How to Become a Health Visitor in the UK
Health visitors are qualified nurses or midwives who support families with babies and children under five. You carry out key contacts, from antenatal and new birth visits to child development reviews, and advise on feeding, sleep, child development, immunisations and parents' mental health. Safeguarding is a core part of the job, and much of your work happens in family homes and community clinics.
You cannot go straight into health visiting. You first qualify and register as a nurse or midwife, then complete a specialist health visiting programme that usually takes one year full time.
Quick facts
- Starting salary
- £38,682 (NHS Band 6)
- Mid-career salary
- £47,810 - £54,710
- Senior salary
- £55,000 - £70,000
- Work environment
- Hospital, clinic or community setting
- Time to entry
- 1 year post-qualification (specialist training)
- Degree required
- Nursing/midwifery + SCPHN
- Category
- Healthcare and Care
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What a Health Visitor does
Specialist nurse working with families with babies and young children in the community.
- Universal Service - Routine reviews for under-5s.
- Targeted Family Support - Intensive work with vulnerable families.
- Infant Feeding Lead - Lead infant feeding strategy across teams.
- Perinatal Mental Health - Specialist support for mums with PMH issues.
How to become a health visitor in the UK
Every health visitor must first be a registered nurse or midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). You then complete an NMC-approved Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (SCPHN) programme in health visiting, usually one year full time or about two years part time, at degree or postgraduate level. The course mixes university study with supervised practice in a health visiting team. When you pass, you are added to the SCPHN part of the NMC register. Many student health visitor places are sponsored by an employer, which typically covers fees and pays a salary while you train.
- Qualify as a nurse in any field, or as a midwife, through a degree or a nursing or midwifery degree apprenticeship, and register with the NMC.
- Gain post-registration experience, ideally with children and families, for example in a children's ward, school nursing, midwifery or community nursing.
- Shadow a health visiting team for a day or two so you understand home visits, development reviews and safeguarding work before you apply.
- Apply for a sponsored student health visitor post with an NHS trust or local provider, which usually pays your fees and a salary while you study.
- Complete the NMC-approved SCPHN health visiting programme at a university, combining academic study with supervised practice in the community.
- Register on the SCPHN part of the NMC register and apply for qualified health visitor posts, usually starting at NHS Band 6.
- Develop a specialism later, such as infant feeding, perinatal mental health or targeted family support, to move towards Band 7 practitioner or lead roles.
| Route | How long | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered nurse or midwife, then sponsored SCPHN place | About 1 year full time | Usually paid by the sponsoring employer | Registered nurses and midwives wanting a salary while training |
| Self-funded SCPHN health visiting programme | 1 year full time or about 2 years part time | Postgraduate fees, varies by university | Nurses who cannot get a sponsored place |
| Nursing or midwifery degree first | 3 years, then 1 year SCPHN | Tuition fee loan | People not yet registered with the NMC |
How long it takes
If you are already a registered nurse or midwife, you can qualify as a health visitor in about one year of full-time SCPHN study. Starting from scratch, allow around four years to qualify as a nurse or midwife and then complete the SCPHN programme.
Health Visitor salary in the UK
Qualified health visitors are paid on the NHS Agenda for Change scale and usually start at Band 6, from £38,682. Experienced and specialist health visitors on Band 7 earn £47,810 to £54,710, and team leaders or service managers can earn £55,000 to £70,000. NHS pay rates are updated each year, so check the current Agenda for Change table. Inner and outer London roles get high cost area supplements, and some community providers outside the NHS set their own rates.
Key skills
- Child development
- Family assessment
- Safeguarding
- Comms
- Lone working
Health Visitor FAQs
How do I become a health visitor?
First qualify and register with the NMC as a nurse or midwife. Then complete an NMC-approved Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (SCPHN) health visiting programme, often through a sponsored student post, and join the SCPHN part of the register.
Can you become a health visitor without being a nurse?
No. To work as a qualified health visitor you must be a registered nurse or midwife and have completed the SCPHN health visiting programme. If you are not a nurse, you could start in a supporting role such as community nursery nurse while you plan your route.
How much does a health visitor earn?
Newly qualified health visitors usually start on NHS Band 6, from £38,682 in our data. Band 7 health visitors earn £47,810 to £54,710, and leads or managers can earn £55,000 to £70,000. NHS pay scales rise each year, so check the current table.
Do health visitors get paid while training?
Often, yes. Many student health visitor places are sponsored by an NHS trust or other provider, who usually pay your course fees and a salary while you study. Self-funded places also exist, so check what is on offer in your area.
Is Health Visitor right for you?
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