In validating the apprenticeship model as a valuable form of education and training for midwifery, NARM appreciates the many variations in the preceptor/student relationship. NARM has developed materials to help guide preceptors and students through the process of validating knowledge and skills as part of the certification process.
A preceptor for a NARM PEP applicant must be a midwife who meets requirements for supervising CPM candidates and has current, approved registration through NARM. The NARM Registered Preceptor must be credentialed as a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM), Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), Certified Midwife (CM); or they must be a licensed practitioner legally recognized by a state/jurisdiction to provide maternity care. A preceptor must have an additional three years of experience after credentialing or fifty primary births beyond entry-level CPM requirements. Additionally, they must also have ten continuity of care births beyond entry-level CPM requirements. A preceptor must have attended a minimum of ten out-of-hospital births in the last three years.
Effective January 1, 2017, NARM Preceptors must be registered before supervising any clinicals documented on a student’s NARM Application. Skills/clinicals signed off after that date by a preceptor who is not registered with NARM will be invalid. Prior to January 1, 2017 preceptors must be approved as a registered preceptor before a student’s application is processed but registration will cover clinicals signed off earlier as long as the registered preceptor met the requirements at the time.
The Portfolio Evaluation Process (PEP) is a valuable educational option for CPM candidates, allowing for hands-on apprenticeship training for student midwives. In order to maintain the integrity of the PEP process, it is necessary to register all midwives who choose to become preceptors of PEP candidates.