The Requirements to Become a Licensed Midwife

A midwife is a person who attends to a patient undergoing childbirth. The role of the midwife is to assist in childbirth by making sure that the mother is given the best care possible under the circumstances. Midwives conduct births using a humane approach with minimum resort to technological aid. The midwife also specializes in providing post-delivery care for up to six weeks.

A competent, licensed midwife is usually called a certified professional midwife (CPM), although the actual title may be different from state to state. The nature of work they carry out is also slightly different in the states. For example, in Texas, midwives are not required to be nurses.

Midwives and Medical Training

American courts have consistently ruled that midwifery is an allied medical profession and that it is not the practice of obstetrics. This means that a midwife is excluded from the legal provisions that govern the medical profession. It also means that a midwife alone cannot be solely responsible for the birth of a child. A midwife is required to help the patient find a qualified obstetrician to provide backup support should medical intervention be necessary. Since midwives are not medical doctors, they are not authorized to prescribe drugs or medication, although they are permitted to administer oxygen and eye ointment to the newborn.

Education

To become a certified professional midwife, you must be either a graduate of an accredited program of the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council or certified by the American College of Nurse Midwives Certification Council. Midwives must also pass the Portfolio Evaluation Process (PEP), a competency-based program conducted by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM), the leading governing body for those making a career in midwifery.

Testing

There are two required exams for midwives: a written exam and a practical exam. The required NARM Written Test focuses on the knowledge base of the CPM to ensure the midwife has the practical knowledge required to deliver infants, such as an understanding of the birth canal and signs of complications in pregnancy. The NARM Skills Assessment Test is a hands-on entrance examination in which a midwife must prove that she has the practical skills necessary to deliver an infant.

Clinical Expereince

In addition to the tests and educational background, to become a licensed midwife with these qualifications, you must also meet clinical practical experience requirements. These include attending at least 20 childbirths as an active participant.

Recertification

Since midwifery is a profession in which skills and practices are always evolving, recertification is a major component of the profession. NARM offers a recertification course, which is a continuing educational tool required to keep midwives abreast of the latest development in the area. This course helps midwives upgrade skills in areas such as women's health, midwifery and care of newborn infants. Continuing education credits are awarded for attending the courses and successfully completing an evaluation.

At the continuing education courses, students take part in skill-enhancing programs. These include five hours of peer review sessions every three years. Midwives have to take up 25 hours of accredited continuing education annually to keep their license.

References

• NARM
• Midwifery Services
• NARM Midwife Requirements