TRAINING SCHOOL FOR REGISTERED 
NURSES [ S.L.458.20 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 458.20
TRAINING SCHOOL FOR REGISTERED NURSES 
REGULATIONS
16th September, 1986
LEGAL NOTICE 55 of 1986, as amended by Legal Notices 5 of 1987, 19
and 83 of 1988, 92 of 1989, 95 of 1991 and 148 of 1993.
Title.
Registered Nurses Regulations.
Interpretation. 
requires-
"hospital" means a hospital or any part thereof, approved by the
Council for Nurses and Midwives as forming part of a training
school;
"school" means a complete teaching and training school,
inclusive of one or more hospitals or any part thereof, approved by
the Council for Nurses and Midwives, for nurses to be admitted to
the general part of the register of nurses kept by the said council.
Conditions for 
admission.
Substituted by:
L.N. 92 of 1989.
3. The school shall be open to candidates who on the closing
date for applications for admission -
( a ) are not under sixteen years or over thirty-five years of
age; and either 
( b ) have successfully completed the approved course of
studies at the Prevocational School (Health Care); or
( c ) hold a general certificate of education at ordinary level
or a Malta matriculation certificate, in Maltese,
English language, mathematics and any two of the
subjects listed in the First Schedule.
Entrance 
examination.
Substituted by:
L.N. 92 of 1989.
4. (1)  Notwithstanding the provisions of regulation 3, the
Chief Government Medical Officer may cause an entrance
examination to be held for candidates who are not in possession of
the qualifications referred to in regulation 3( b ) or ( c ) and
candidates who pass this examination and satisfy the provisions of
regulation 3( a ) shall be eligible for admission to a school.
(2) No candidate shall be admitted to the entrance examination
referred to in subregulation (1) unless he has completed such
studies as are equivalent to those of Form V of the Government
Secondary School to be certified, in each case, by the Director of
Education.
(3) The entrance examination shall consist in a written test in
Maltese, English (two papers), mathematics and general
knowledge.
Interview and 
medical 
certification.
Substituted by:
L.N. 92 of 1989.
5. No candidate shall be admitted to the school unless he
passes a selective interview and is certified medically fit to the
satisfaction of the Chief Government Medical Officer.
2 [ S.L.458.20
TRAINING SCHOOL FOR REGISTERED 
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Student nurses to 
be under the 
direction of a 
principal nursing 
tutor.
6. Candidates admitted to the school shall be known as
student nurses and shall be under the direction of a principal
nursing tutor. Such tutor shall be in charge of the teaching and
training in theoretical and practical nursing.
Course of studies.
Amended by:
L.N. 95 of 1991.
7. (1) The studies shall be made up of three parts:
( a ) the introductory part, which shall last for eight weeks,
during which basic instruction shall be imparted at the
school;
( b ) (i) the preliminary part, which shall last for a period
of fifty weeks, and 
(ii) the final part, which shall last for one hundred
and five weeks,
during which preliminary and final parts theoretical
and practical instruction shall be imparted at the
school in accordance with the scheme of training laid
down in the Second Schedule:
Provided that the Minister responsible for Health may, on
the advice of the Council for Nurses and Midwives, make such
alterations to the said schedule as may be considered necessary.
(2) When advising the said Minister on such changes the
Council for Nurses and Midwives shall be guided by the relative
rules of the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing,
Midwifery and Health Visiting.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subregulations (1) and
(2), it shall be lawful for the principal nursing tutor to exercise
discretion and permit minor deviations from such schedule if such
deviations do not affect adversely the training of the student nurses.
Work in hospital, 
etc.
8. (1) During the preliminary and final parts, student nurses
shall be required to work in hospital wards and in the community
care services of the Department of Health and to gain practical
nursing experience in accordance with the scheme of training laid
down in the Second Schedule.
(2) Student nurses shall also have to perform night duties at
regular intervals.
Introductory 
assessment. 
Preliminary and 
final examination.
9. (1) There shall be an assessment at the end of the
introductory part, known as introductory assessment, an
examination at the end of the preliminary part, known as
preliminary examination and another after the end of the final part,
known as final examination. 
(2) The introductory assessment shall be conducted by the
principal nursing tutor of the school and shall consist of two
written papers, one paper on anatomy, physiology and personal and
community health and the other paper on nursing, psychology and
first aid. The marks obtained by a student nurse for each written
paper shall be out of a maximum of twenty marks and the principal
nursing tutor shall submit a report on the assessment to the Council
for Nurses and Midwives.
(3) The preliminary and the final examinations shall each
TRAINING SCHOOL FOR REGISTERED 
NURSES [ S.L.458.20 3
consist of a written and of a practical and oral test.
Preliminary 
examination.
10. (1) The written test of the preliminary examination shall
consist of: 
( a ) a paper mainly dealing with medicine and medical
specialities, and
( b ) a paper mainly dealing with surgery and surgical
specialities. 
(2) The results of the introductory assessment shall supplement
the marks for the written test of the preliminary examination as
follows:
( a ) the marks obtained in the written paper on anatomy,
physiology, personal and community health shall be
added to the marks for the written paper on medicine
and medical specialities, and
( b ) the marks obtained in the written paper on nursing,
psychology and first aid shall be added to the marks
for the written paper on surgery and surgical
specialities,
in either case another eighty marks being allocated for each of the
written papers of the preliminary examination:
Provided that the results of the introductory assessment
shall not be taken into further consideration in any supplementary
examination.
(3) The practical and oral test of the said examination shall
deal with the practice of nursing and with questions on the subjects
specified in subregulation (1).
Supplementary 
examinations.
Substituted by:
L.N. 92 of 1989.
11. (1) Any student nurse who fails in any paper and/or in the
practical and oral test of the preliminary examination may sit again
in such paper and/or test provided he gives evidence to the
satisfaction of the Council for Nurses and Midwives, of having
undergone further satisfactory training and, if successful, to
continue his course of studies:
Provided than any such student nurse who fails at his
second attempt at the preliminary examination shall, saving always
the production of evidence that he has undergone further
satisfactory training, be allowed to sit for the examination in such
paper and/or test for the third time but, if successful, the following
conditions shall apply:
( a ) where any student is following a course of training
which started before the 16th day of September, 1986,
he shall continue his training in the same course of
studies in the same group but will only be allowed to
sit for the final examination (in accordance with
provisions of the Training School for Registered
(General) Nurses Regulations, 1971 * ) not earlier than
four months and not later than six months after the
*Revoked by these Regulations.
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TRAINING SCHOOL FOR REGISTERED 
NURSES
date when such final examination is due, during which
period he must undergo further training to the
satisfaction of the principal nursing tutor;
( b ) where a student is following a course of training which
starts or started after the 16th day of September, 1986,
he shall -
(i) if the following course of studies has started
more than six months after the course of studies
he is currently following, sit for the final
examination in accordance with the provisions
of regulation 13 but not earlier than four months
and not later than six months after the date when
such final examination is due, during which
period he must undergo further training to the
satisfaction of the principal nursing tutor;
(ii) in any other case, join the final part of the
following course of studies:
Provided further that no student who fails for the third time
in the preliminary examination will be allowed to continue the
course of studies.
(2) For the purposes of this regulation, and of regulation 13,
absence from an examination or from any part thereof shall be
deemed to be a failure at that examination or part thereof.
Eligibility to sit at 
preliminary and 
final examinations.
Amended by:
L.N. 19 of 1988;
L.N. 92 of 1989.
12. (1) No student nurse may sit for the final examination
unless -
( a ) he shall have passed the preliminary examination and
has applied to sit for such examination and submitted
the relative certificate as provided for in regulation 17.
( b ) the Council for Nurses and Midwives is satisfied that
such student has undergone the required level of
training.
For the purpose of paragraph ( b ), the principal
nursing tutor shall report to the said Council every six
months, on the progress made by such student nurse,
which report shall be in accordance with such format
as may be required by the said Council.
(2) No student nurse shall sit for the final examination if he has
absented himself on sick leave or other cause, (excluding vacation
leave) in excess of an aggregate period of thirty days throughout
the duration of the prescribed course of studies at the school, unless
he has made up for the excess absenteeism by attending for
practical duties at a government hospital to the satisfaction of the
principal nursing tutor before sitting for the final examination:
Provided that where the curriculum of studies includes
study blocks in accordance with curricula as may from time to time
be approved by the Council for Nurses and Midwives, any period of
absence for whatever cause, exceeding twenty per cent of the
duration of the theoretical instruction in any of such blocks shall
render the candidate ineligible to sit for the final examination
TRAINING SCHOOL FOR REGISTERED 
NURSES [ S.L.458.20 5
unless he has made up for this absenteeism by attending for the
specific instruction for which he had been absent before sitting for
the final examination.
(3) After making up for the absenteeism as provided for in
subregulation (2) such student nurse shall not be entitled to a
special session of the final examination but may sit at a session not
earlier than that which is due in the normal course of events.
(4) Any student nurse may, subject to the provisions of
subregulation (2), make up for the excess absentee-ism referred to
in the said sub-regulation or for any part thereof, by forfeiting an
equivalent number of days of vacation leave to which he may be
entitled.
Final examination.
aspects of nursing care and treatment of patients, and shall consist
of - 
( a ) a paper mainly dealing with medicine and medical
specialities;
( b ) a paper mainly dealing with surgery and surgical
specialities; and
( c ) a paper mainly dealing with nursing ethics (including
civics and human relations).
(2) The practical and oral test shall similarly deal with all
aspects of nursing care and treatment of patients and shall last for
one hour, at which test student nurses will be required to present to
the examiners their record of practical instruction and experience
(general).
(3) For the purpose of this regulation, the terms -
"medical speciality" shall include paediatrics and care of the
newly born, geriatrics (including community geriatrics), care of
psychiatric and mentally handicapped, treatment of medical
emergencies, community care and intensive care in a medical
speciality; and
"surgical speciality" shall include gynaecology, urology,
maternity care, treatment of accidents and surgical emergencies,
orthopaedics, operating theatre techniques, oncology and
community care and intensive care in a surgical speciality.
Student nurses 
must pass final 
examination.
Amended by:
L.N. 5 of 1987;
L.N. 19 of 1988;
L.N. 92 of 1989.
14. (1) A student nurse shall not be deemed to have passed the
final examination unless he shall have obtained a pass mark in each
of the written test and in the practical and oral test to the
satisfaction of the board of examiners.
(2) A student nurse -
( a ) who fails in any paper or in the practical and oral test
of the final examination shall be allowed to sit again
for that examination in any such paper or test if he
produces a certificate from the principal nursing tutor,
to the satisfaction of the Council for Nurses and
Midwives, that he has undergone further intensive
training at a school:
6 [ S.L.458.20
TRAINING SCHOOL FOR REGISTERED 
NURSES
Provided that no student nurse may avail himself
of this concession to sit for such a supplementary
examination at any time before the lapse of three
months from the date on which he last sat for the said
examination;
( b ) who does not produce a certificate as is referred to in
paragraph ( a ) shall be entitled to sit for a
supplementary examination in accordance with the
other provisions of these Regulations, at any session
which is due in the normal course of events after the
expiry of six months from the date of the session in
which he last failed:
Provided that, however, no student nurse may
avail himself of any of these concessions at any time
later than three years from the date on which he first
sat for the final examination.
Cap. 464.
(3) A student nurse who fails in the final examination may opt
to sit for the final examination for pupil nurses conducted in
accordance with the regulations governing training schools for
enrolled nurses, at a session not earlier than that which is due in the
normal course of events, and if successful shall be awarded a
certificate signed by the Chairman of the Council for Nurses and
Midwives, which certificate shall be deemed to be the certificate
referred to in Part IV of the Health Care Professions Act.
(4) Where the option referred to in subregulation (3) is taken:
( a ) any such student nurse who shall have failed in any of
the papers of the written test referred to in regulation
13 shall only be required to sit for the written test in
the final examination for pupil nurses; 
( b ) any such student nurse who shall have failed in the
practical and oral test referred to in regulation 13 shall
only be required to sit for the corresponding test in the
final examination for pupil nurses; and
( c ) any such student nurse who shall have failed in any of
the written papers and in the practical and oral test of
the examination for student nurses shall be required to
sit for the whole final examination for pupil nurses.
Pass mark in tests. 15. A student nurse shall not be deemed to have passed any of
the tests unless he shall have obtained at least fifty per cent of the
marks awardable at any of such tests or parts thereof.
Conduct of 
examinations.
Amended by:
L.N. 92 of 1989.
16. (1) The preliminary and the final examinations shall be
conducted by a board of examiners, to be appointed by the Council
for Nurses and Midwives.
(2) The board of examiners for the preliminary and final
examinations shall consist of -
( a ) a principal medical officer or a senior medical officer,
or any other medical officer performing administrative
duties in the Department of Health, as chairman;
TRAINING SCHOOL FOR REGISTERED 
NURSES [ S.L.458.20 7
( b ) two medical practitioners, one being a physician and
the other a surgeon; and
( c ) two nurses whose names are entered in the general part
of the said register of nurses.
(3) The board of examiners shall submit the examination
results to the Council for Nurses and Midwives for approval and
ratification prior to publication.
Holding of 
examinations and 
relative 
applications.
17. (1) Not less than one month’s notice shall be given of the
date on which the preliminary and final examinations shall be held,
which notice shall be exhibited on the notice board of the school. 
(2) A student nurse who intends sitting at either the
preliminary or the final examination shall, together with the
relative fee for the examination, submit to the Council for Nurses
and Midwives an application on the form prescribed in the Third
Schedule accompanied by a certificate signed by the principal
nursing tutor also as per said Schedule certifying-
( a ) the fact that the student nurse has completed the
approved course of studies and the period of training
in respect of the preliminary part or of the final part, as
the case may be, and
( b ) the conduct and the regular attendance of the said
nurse during the relative period of training.
Successful student 
nurses to be 
awarded a 
certificate.
Amended by:
L.N. 83 of 1988;
L.N. 95 of 1991.
18. (1) Student nurses who, on the completion of the full
period of training, pass the final examination shall be awarded a
certificate signed by the chairman of the Council for Nurses and
Midwives, stating that the student nurse has undergone the
prescribed course of studies at the training school and has been
approved at the prescribed examinations.
Cap. 464.
(2) Such certificate shall be deemed to be the certificate
referred to in Part IV of the Health Care Professions Act.
(3) Notwithstanding any of the provisions of these regulations,
any person -
Cap. 464.
( a ) whose name is entered in the roll of nurses in
accordance with the provisions of the Health Care
Professions Act, and
( b ) who satisfies the conditions for admission to the
training school in terms of regulation 3, and
( c ) who after having undergone a twelve week bridging
course of training at a school, has completed further
training in accordance with the scheme of training laid
down in the Second Schedule starting from the
seventy-third week of training of such scheme of
training,
shall be entitled to sit for the final examination referred to in
regulation 13 with the other students in the group who have at the
time completed the full relative training in accordance with such
scheme, and the provisions of regulation 12(2), (3) and (4), of
regulations 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 and of the preceding sub-
8 [ S.L.458.20
TRAINING SCHOOL FOR REGISTERED 
NURSES
regulations of this regulation shall  mutatis mutandis  apply to such
person.
(4) The principal nursing tutor may, on the advice of the
Council for Nurses and Midwives, allocate in respect of any person
to whom subregulation (3) applies, additional theoretical
instruction in lieu of an equivalent period of practical nursing
experience from such periods laid down in the Second Schedule:
Provided that no such person shall miss more than fifty per
cent of the period of practical nursing experience in any study
block referred to in the Second Schedule after the seventy-third
week of such training.
Other certificate 
courses.
Revoked by:
L.N. 92 of 1989.
Added by:
L.N. 95 of 1991.
Amended by:
L.N. 148 of 1993.
19. (1) The provisions of these regulations need not apply to
any diploma course for registered nurses organised and run by the
Institute of Health Care of the University of Malta or by any school
recognised by the Council for Nurses and Midwives if the said
Council is satisfied with the conditions for admission to the course
and with the curriculum and assessments and examinations of the
said course.
(2) The provisions of these regulations shall not apply to any
degree course in nursing studies organised by the University of
Malta or by any other university recognised by the Council for
Nurses and Midwives if the said Council is satisfied with the
conditions for admission to the course and with the curriculum and
assessments and examinations of the said course in respect of
training for the practice of nursing.
Cap. 464.
(3) The Chairman of the Council for Nurses and Midwives
shall issue a certificate to successful candidates from the courses
referred to in subregulations (1) and (2) for the purposes of the
Health Care Professions Act.
TRAINING SCHOOL FOR REGISTERED 
NURSES [ S.L.458.20 9
FIRST SCHEDULE 
(Regulation 4)
List of Subjects
English Literature
History
Geography
General Science
Physics
Chemistry 
Biology 
Botany 
Domestic Science or Handicraft 
A modern language
10 [ S.L.458.20
TRAINING SCHOOL FOR REGISTERED 
NURSES
SECOND SCHEDULE
(Regulations 7 and 8)
SCHEME OF TRAINING 
(STUDENT NURSES)
Weeks 
(both 
inclusive)
INTRODUCTORY PART
1-6 Lectures in:  ANATOMY
PHYSIOLOGY 
PERSONAL AND COMMUNITY
HEALTH
NURSING 
PSYCHOLOGY
FIRST AID 
7-8 Study Block in Introductory Part
Theoretical Instruction
INTRODUCTORY ASSESSMENT
Weeks 
(both 
inclusive)
PRELIMINARY PART
9-18 Practical Nursing Experience 1.
MEDICINE/SURGERY
19-20 Study Block 1 (Theoretical Instruction)
21-30 Practical Nursing Experience 2.
SURGERY/MEDICINE
31-32 Holidays
33-34 Study Block 2 (Theoretical Instruction)
35-44 Practical Nursing Experience 3.
PAEDIATRICS/GERIATRICS
(including Community Geriatrics)
45-46 Study Block 3 (Theoretical Instruction)
47-56 Practical Nursing Experience 4.
PAEDIATRICS/GERIATRICS
(including Community Geriatrics)
57-58 Study Block 4 (Theoretical Instruction)
PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION
Weeks 
(both 
inclusive)
FINAL PART
59-60 Holidays
61-62 Study Block 5 (Theoretical Instruction)
63-72 Practical Nursing Experience 5.
GYNAECOLOGY/UROLOGY/MATERNITY CARE/
CARE OF THE NEWBORN
TRAINING SCHOOL FOR REGISTERED 
NURSES [ S.L.458.20 11
Allocated Periods:
Introductory Part: 6 weeks (lectures plus two weeks Study Block)
Study Blocks: 28 weeks (includes two weeks of the
Introductory Part)
Practical Nursing
Experience: 118 weeks
Holidays:  13 weeks
73-74 Study Block 6 (Theoretical Instruction)
75-84 Practical Nursing Experience 6. 
ACCIDENT & EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT/
ORTHOPAEDICS/OPERATING THEATRE 
85-86 Holidays
87-88 Study Block 7 (Theoretical Instruction)
89-98 Practical Nursing Experience 7.
MEDICAL OR SURGICAL SPECIALITY which
includes experience in -
Oncology and Fever Unit at Boffa Hospital
Intensive Nursing Care
i.e. Intensive Therapy Unit
Coronary Care Unit and
Special Care Baby Unit; and
Outpatient Department
99-100 Study Block 8 (Theoretical Instruction)
101-110 Practical Nursing Experience 8.
MEDICAL OR SURGICAL SPECIALITY
(as in weeks 89-98)
111-112 Holidays
113-114 Study Block 9 (Theoretical Instruction)
115-124 Practical Nursing Experience 9.
COMMUNITY CARE (including Home Nursing)/
PSYCHIATRY AND MENTAL HANDICAP
125-126 Study Block 10 (Theoretical Instruction)
127-136 Practical Nursing Experience 10.
PSYCHIATRY AND MENTAL HANDICAP/
COMMUNITY CARE (including Home Nursing)
137-138 Holidays
139-140 Study Block 11 (Theoretical Instruction)
141-149 Practical Nursing Experience 11.
MEDICINE/SURGERY
150-151 Study Block 12 (Theoretical Instruction)
152-160 Practical Nursing Experience 12.
SURGERY/MEDICINE
161-163 Holidays
164-165 Study Block 13 (Theoretical Instruction)
FINAL EXAMINATION
12 [ S.L.458.20
TRAINING SCHOOL FOR REGISTERED 
NURSES
THIRD SCHEDULE
PART I
Training School for Registered (General) Nurses Regulations
Application for admission to the Preliminary/Final *  Examination 
for Student Nurses
(ADDRESS) 
.......................................
........................................
(DATE)  ........................................
The Registrar
Council for Nurses and Midwives,
I beg to apply for permission to sit for the Preliminary/Final *
Examination for Student Nurses which will be held during
......................................................................................................
In support of my application, I am forwarding herewith a
certificate signed by the Principal Nursing Tutor of the Training
School certifying that I have completed the approved course of
studies and the period of training in respect of the Preliminary/
Final *  Part at the ........................................... Training School for
Nurses, and my conduct and regular attendance during the relative
period of training.
I am also forwarding herewith the relative fee for the
examination.
Signature ........................................
Name in Block Letters ........................
(Student Nurse) 
* Delete whichever is inapplicable
TRAINING SCHOOL FOR REGISTERED 
NURSES [ S.L.458.20 13
PART IIA
Training School For Registered (General) Nurses Regulations
Certificate by Principal Nursing Tutor for the Purposes of the 
Preliminary Examination for Student Nurses *
The Registrar
Council for Nurses and Midwives
(Date) ......................................
I certify, as Principal Nursing Tutor, that Miss/Mr
................................................... a Student Nurse, Daughter/Son of
...................................... born at ...................................................
aged ............ and residing at ........................................................... 
a. has completed the approved course of studies and the
period of training in respect of the Preliminary Part,
and
b. has regularly attended the relative period of training,
in accordance with the provisions of the Training
School for Registered (General) Nurses Regulations.
The conduct of Miss/Mr ............................................................
has been satisfactory/not satisfactory throughout the relative period
of training.
This is her/his first/second/third attempt .........................................
In case of the first attempt:  Her/His marks in the Introductory
Assessment were as follows:
Anatomy, Physiology, Personal Community Health
In case of second or third attempt:  Satisfactory training has
further been undergone in accordance with sub-regulation (1) of
regulation 11 of the Regulations referred to above. Yes/No.
Signature: ..............................................
(Principal Nursing Tutor)
Name (BLOCK LETTERS):
Name of Training School:
*  This Certificate is to accompany the relative application for admission to
the Preliminary Examination for Student Nurses.
Nursing and First Aid .............. marks } Maximum 
20 Marks
14 [ S.L.458.20
TRAINING SCHOOL FOR REGISTERED 
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PART IIB
Training School for Registered (General) Nurses Regulations
Certificate by Principal Nursing Tutor for the Purpose of the Final 
Examination for Student Nurses *
The Registrar
Council for Nurses and Midwives
(Date) ..................................
I certify, as Principal Nursing Tutor, that Miss/Mr
............................. a Student Nurse, Daughter/Son of .....................
................... born at .................... aged ........... and residing at
............................................................
a. has completed the approved course of studies and the
period of training in respect of the Final Part, and
b. has regularly attended the relative period of training,
in accordance with the provisions of the Training
School for Registered (General) Nurses Regulations.
The conduct of Miss/Mr ............................................................
has been satisfactory/not satisfactory throughout the relative period
of training. 
This is her/his first/second/third attempt .........................................
Miss/Mr .............................................. has passed the Preliminary
Examination held in ....................................................................... 
In case of second or third attempt:  Satisfactory training has
further been undergone in accordance with sub-regulation (2) of
regulation 14 of the regulations referred to above. Yes/No.
Signature: ..............................................
(Principal Nursing Tutor)
Name (BLOCK LETTERS):
Name of Training School:
*  This Certificate is to accompany the relative application for admission to
the Final Examination for Student Nurses.
