The Kerala Nurses and Midwives Council is the statutory regulatory body that oversees the registration, education, and professional conduct of nurses, midwives, auxiliary nurse midwives, and health visitors in the Indian state of Kerala. The Council functions under the administrative control of the Government of Kerala's Department of Health and Family Welfare and works in coordination with the Indian Nursing Council, the apex regulator for nursing education in India.
| Name | Kerala Nurses and Midwives Council |
|---|---|
| Type | Statutory professional regulatory body |
| Jurisdiction | State of Kerala, India |
| Field | Nursing and midwifery regulation |
| Parent department | Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Kerala |
| Apex national body | Indian Nursing Council |
| Headquarters | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala |
The Council is responsible for maintaining the official register of nursing and midwifery professionals practising in Kerala. Registration with the Council is a prerequisite for practising as a nurse or midwife in the state, including in government hospitals, private hospitals, and other healthcare settings. The body issues fresh registrations to graduates of recognised nursing programmes and renews registration certificates periodically.
State nursing councils in India derive their authority from state-level nurses and midwives Acts, and they operate alongside the Indian Nursing Council, which was constituted under the Indian Nursing Council Act, 1947. While the Indian Nursing Council frames national standards for nursing education, the actual registration of practitioners and recognition of training institutions at the operational level is carried out by state councils such as the Kerala Nurses and Midwives Council.
Kerala has historically had one of the largest nursing workforces in India, and nurses trained in Kerala are employed widely across other Indian states and internationally, particularly in the Gulf region, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States. The Council's verification and Good Standing certification services are therefore frequently used in the migration and overseas employment process.
Nursing and midwifery education in Kerala is offered through Government and private institutions affiliated to universities such as the Kerala University of Health Sciences. Programmes regulated in association with the Council include:
As the gatekeeper of professional practice for nurses and midwives in Kerala, the Council plays a central role in safeguarding standards of patient care. Its registers serve as the legal basis for employment in clinical practice, and its credential verification mechanism is critical for the substantial number of Kerala-trained nurses who pursue careers in other parts of India and abroad.