Short Course
Cervical Smear Taking (Level 7)
HL1002
Starts April / September
Frrom 8:30am - 5:00pm for four days over a 4 week period
Applications close end of March / end of August
Domestic Student fees are $700.00 *
Study part-time
Hamilton City Campus
This course is designed to give health professionals up-to-date knowledge and skills in order to develop confidence to become Cervical Smear Takers, conforming to the National Standards for competency. It is expected that you will make a commitment to uphold the policy and protocols of National Cervical Screening Programme and the Register.
There is a lot of interest in the course and priority will be given to those who are presently in a position to take cervical smears in the Waikato (e.g. General Practice) or intend reaching priority group women i.e. women 35 years plus, Maori and Pacific Island women.
Programme Content
You will study:
- Women's health
- Anatomy and physiology
- Cytology
- Communications
- Cultural issues
- Follow-up and referral
- Women's sexuality
- Legal / Ethical issues and education
- National Cervical Screening Programme and Register
- Client assessment and history taking
- Smear taking
The programme will involve 2 two day blocks of theory training and a practical component. You are required to undertake a series of smears to ensure that you can achieve competent practice.. You will achieve certification after completing 30 smears and demonstrating the necessary competency skills as described in the National Cervical Screening Programme's Standards of Practice.
Entry Criteria
Applicants must hold a New Zealand Health qualification and a practising certificate. They will also need to have professional/personal indemnity insurance.
Applicants will need to be able to provide proof of available support and supervision by an accredited smear taker for the practical component of the training. They will also need to show that they are able to access priority groups of women to meet the annual certification requirements of 30 smears per year.
Applicants for whom English is a second language are required to provide evidence, obtained within the past two years from the date of assessment for registration, of their ability to write and speak English by having either an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of at least 7.0 in all bands which must have been completed within 12 months of the first test attempt or an Occupational English Test (OET) with a B band in each section, and demonstrate their ability to communicate effectively for the purpose of practising within their scope of practice.
Additional Information
Course dates for 2012
- Course One
16 and 17 April and 14 and 15 May
- Course Two
10 and 11 September and 8 and 9 October
To Enrol
In the enclosed pack you will find information and the necessary forms for you to complete your application. Please include the following when you return your application to Wintec:
- Your current annual practising certificate or a certified copy
- A letter of support from your employer and / or supervising smear taker
- Completed supervision agreement
- Professional Indemnity Insurance Form
- A copy of your Birth Certificate / Current Passport
- Wintec Application Form
Please return your forms as soon as possible indicating which course you are interested in, to:
Centre for Health and Social Practice Consultant
Student Enrolment and Information Centre
Private Bag 3036
Hamilton 3240
Please do not include money with these forms.
Please note: Definition of a Certified Copy of your Practising Certificate
You need to get a photocopy of all parts of the original document. Take both the original and the photocopy to a person who can state that the copy is a true one - people who hold positions of authority in the community can sign for you. These include Justices of the Peace (JP's), Members of Parliament, Lawyers, School Principals and Institute staff.
Ask the person in authority to compare your photocopy with the original document. When they are satisfied that the copy is a true one, they write on the photocopy "This is a true copy of the original document which I have sighted". The person must also sign and date their statement. If they have an official stamp of office, then this should also be put on the photocopy. We cannot accept faxes of verified documents.