Bridge Certificate

Are you in a state that requires a MEAC education starting January 1, 2020?

Starting January 1, 2020, states that use the US MERA language will require CPMs to have either attended a MEAC school or obtain a Midwifery Bridge Certificate if they earned their CPM via PEP route prior to December 31, 2019. PEP students who are in training in these states (Alabama, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, and South Dakota) may want to obtain their CPM this year.

To earn their CPM, PEP students will need to have their Phase 3 application submitted and complete by September 1, 2019 to ensure the deadline will be met. If the CPM is not earned by December 31, 2019, students will have to enroll in a MEAC school to meet their state’s requirements for practice.

As the deadline to obtain a CPM via PEP route approaches, we have created a timeline to assist PEP students seeking to earn their CPM by December 31, 2019.

TIMELINE for earning CPM via PEP route by December 31, 2019

NOTE: Phase 4 applications received by the Applications Department after December 1, 2019 will be processed in as timely a way as possible. However, if corrections need to be made to Phase 3 or Phase 4 of your application, processing will be delayed and the December 31st Certification date cannot be guaranteed.

The NARM Applications Department is committed to assisting candidates applying for their CPMs during this critical time frame.

eBlast emailed August 9, 2019

Are you in a state that has adopted US MERA language into a licensing law or that is considering a licensure law based on US MERA language?

What is US MERA, and what is US MERA language?

The US Midwifery Education, Regulation, and Association (US MERA) is a coalition comprised of representatives of national midwifery associations, credentialing bodies, and education accreditation agencies: ACME, ACNM, AMCB, ICTC, MEAC, MANA, NACPM, and NARM.

The intention of US MERA was to seek common ground and “work toward a more cohesive United States midwifery presence.” In 2014, informed by the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) standards, US MERA organizations approved a resolution to support legislative language that states by January 1, 2020, “all new applicants for midwifery licensure must have successfully completed an educational program or pathway accredited by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or obtained the “Midwifery Bridge Certificate.” For more information, go to USMERA.org

What states are implementing US MERA language?

At this time Alabama, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, and South Dakota have passed licensure laws with US MERA language. This means licensure applicants must either have CPM certification by the end of 2019 or attend a MEAC-accredited school. More states are proposing licensure legislation that may also include this language.

What if I’m a student attending or have graduated from a MEAC-accredited school?

Graduates of MEAC-accredited schools will already meet these requirements.

What if I’m a PEP student or a PEP CPM in one of these states, what should I do?

For those seeking a license in a state that uses the US MERA language, the Midwifery Bridge Certificate will be required of ALL PEP CPMs who were certified prior to January 1, 2020. Graduation from a MEAC-accredited school will be required by the state for midwives certified after 2020 unless the midwife is licensed in another state. If licensed in another state, the midwife can meet the state requirements by obtaining the Midwifery Bridge Certificate. This is not a requirement by NARM, but it will have an impact on students seeking licensure in states that have the US MERA language in their licensing law.

What if I can’t or don’t obtain my CPM by December 31, 2019 and am in Alabama, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan or South Dakota?

Then you will need to graduate from a MEAC-accredited school or obtain a license in another state (and obtain the Midwifery Bridge Certificate) in order to meet the requirements for licensure in your state. As always, refer to the specific language in your own state law or regulations to determine the requirements for licensure.

eBlast emailed April 19, 2019

ATTENTION PEP Students