as recognised by the ICGP.
There are no ECTs available through the CervicalCheck CSEP.
Q. How can I access clinical updates?
A. To access the online courses, follow these steps:
- Visit the NSS resources website at https://nssresources.ie/login/index.php.
- Create a new account by clicking on ‘Create New Account’.
- Provide your applicable credentials, including your MCRN or NMBI (whichever is applicable), a unique email address, and your title.
Once your account is set up, you can access the online courses and resources.
Q. What is the duration of the Cervical Screening Education Programmes (CSEP)?
A. In general, the current CSEPs in Ireland provided through HEIs are completed over an academic year.
For CervicalCheck CSEP, completion time depends on the experience level:
- Novice sample takers: no shorter than two months.
- Experienced sample takers: no shorter than one month.
- Duration should not exceed 12 months.
It's important to note that regardless of your experience level, the programme's duration should not exceed 12 months. This flexibility ensures that you can tailor your education timeline to suit your needs and commitments. If you have specific questions about programme durations, please feel free to email STU@CervicalCheck.ie for more information.
Q. Why should you consider undertaking the Experienced Cervical Screening Education Programme (CSEP) if you have been providing a cervical screening service for years?
A. If you've been conducting screening tests for years, you might wonder why you should enrol in a Cervical Screening Education Programme. Here's why the experienced cervical screening programme is gaining popularity among experienced sample takers:
- Stay Updated: The field of cervical screening is constantly evolving. By taking the experienced cervical screening programme, you ensure that your knowledge is up to date with the latest advancements and guidelines.
- Comprehensive Information: Even if you have years of experience, this programme offers a wealth of additional information and insights about cervical screening that can enhance your practice. The landscape of cervical screening has changed significantly over the years. This programme equips you with the tools and knowledge needed to adapt to these changes effectively.
- Accreditation: Perhaps you never completed an accredited programme before, or it was done prior to the introduction of HPV screening. Accreditation is valuable and can demonstrate your commitment to excellence in providing cervical screening services.
Q. What do I need to do before I start my course?
A. Before starting the Cervical Screening Education Programme (CSEP), there are several steps to follow:
- The Clinically Responsible Doctor (CRD) holding a contract with CervicalCheck must sign the application form as part of the online application process.
- You must ensure you have access to a clinical setting that offers cervical screening consultations.
- Nurses/midwives and doctors must register with CervicalCheck before commencing the education programme.
- Create an account in CervicalCheck’s e-learning portal nssresources.ie and undertake an introductory online Clinical Update called ‘CervicalCheck in Practice’ in either primary care or non-primary care, depending on your work setting.
For detailed information on the application process, please see ‘Course: Application Process’ on nssresources.ie.
Clinical updates
Q. Who needs to complete a Clinical Update?
A. As per the 2022 national contract for delivery of a cervical screening service, all sample takers must maintain continuous professional development by completing a CervicalCheck clinical update at least once every three years.
The contract (section 4.2.29) states: "Ensure that the Contractor and Qualified Persons participate in a CervicalCheck clinical update at least once every three (3) years. Clinical updates may be delivered through face-to-face meetings (National, Regional, Continuing Medical Education [CME] or CervicalCheck-led) or through the National Screening Service Learning Portal (online)."
There is a suite of clinical updates available on CervicalCheck’s online e-learning portal nssresources.ie that are available to maintain continuous professional development:
The programme will start auditing against this CPD requirement over the term of this contract. All new sample takers and new contract holders must now complete CervicalCheck in Practice to register as a sample taker.
Q. Does attending a webinar count as a clinical update?
A. No. While webinars are extremely useful for enhancing your clinical knowledge and understanding, they are insufficient to fulfil the education requirements set out in the 2022 contract. The clinical updates available at nssresources.ie are approved as meeting the requirements. New modules will be added over time.
Q. Can CervicalCheck webinars complement your Continuous Professional Development (CPD)?
A. The Screening Training Unit (STU) hosts monthly webinars covering a range of topics related to cervical screening. It is important to note that these webinars, while valuable for staying informed and engaged, do not replace the full clinical update requirement.
We encourage you to make the most of our webinars to complement your learning journey and stay current with the latest advancements in cervical screening. However, to fulfil your contract of completing a clinical update every three years, please ensure you complete the formal clinical update on our e-learning platform, nssresources.ie.
The webinars are recognised by the ICGP and NMBI for CPD points, generally one hour each.
At CervicalCheck, we remain committed to supporting your professional growth and development, and we're here to assist you every step of the way.
What webinars are coming up and how can I register?
To register for any of the courses please click on this PDF and access the link on the page of the course you wish to register for
Contact the Screening Training Unit
Phone: 061 406511 / 061 406508
stu@cervicalcheck.ie
Additional Resources
NSS CervicalCheck Education Strategy 2022-2025
This is the CervicalCheck Screening Training Unit’s (STU) strategic plan for the development of high-quality and accessible education for all healthcare professionals involved in delivering a cervical screening service for the period 2022 to 2025.
An integral component of this work is the development of comprehensive education standards and requirements that will ensure a consistent level of education for both novice and experienced sample takers, so that they can provide safe, effective, and person-centred care.
You can read the report by clicking here.
CervicalCheck Education Strategy |
CervicalCheck Education Standards and Requirements |
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