TRAINING SCHOOL FOR ENROLLED NURSES [ S.L.458.21 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 458.21
TRAINING SCHOOL FOR ENROLLED 
NURSES REGULATIONS
16th September, 1986
LEGAL NOTICE 56 of 1986, as amended by Legal Notices 4 of 1987, 46
of 1988, 91 of 1989 and 94 of 1991.
Title.
Enrolled 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;
"training school" and "school" mean a complete 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 roll of nurses kept by the said council.
Conditions for 
admission.
Substituted by:
L.N. 91 of 1989.
3. The training 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 English
language, Maltese and mathematics.
Entrance 
examination.
Substituted by:
L.N. 91 of 1989.
4. (1) 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 paragraphs ( b ) or ( c )
of regulation 3 and candidates who pass this examination and
satisfy the provisions of regulation 3( a ) shall be eligible for
admission to a training 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 III 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
English (two papers), Maltese and mathematics.
Interview and 
medical 
certification.
Substituted by:
L.N. 91 of 1989.
5. No candidate shall be admitted to the training school
unless he passes a selective interview and is certified medically fit
to the satisfaction of the Chief Government Medical Officer.
2 [ S.L.458.21 TRAINING SCHOOL FOR ENROLLED NURSES
Pupil nurses to be 
under the direction 
of a principal 
nursing tutor.
6. Candidates admitted to the training school shall be known
as pupil 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. 94 of 1991.
7. (1) The studies shall be made up of three parts:
( a ) the introductory part, which shall last for four weeks,
during which basic instruction shall be imparted at a
training school; and 
( b ) (i) the intermediate part, which shall last for a
period of forty-six weeks, and
(ii) the final part, which shall last for a period of
fifty-four weeks,
during which Intermediate and final parts theoretical
and practical instruction shall be imparted at a training
school in accordance with the scheme of training laid
down in the First 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 pupil nurses.
Work in hospital, 
etc.
8. (1) During the intermediate and final parts, pupil 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 First Schedule.
(2) Pupil nurses shall also have to perform night duties at
regular intervals.
Examinations, etc. 9. There shall be an assessment at the end of the introductory
part, known as introductory assessment, an examination at the end
of the intermediate part, known as intermediate examination, and
another after the end of the final part, known as final examination.
Written and oral/
practical tests.
10. (1)  The introductory assessment shall be conducted by the
principal nursing tutor of the training school and shall consist of
one written paper in anatomy, physiology and theory of nursing and
first aid. The marks obtained by a pupil 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.
(2) The intermediate examination shall consist of one written
paper. The written paper shall consist of questions on the subject
matter covered during the intermediate part in accordance with the
TRAINING SCHOOL FOR ENROLLED NURSES [ S.L.458.21 3
First Schedule.
The result of the introductory assessment shall supplement
the marks for the written paper of the intermediate examination
with the remaining eighty marks being allocated for the written test
questions bringing the total maximum marks up to one hundred:
Provided that the result of such assessment shall not be
taken into consideration in any supplementary examination.
(3) The Final Examination shall consist of -
( a ) a written test (one paper on all aspects of nursing, and
another paper on nursing ethics, including civics and
human relations); and
( b ) a practical oral test (lasting one hour) which shall deal
with the practice of nursing and with questions on the
subjects specified in the syllabus for the course of
studies, at which test pupil nurses will be required to
present to the assessors their record of practical
instruction and experience.
Supplementary 
examinations. 
Substituted by:
L.N. 91 of 1989.
11. (1) Any pupil nurse who fails in the intermediate
examination shall be allowed to sit again for such examination
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 that any such pupil nurse who fails at his second
attempt at the intermediate examination shall, saving always the
production of evidence that he has undergone further satisfactory
training, be allowed to sit for the examination for the third time but,
if successful, he shall -
( a ) 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 10 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;
( b ) in any other case, join the final part of the following
course of studies:
Provided further that no pupil who will have failed for the
third time in the intermediate 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 
intermediate and 
final examinations.
Amended by:
L.N. 46 of 1988;
L.N. 91 of 1989.
12. (1) No pupil nurse may sit for the Final Examination
unless -
( a ) he shall have passed the intermediate examination and
has applied to sit for such examination and submitted
the relative certificate as provided for in regulation 18;
4 [ S.L.458.21 TRAINING SCHOOL FOR ENROLLED NURSES
( b ) the Council for Nurses and Midwives is satisfied that
such pupil has undergone the required level of
training.
For the purpose of this paragraph, the principal
nursing tutor shall report to the said Council every six
months, on the progress made by such pupil nurse,
which report shall be in accordance with such format
as may be required by the said Council.
(2) No pupil 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 twenty days throughout
the duration of the prescribed course of studies at the training
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 instructions of any of such study blocks
shall render the candidate ineligible to sit for the final examination
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 sub-
regulation (2), such pupil 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 pupil nurse may, subject to the provisions of sub-
regulation (2), make up for the absenteeism referred to in the same
sub-regulation or for any part thereof, by forfeiting an equivalent
number of days of vacation leave to which he may be entitled.
Pupil nurses must 
pass final 
examination.
Amended by:
L.N. 4 of 1987;
L.N. 46 of 1988;
L.N. 91 of 1989.
13. (1) A pupil nurse shall not be deemed to have passed the
final examination unless he shall have obtained a pass mark in the
written test and in the practical and oral test to the satisfaction of
the Board of examiners.
(2) A pupil 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:
Provided that no pupil 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;
TRAINING SCHOOL FOR ENROLLED NURSES [ S.L.458.21 5
( 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 pupil 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.
Pass mark in tests.
Amended by:
L.N. 91 of 1989.
14. A pupil 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 the written papers or in the oral and
practical test.
Conduct of 
examinations and 
of assessment.
15. (1) The intermediate 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 intermediate examination
shall include at least two nurses whose names are entered in the
general part of the register of nurses kept by the Council for Nurses
and Midwives.
(3) The Board of examiners for the final examination 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;
( b ) two medical practitioners, one being a physician and
the other a surgeon; and
( c ) three nurses, two being persons whose names are
entered in the general part of the register of nurses and
the other being a person whose name is entered in the
roll of nurses.
(4) The Board of examiners shall submit the respective results
to the Council for Nurses and Midwives for approval and
ratification prior to publication.
Holding of 
examinations and 
relative 
applications.
16. (1) Not less than one month’s notice shall be given of the
date on which the intermediate and final examination shall be held,
which notice shall be exhibited on the notice board of the school.
(2) A pupil nurse who intends sitting at either the intermediate
examination 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 Second
Schedule accompanied by a certificate signed by the principal
nursing tutor also as per said Schedule certifying -
( a ) the fact that the pupil nurse has completed the
practical nursing experience required under regulation
8(1); and
6 [ S.L.458.21 TRAINING SCHOOL FOR ENROLLED NURSES
( b ) the conduct and the regular attendance of the said
pupil nurse during the relative period of training in
accordance with the requirements of these regulations.
Successful pupil 
nurses to be 
awarded a 
certificate.
Amended by:
L.N. 94 of 1991.
17. (1) Pupil 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 pupil 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.
Male pupil nurses.
Substituted by:
L.N. 91 of 1989.
18. The Council for Nurses and Midwives may exempt male
pupil nurses from gaining clinical nursing experience in -
general medical nursing of females;
general surgical nursing of females;
maternity care and gynaecological nursing care;
geriatric or long stay chronic sick nursing of female
psychiatric or mentally handicapped patients.
Other certificate 
courses.
Added by:
L.N. 94 of 1981.
19. (1) The provisions of these regulations need not apply to
any certificate course for enrolled 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
Board is satisfied with the conditions for admission to the course
and with the curriculum and assessments and examinations of the
said course.
Cap. 464.
(2) The Chairman of the Council for Nurses and Midwives
shall issue a certificate to successful candidates from the course
referred to in subregulation (1) for the purposes of the Health Care
Professions Act.
TRAINING SCHOOL FOR ENROLLED NURSES [ S.L.458.21 7
FIRST SCHEDULE
(Regulations 7 and 8)
SCHEME OF TRAINING
(PUPIL NURSES)
Weeks 
(both 
inclusive)
INTRODUCTORY PART
1-4 Lectures in:  ANATOMY
PHYSIOLOGY 
NURSING 
FIRST AID 
INTRODUCTORY ASSESSMENT
Weeks 
(both 
inclusive)
INTERMEDIATE PART
5-10 Practical Nursing Experience 1.
MEDICINE/SURGERY
11-12 Study Block 1 (Theoretical Instruction)
13-18 Practical Nursing Experience 2.
SURGERY/MEDICINE
19 Holidays
20 Study Block 2 (Theoretical Instruction)
21-32 Practical Nursing Experience 3.
GYNAECOLOGY/
UROLOGY/
MATERINTY CARE/
CARE OF THE NEWBORN
33 Holidays
34 Study Block 3 (Theoretical Instruction)
35-36 Practical Nursing Experience 4.
ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT/
ORTHOPAEDICS/
MEDICAL OR SURGICAL SPECIALITY
(includes experience in Oncology and Fever Unit at
Boffa Hospital, and in Outpatient Department)
47-48 Holidays
49-50 Study Block 4 (Theoretical Instruction)
INTERMEDIATE EXAMINATION
Weeks 
(both 
inclusive)
FINAL PART
51-60 Practical Nursing Experience 5.
GERIATRICS (includes Community Geriatrics)/
PAEDIATRICS
61 Holidays
62 Study Block 5 (Theoretical Instruction)
8 [ S.L.458.21 TRAINING SCHOOL FOR ENROLLED NURSES
Allocated Periods:
Introductory Part: 4 weeks 
Study Blocks: 11 weeks 
Practical Nursing
Experience: 80 weeks
Holidays:  9 weeks
63-74 Practical Nursing Experience 6. 
GERIATRICS (includes Community Geriatrics)/
MENTAL DISORDER AND HANDICAP
75 Holidays
76 Study Block 6 (Theoretical Instruction)
77-88 Practical Nursing Experience 7.
COMMUNITY CARE (includes Home Nursing)/
MEDICAL OR SURGICAL SPECIALITY (includes
experience in Oncology and Fever Unit at Boffa
Hospital and in Outpatient Department)/
MENTAL DISORDER AND HANDICAP
89 Holidays
90 Study Block 7 (Theoretical Instruction)
91-100 Practical Nursing Experience 8.
MEDICINE/SURGERY
101-102 Holidays
103-104 Study Block 8 (Theoretical Instruction)
FINAL EXAMINATION
TRAINING SCHOOL FOR ENROLLED NURSES [ S.L.458.21 9
SECOND SCHEDULE
Training School for Enrolled Nurses Regulations
Application for admission to the Intermediate/Final *  Examination 
for Student Nurses
(ADDRESS) 
.......................................
........................................
(DATE)  ........................................
The Registrar
Council for Nurses and Midwives,
I beg to apply for permission to sit for the Intermediate/Final *
Examination for Pupil Nurses which will be held during
......................................................................................................
in terms of the Training School for Enrolled Nurses Regulations.
In support of my application, I am forwarding herewith a
certificate signed by the Principal Nursing Tutor certifying that I
have completed the practical nursing experience at the
........................................... Training School for Nurses (which I
joined on the ...................................................) in terms of sub-
regulation (1) of regulation 8 of the Training School for Enrolled
Nurses Regulations and also 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 ........................
(Pupil Nurse) 
* Delete whichever is inapplicable
10 [ S.L.458.21 TRAINING SCHOOL FOR ENROLLED NURSES
PART IIA
Training School for Enrolled Nurses Regulations
Certificate by Principal Nursing Tutor for the Purposes of the 
Intermediate Examination for Pupil Nurses *
The Registrar
Council for Nurses and Midwives
(Date) ......................................
I hereby certify, as Principal Nursing Tutor, that Miss/Mr
........................................ a Pupil Nurse, Daughter/Son of
...................................... born at ...................................................
aged ............ and residing at ........................................................... 
a. has completed the practical nursing experience
required under sub-regulation (1) of regulation 8 of the
Training School for Enrolled Nurses Regulations in
respect of the Intermediate Examination, and
b. has regularly attended the relative period of training,
in accordance with the said 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 only:  Her/His marks in the
Introductory Assessment were ..................... (maximum 20 marks).
In case of second or third attempt only:  Further   satisfactory
training has further been undergone in accordance with sub-
regulation (1) of regulation 11 of the said Regulations. 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 Intermediate Examination for Pupil Nurses.
TRAINING SCHOOL FOR ENROLLED NURSES [ S.L.458.21 11
PART IIB
Training School for Enrolled Nurses Regulations
Certificate by Principal Nursing Tutor for the Purpose of the Final 
Examination for Pupil Nurses *
The Registrar
Council for Nurses and Midwives
(Date) ..................................
I hereby certify, as Principal Nursing Tutor, that Miss/Mr
........................................ a Pupil Nurse, Daughter/Son of .............
................... born at .................... aged ........... and residing at
............................................................
a. has completed the practical nursing experience
required under sub-regulation (1) of regulation 8 of the
Training School for Enrolled Nurses Regulations, in
respect of the Final Examination, and
b. has regularly attended the relative period of training,
in accordance with the said 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 Pre1iminary
Examination held in ....................................................................... 
In case of second or third attempt only:  Further satisfactory
training has further been undergone in accordance with regulation
13(2) of the said Regulations. 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 Pupil Nurses.
