According to Article 100 of the Testo Unico delle Leggi Sanitarie: 'No one may exercise the
profession of medical doctor-surgeon, veterinary surgeon, pharmacist, midwife, health care assistant, professional nurse, nursery maid if he/she is not of legal age and has not obtained the qualification for professional practice in accordance with the provisions in force'. 
The Order is a professional organisation, established by the State, to which ALL those who practise the profession of midwife must register, in order to protect the public interest.  
Professional Associations are "Non-Economic Public Bodies", they are non-profit-making and their activities are aimed exclusively at developing professional skills: members pay an annual membership fee. 
The Order is vigilant against those who would like to practise the profession without having the right to do so, to the detriment of those who have followed the regular course of studies and taken the qualifying examinations for professional practice; the administrative and judicial authorities can supervise the activities of professionals, applying precise disciplinary sanctions if necessary. Unauthorised professional practice is punishable by law. 
The Order supports the continuous updating of its members' professionalism 
OPO Modena 
OPO Reggio Emilia  
(NOTE: Professional Associations belonging to the cities of our University are indicated, the reason for this choice is essentially logistical)

What is ECM (from AGENAS- National Agency for Regional Health Services)

ECM is the process by which health professionals keep up to date in order to meet the needs of patients, the requirements of the health service and their own professional development.

Continuing medical education includes the acquisition of new knowledge, skills and attitudes useful for competent and expert practice.

Health professionals have a deontological obligation to put their new knowledge and skills into practice in order to provide quality care. Therefore, care for their patients with up-to-date skills, without conflicts of interest, in order to be a good health professional.

The launch of the National CME Programme in 2002, based on Legislative Decree 502/1992 supplemented by Legislative Decree 229/1999, which had established the obligation of continuing education for healthcare professionals, represented a strong message in the healthcare world. The new phase of CME contains many novelties and presents itself as a tool for designing a modern approach to the development and monitoring of individual competences.

As of 1 January 2008, with the entry into force of Law 244 of 24 December 2007, the administrative management of the CME programme and support to the National Commission for Continuing Medical Education, which until now had been the responsibility of the Ministry of Health, were transferred to the National Agency for Regional Health Services (Agenas).

The State-Regions Agreement of 1 August 2007, which defines the Reorganisation of the Continuing Medical Education Programme and establishes the new organisation and new rules for the Governance of the CME system for the three-year period 2008-2010, in fact identifies the Agency as the 'common house' at national level, in which to place the National Commission and its accompanying bodies.( from AGENAS- National Agency for Regional Health Services)

How to continue training after graduating in Midwifery?

ADVANCED TRAINING COURSES

Course duration: at least 6 months - CFUs corresponding to the duration of the course (University Educational Credits)

Postgraduate courses represent a pathway for in-depth academic study and specific disciplinary, professional, scientific and cultural updating; they usually involve flexible and short didactics, divided into lectures and possible exercises.

VOCATIONAL MASTER PROGRAMME

Course duration: 1 year/2 years - 60 CFU (University Educational Credits)

This is a post-graduate qualification in scientific and advanced training, following graduation. It allows students to deepen their knowledge in clinical, organisational, economic/managerial, coordination, research, etc. areas.

Some examples: Ultrasound and cardiotocographic techniques for midwives (present at UNIMORE), Health Community care: the Community Midwife, Reproductive Health, endoscopic techniques and medically assisted procreation, Coordination Functions, Midwifery Autonomy, Non-conventional Medicines, Legal and Forensic Midwifery, etc. 

MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAMME IN NURSING AND MIDWIFERY SCIENCES

Course duration: 2 years - 120 CFU (University Educational Credits)

The Master's Degree Course in Nursing and Midwifery Sciences aims to train a specialised professional able to intervene in the management, training and research processes in the nursing and midwifery professions as a whole. The Course also provides advanced skills for the development of new organisational and management models of the nursing and midwifery profession.

What is studied: Basic, biomedical, human sciences and legal-economic disciplines characterising and related to the areas of nursing and midwifery sciences. Internship/internship activities in the areas of research, training, organisation.

What one becomes: Graduates possess an advanced cultural and professional education that enables them to intervene effectively in health care processes. They can direct the nursing and midwifery services of simple and complex healthcare facilities, where they are responsible for planning, organising, managing and evaluating resources and activities, and for budget management. They can attend second-level master's degree courses on issues related to their professional figure, as well as access doctoral schools in accordance with current university regulations.

ONLY after obtaining the MASTER'S DEGREE IN NURSING AND MIDWIFERY SCIENCES

PHD PROGRAMME

Course duration: 3 years - 180 CFU

The PhD programme in Gynaecological and Obstetrical Sciences aims to provide high-level scientific training, in order to train highly qualified young researchers with adequate multi-sectoral training. In fact, the ultimate aim of the PhD course is to train highly qualified personnel in the scientific field with both theoretical and practical knowledge that will enable the doctoral student, at the end of the course, to be able to plan, organise and manage a research project in the field of Gynaecological and Obstetrical Sciences. The Schools and PhD courses are aimed at acquiring the advanced skills necessary to carry out qualified scientific research activities at Universities, Public Bodies or private subjects.

ADVANCED MASTER PROGRAMME

Course duration: 1 year - 60 CFUs

This is a postgraduate qualification of higher education. It deepens topics in clinical, organisational, economic/managerial, coordination, research, management, clinical risk, etc.