Equivalency Applicants

Life as a CPM

A Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) is a knowledgeable, skilled and professional independent midwifery practitioner who has met the standards for certification set by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) and is qualified to provide the Midwives Model of Care. The CPM is the only midwifery credential that requires knowledge about and experience in out-of-hospital settings.

Most CPMs own or work in private home or birth center based practices throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Providing continuous care for women throughout their childbearing cycle, CPMs generally carry a relatively low client load (averaging 3-6 births per month) which allows for more personalized and comprehensive care than typical obstetrical practices. The scope of practice of the CPM is derived from the NARM Job Analysis, state laws and regulations, and individual practice guidelines developed by each midwife according to her skills and knowledge.

Based on the MANA Core Competencies, the guiding principles of the practice of CPMs are to work with women to promote a healthy pregnancy, and provide education to help her make informed decisions about her own care. In partnership with their clients they carefully monitor the progress of the pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum period and recommend appropriate management if complications arise, collaborating with other healthcare providers when necessary. The key elements of this education, monitoring, and decision making process are based on Evidence-Based Practice refers to a thoughtful integration of the best available evidence, coupled with clinical expertise. As such it enables midwives and their clients to address healthcare questions with an evaluative and qualitative approach. Evidence based decisions flow from a process that includes the assessment of current and past research, clinical guidelines, and other information resources in order to determine the best course of care.Evidenced-Based Practice and Informed Consent refers to the rights of healthcare consumers to be fully informed about testing or treatment options so that they can then make an educated “choice” among those options.Informed Consent.

How to Become a CPM — Equivalency

New Policy:

MEAC Students and Graduates

Note to MEAC Students: Currency of births: NARM requires documentation of ten (10) primary out-of-hospital births within the three (3) years prior to the application submission.

The Certified Professional Midwife was developed to provide competency-based certification for midwives who are primarily apprentice-trained in out of hospital birth. The CPM credential allows multiple routes of entry to the profession in order to encourage innovation in education, adaptability to evolving best practices of the profession, diversity in the pool of credentialed midwives and broad accessibility to the profession.The competency-based model for certification assures well-educated, skilled and competent providers.

Aspiring Midwives can:

Apprentice with a qualified midwife, completing an Entry-Level Portfolio Evalution Process (PEP).
Attend a midwifery program or school.
- If the school is accredited by MEAC, graduation qualifies you for the NARM written exam.
- If the school or program is not MEAC accredited, you must complete the Entry-Level Portfolio Evaluation Process.

Experienced Midwives can:

Complete a Portfolio Evaluation Process Application under the Experienced Midwife category. Applications are evaluated on a case by case basis.
Complete an Application for Certification under the category of Licensed Midwife in an Approved State.
Complete a Portfolio Evaluation Process Application under the Internationally Educated Midwife category.
Complete an Application for Certification Examination under the categories of certified as a CNM/CM or Legally Recognized in the UK.

Choose Your Route to Certification

The first step toward becoming a CPM is the validation of midwifery education. NARM recognizes that many applicants have significant didactic or clinical experience in addition to their apprenticeship that will meet some or all of the knowledge and skills required for entry level practice. Each of the following categories have been approved by NARM for meeting the requirements for validation of midwifery education.

After selecting the route that fits your educational route, please review the additional requirements and documentation necessary to apply to take the NARM written exam.

Experienced Midwife

The Experienced Midwife route is for candidates with extensive or non-conventional training and experience. Candidates must complete the Portfolio Evaluation Process (PEP) and each application is individually evaluated to determine whether training and experience are equivalent to NARM’s certfication standards.
Requirements and Application Forms

Student or Graduate of a MEAC Accredited Program

The Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC) is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a national accrediting agency for direct-entry midwifery education programs and institutions. MEAC accreditation requires that midwifery schools incorporate the Core Competencies adopted by MANA and the clinical experience requirements and essential knowledge and skills identified by NARM.
Requirements and Application Forms

Certified by the AMCB as a CNM/CM

Candidates certified by the ACMB as a CNM/CM may apply for CPM certification with documentation of experience as a primary midwife or primary under supervision in out-of-hospital birth.
Requirements and Application Forms

Licensed Midwife in Approved States

NARM has approved certain states for certification based on licensure. These states have been evaluated for equivalency and utilize the NARM certification examination as the basis for qualification for licensure.
Requirements and Application Forms

Internationally Educated Midwives

Midwives who have been trained in other countries (except those legally recognized in the UK) who would like to apply for reciprocity from NARM must apply through the Portfolio Evaluation Process and provide verification of all supportive documentation of training.
Requirements and Application Forms

Legally Recognized in the UK

Midwives legally recognized in the UK may apply for CPM certification through an expedited process. Reciprocity to UK registered midwives is available based on evaluation of documentation submitted to NARM.
Requirements and Application Forms

Testing Information

The NARM Written Examination is offered at regional sites on the third Wednesdays of February and August and is also offered on Thursday during pre-conference workshops at the annual MANA Conference, which is usually in the fall. Applications are accepted year-round, but must be received by specific dates to in order to register for each …