Certification

NARM Registered Preceptor Policy Survey

NARM wants to hear from you on this proposed policy change! This survey will take less than 5 minutes to complete. Survey closes April 30, 2024.

Currently, NARM Registered Preceptors are required to have a minimum of ten “Continuity of Care” births post credentialling. It has come to our attention that CPMs who work in group midwifery practices or birth centers may not be able to meet this requirement.

In recognition of the changes in midwifery practice, NARM proposes reducing barriers for preceptor registration by eliminating the “Continuity of Care” requirement for NARM Registered Preceptors beyond entry-level CPM requirements.

Continuity of Care: a minimum of five prenatals spanning at least two trimesters, the birth, including the placenta, the newborn exam, and at least two postpartum visits. Transports are not accepted for Continuity of Care births.

All other requirements such as 50 births or three years beyond initial credentialling would still need to be met. This proposed policy change would not affect student requirements.

NARM acknowledges this proposed change in policy has the benefit of increasing opportunities for CPMs to serve as preceptors and students’ ability to get clinical training, but some CPMs may have concerns. NARM requests your input!

Remember, the survey closes April 30, 2024!

Ask NARM:

“I am going to a midwifery workshop where I can get skills signed off. Will those be accepted on my PEP application?”

Some skills can be verified through simulation in the presence of NARM Registered Preceptors, but all skills performed as a regular part of midwifery care should be demonstrated in a clinical setting with actual clients.

For example, skills that may not occur during the course of an average apprenticeship (such as breech birth, manual removal of a placenta, identifying a tubal pregnancy, or other emergency skills) may be verified based on discussion, interaction, demonstration, and simulation to fulfill the Comprehensive Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities Essential for Competent Midwifery Practice requirement.

In other words…Skills listed with an asterisk (*) may be verified through simulation. All other skills must be demonstrated during actual clinical practice.

NARM acknowledges and appreciates the wealth of educational opportunities available for midwifery students in the community. Students can benefit from workshops to enhance their midwifery education and complement the training they receive from their preceptor. There is value in learning in group settings and with different midwives. NARM will continue to recognize the value of workshops while maintaining the importance of the apprenticeship as the primary method for training and verification of skills.

For more information, read The Candidate Information Bulletin.

Upcoming Events…

Join The Virtual International Day of the Midwife Conference!

The Virtual International Day of the Midwife (VIDM) is an annual online FREE conference which celebrates the International Day of the Midwife. It is held on or around May 5th each year to be as close to the International Day of the Midwife as possible.

VIDM runs for 24 hours and covers a wide range of subjects with speakers from around the globe. It uses online conferencing software to bring together people who have an interest in childbirth matters – midwives, students, and consumers — all completely free.

The conference was first held in 2009 and was organized by a team of two then working at Otago Polytechnic in New Zealand. By 2020, the organizing committee comprised midwives, midwifery academics, and online education professionals from seven countries across four continents.

Sustainable Midwifery : Caring for Tomorrow’s World is the VIDM 2024 theme.

Sustainable midwifery practices prioritize the well-being of both mother and child while minimizing environmental impact, ensuring a healthier future for generations to come. By caring for the whole person, we reaffirm their right to choose if and when to become pregnant or to continue a pregnancy. By integrating eco-friendly approaches and ethical care, sustainable midwifery embodies a commitment to nurturing not only new life but also the planet we share.
The ancient profession of midwifery must remain sustainable in the contemporary world through innovative practices in education, research, and health policy.

eBlast sent April 27, 2024

NARM is pleased to announce the hiring of Brynne Potter, CPM-retired, as its new Executive Director. Brynne served on the NARM Board from 2007-2013 after working as legislative liaison for Virginia midwives to pass CPM legislation from 1998-2006. Brynne left the board after founding Maternity Neighborhood, the first electronic health record built specifically for midwives. Maternity Neighborhood was acquired in 2022 by Quilted Health, where Brynne has continued to lead innovation in the development and launch of the first Clinically Integrated Network for midwives.

We are excited about the experience and dedication Brynne will bring to our organization and look forward to giving our community an opportunity to get to know Brynne in the coming months.

Look for a more personal interview in a future eblast, and in the meantime feel free to reach out to her directly at executivedirector@narm.org.

eBlast emailed April 15, 2024

NARM Informed Disclosure for Midwifery Care Update

NARM requires the Certified Professional Midwife to have written statements of Informed Disclosure for Midwifery Care on file for each client. In group practices, the Informed Disclosure should describe the different provider types the client will see during their care. Information relating to the individual provider’s education, training, and experience in midwifery should be included in the Informed Disclosure Document, or the document should state where the client can find this information on the practice’s website.

When midwives work in group practices, any and all midwives who participate in care must be listed in the Informed Disclosure.

The updated requirements for Informed Disclosure for Midwifery Care is available here.

NARM Registered Preceptor Policy Survey

Currently, NARM Registered Preceptors are required to have a minimum of ten Continuity of Care births post credentialling. It has come to our attention that CPMs who work in group midwifery practices or birth centers may not be able to meet this requirement.

In recognition of the changes in midwifery practice, NARM proposes reducing barriers for preceptor registration by eliminating the Continuity of Care requirement for NARM Registered Preceptors beyond entry-level CPM requirements. All other requirements would still need to be met. This proposed policy change would not affect student requirements.

Continuity of Care: a minimum of five prenatals spanning at least two trimesters, the birth, including the placenta, the newborn exam, and at least two postpartum visits. Transports are not accepted for Continuity of Care births.

Please complete this survey to weigh in on this proposed policy change. This survey will take less than 5 minutes to complete. Survey closes April 30, 2024.

PEP Phase 3 and Phase 4 are Merging!

Starting January 1, 2025, PEP Phase 4 will be eliminated. All 25 of the Primary Under Supervision births required to complete the PEP application will need to be submitted with Phase 3 starting in 2025.

Phase 4 was created during a time when the NARM Examination was only offered three times each year. With the introduction of year-round computer-based testing, there is no longer a need to offer testing prior to completion of all clinical experiences. The merging of Phases 3 and 4 will streamline the workflow for the NARM Applications Department and expedite the process for applicants.

Ask NARM: How do I redeem the recertification credit from completion of the Job Analysis?

Complete the recertification application in the Certemy portal, but do not submit payment.
Send an email to support@narm.org requesting application of $50 credit to recertification fees with subject line “Job Analysis Participation”. Please attach a copy of your confirmation of completion of the job analysis.
You will receive an adjusted invoice via email with payment instructions.

Thank you for participating in the NARM Job Analysis!

Upcoming Events—

Join The MANA Legacy Memorial Celebration!

The Midwives Alliance of North America served to unite midwives for many years. As its presence and purpose in the ever changing midwifery community comes to a close, some midwives have organized a virtual event to mark the end of an era.

Join midwives from the U.S., Mexico, and Canada on Sunday, April 7, 2024 1pm-5pm EDT. Celebrate, Reminisce, and Reconnect online and in spirit with sister midwives from across the miles and throughout the years.

The organizers request that you please register only once, as attendance is limited. This event will be recorded for future viewing. For more information email: Midwivesonajourney@gmail.com

Join The Virtual International Day of the Midwife Conference!

Sustainable Midwifery : Caring for Tomorrow’s World is the VIDM 2024 theme.

Sustainable midwifery practices prioritize the well-being of both mother and child while minimizing environmental impact, ensuring a healthier future for generations to come. By caring for the whole person, we reaffirm their right to choose if and when to become pregnant or to continue a pregnancy. By integrating eco-friendly approaches and ethical care, sustainable midwifery embodies a commitment to nurturing not only new life but also the planet we share.
The ancient profession of midwifery must remain sustainable in the contemporary world through innovative practices in education, research, and health policy.

eBlast emailed April 5, 2024

NRP Policy Advocacy

Midwives understand the challenges of obtaining NRP instruction in community birth settings, but most are unaware of the potential challenges on the horizon given the current requirements for NRP Instructors.

Currently, new AAP NRP instructors must be “a physician, registered nurse/nurse practitioner, respiratory therapist, or physician assistant with experience in the hospital care of newborns. The NRP instructor candidate must have current maternal-child educational or clinical responsibility within a hospital setting” as a prerequisite to certification. Some current Community Birth NRP instructors were certified before this requirement and can maintain their Instructor status without hospital affiliation. However, if a community-based NRP instructor’s certification lapses there is no mechanism to have it reinstated.

The requirement for hospital affiliation is also a barrier to NRP Instructor Certification for future community based instructors. In addition, there is no Community Birth provider representation on the NRP Steering committee to represent the needs of home and birth center NRP education. Thankfully there are midwives who are working to change that.

In the fall of 2022, AABC, and CABC joined the leadership of NARM to compose a letter to the NRP Steering Committee. In that letter we addressed several challenges in the implementation of the Neonatal Resuscitation Program in the community birth setting.

The NRP Steering committee response includes some positive steps to addressing needs of midwives, but still falls short of acknowledging CPMs and Community Birth setting needs.

However, we are grateful for the collaboration and advocacy of all of those that offered support and co-signed this letter to AAP. We recognize and express gratitude to the following organizations:

American Association of Birth Centers
Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers
American College of Nurse-Midwives
National Association of Certified Professional Midwives
Birth Center Equity
Elephant Circle

NRP Policy Advocacy Documents

December 2022 Letter to the NRP Steering Committee
January 2024 NRP Steering Committee response
February 2024 Response to the NRP Steering Committee’s response

Have you completed your NARM 2024 Job Analysis?

The Deadline to complete the NARM Job Analysis is March 4th! You should have received an email from the Professional Testing Corporation (PTC). It has the subject line: “NARM Requests Your Input for Updating the CPM Program.” This email includes the link to complete the 2024 Job Analysis which is the first step in the NARM Exam Development process.

You will receive a $50 voucher to apply toward recertification fees once the survey is closed in March.

Thank you in advance for your participation!

How do I get my $50 credit and CEUs?

Upon completion of the Job Analysis survey, participants will see a screen similar to the one below. After March 4, 2024, The Professional Testing Corporation (PTC) will send participants certificates of completion awarding CEU’s and a $50 voucher to the email address they provided during the survey.

Ask NARM: Can a CNM be my Preceptor?

“Dear NARM,

I am a PEP student in Phase 2. There is a local CNM who is willing to be my preceptor. Can this CNM become my NARM Registered preceptor?

Thank you, Confused Midwifery Student”

A NARM Registered Preceptor is a midwife who meets requirements for supervising CPM candidates and has current, approved registration through NARM. The Registered Preceptor must be credentialed as a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM), Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), Certified Midwife (CM); or 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/co-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.

If you are a student who is enrolled in MEAC accredited midwifery program, then you need to discuss this with the administrator of your program. NARM does not set policies regarding approval of preceptors at MEAC accredited programs.

eBlast emailed February 28, 2024

Congratulations to Iowa and Virginia!

On June 1, 2023 the legislation to license midwives went into effect in Iowa!

This bill offers licensure to CPMs and establishes a regulatory board for midwives in Iowa. CPMs who apply for licensure after July 1, 2024 must have a MEAC education or a Midwifery Bridge Certificate. There are exemptions made for midwives who are “a member of a Native American, Mennonite, or Amish community who provides traditional midwife services to such a community.” As well as midwives who “in good faith, engages in the practice of the religious tenets of a church or a religious act if no fee is contemplated, charged, or received.”

This makes Iowa the 38th state to enact licensure for direct-entry midwives.

In January 2023, SB1275 was introduced to the Virginia State Senate and was enacted March 26, 2023. This allows licensed midwives to obtain, possess, and administer drugs and devices within the scope of their practice. This is another win for midwives to practice more fully within the scope of their training, but more importantly to meet the needs of families who birth in community settings.

Updated Community-Based NRP Instructor Directory!

In May 2023, NARM created an online directory of community-based NRP instructors for CPMs and students. Recently, it was updated to include course location. The directory is available here.

eBlast emailed July 27, 2023

NARM Accountability Update

Accountability provides reassurance to families who choose CPMs as their care providers and to states who utilize the CPM for legal recognition. Professional conduct is expected for all CPMs and student midwives. When there are concerns regarding the conduct of a CPM, NARM has an Accountability process to evaluate the concerns.

Currently, NARM Complaint Reviews are conducted by a committee of CPMs in the community of the midwife under review. The disadvantage has always been that it can be challenging to recruit enough midwives, especially in areas with small numbers of midwives. The shift to virtual Complaint Review during the past three years revealed the benefits of drawing from a larger pool of midwives to evaluate competency and professional conduct.

NARM is developing a process to assemble and train CPMs from across the nation to serve on a standing national committee to provide consistent and professional Complaint Reviews. We anticipate this will improve the process to meet the needs of a growing community of CPMs.

Watch future eBlasts for more information and consider whether you would like to apply to join this committee when the application process begins.

Community-Based NRP Instructor Directory

In October 2022, NARM created a survey to assess the availability of NRP instruction for community midwives. As reported in December 2022, over 95% of CPMs responded they were able to access local NRP instruction.

The surveyed CPMs were encouraged to share the NRP courses available to them. As a result, NARM created an online directory of community-based NRP instructors for those CPMs who continue to experience difficulties obtaining NRP courses. The directory is available here.

Some Reminders

NRP Advanced Requirement

With the NRP 8th edition update in 2021, the AAP has created two course pathways for providers (see details highlighted below). NARM acknowledges that some of the advanced skills such as IO administration of newborn medications and Umbilical Vein Catheterization are not essential for CPMs who attend community based births, however we recognize that completion of the NRP Advanced course is important to have a basic understanding of the full AAP NRP algorithm.

NRP Advanced is required effective March 1, 2023 for certification or recertification.

NARM will continue to accept unexpired NRP Essentials (plus BLS for Health Care Providers) as meeting the NRP Requirement for certification and recertification applications after March 1, 2023. However, NARM encourages taking NRP Advanced, if available prior to March 1, 2023.

eBlast emailed April 26, 2023

NARM Job Analysis 2023

As you may know, NARM follows a process every 7-8 years to survey CPMs about their practices. This survey is called the Job Analysis. The survey results guide NARM in determining the knowledge and skills needed for certification. The next Job Analysis survey will be done in the latter part of 2023, but the preparation work is beginning soon.

The first step is to create a Task Force that will work to expand the possible knowledge and skills that may have become part of the essential CPM activities in the past 7-8 years. The Task Force will work in groups and individually during March, April, and May to develop the survey.

All CPMs will have an opportunity to participate in the survey next fall, but the Task Force begins work this Spring. We vision for a diverse group of CPMs, demographically, geographically, and in years of practice.

If you want to be a part of this Task Force, please email Ida Darragh, CPM at Ida@narm.org.

Welcome New Board Chair, Kim Pekin!

Kim Pekin has served as NARM’s Director of Professional Development for seven years. We are grateful she can step into this new role as the Board Chair to serve the mission of NARM and the CPMs we credential.

been a CPM since 2009 and a NARM Board member since 2015. She is a Licensed Midwife in Virginia and recently became a Registered Nurse. Kim owns two CABC-accredited birth centers in Virginia. She has served as the chair of the Virginia Board of Medicine’s Midwifery Advisory Board, is a former CABC Commissioner, and currently serves as a member of the Virginia Newborn Screening Advisory Council. Kim and her husband Barry have seven children and live in the Northern Virginia/DC suburbs.

eBlast emailed February 6, 2023

Another year comes to a close…and somehow we find ourselves several weeks into a new one. We take a moment to look back at the past 12 months.

April 2022: More Preceptor Resources!

The future of midwifery relies upon training new midwives. This is an essential task, and NARM wants to ensure that preceptors have the tools and training to best serve midwifery students and the future families who desire midwifery care.

NARM updated the Resource list for Preceptors and added a template to aid Preceptors and Students in creating a written work agreement.

August 2022: Overview of the History of Preceptor-Student Relationship Tools

NARM has been working on tools for improving the relationships between Preceptors and Students for decades and continues to strive for healthy and ethical midwifery training. In August, we provided a timeline of that evolutionary process. Read more here.

September 2022: Launched the Preceptor-Student Accountability
Committee

Although we have recognized the challenges with Preceptor-Student relationships in the past, we have not had a mechanism to address the issues in the same way we have had with the Client/CPM relationship. We launched a mechanism based upon the current Accountability process to create a forum where grievances can be voiced between Preceptors and PEP Students.

We have had several meetings to create documentation and provide training. We will have an update in Spring 2023.

October 2022: NRP Survey

The survey was opened October 28^th, and over 400 CPMs and students responded. Over 95% of the respondents were CPMs.

Every year NARM gets emails and phone calls from midwives who describe the challenges of getting NRP training in their communities. In response to these concerns, NARM conducted a survey to get a better understanding from the entire CPM community of what barriers to NRP courses exist and which communities are most impacted.

We were pleasantly surprised to learn that the vast majority of CPMs are able to regularly access NRP instruction. Furthermore, CPMs reported that the NRP instruction is available in the community, rather than hospital, setting.

We appreciated that there appear to be more NRP Instructors than we expected. Thank you to all those instructors who are helping CPMs continue to be prepared for attending community births. Look for an NRP resource list on the website soon!

Appreciation for Outgoing Board Chair, Miriam Khalsa!

We want to express our gratitude to outgoing NARM Board Chair, Miriam Khalsa, CPM-Retired, LM. Miriam will continue to serve the board as a consultant and Emerita Board Member.

Miriam attended homebirths in Massachusetts from 1981 through 2013. She was a founding member of the Massachusetts Midwives Alliance (MMA) and served on its board in various positions for eighteen years. She co-chaired the MMA Legislative Committee, represented MMA on the Partners in Perinatal Health board for fourteen years, and served as an instructor for the MMA Basic Course in Midwifery Skills.

She has been on the Board of the North American Registry of Midwives since January 2007 serving as Director of Policy and Procedures and as Chair. Miriam moved back to her home state of California in 2013 and became a Licensed Midwife through the California Challenge. She is a volunteer firefighter in her small northern California community and volunteers as an EMT for a rural ambulance service. Both of her children were born at home with the help of midwives.

We are grateful beyond words for her years of service. We appreciate Miriam’s contributions to midwifery, the lives of the many families she has served, the NARM Board and most of all, to those of us who know and love her, the difference she has made in our lives for too many years to count. Namaste, dear Miriam.

eBlast emailed January 30, 2023

Results from the NARM NRP Survey!

The survey was opened October 28^th, and over 400 CPMs and students responded. Over 95% of the respondents were CPMs. We were pleasantly surprised to learn that the vast majority of CPMs are able to regularly access NRP instruction. Furthermore, CPMs reported that the NRP instruction is available in the community, rather than hospital setting.

We appreciated that there appear to be more NRP Instructors than we expected. Thank you to all those instructors who are helping CPMs continue to be prepared for attending community births.

Although we acknowledge many CPMs have difficulties accessing NRP in their community, we maintain that the importance of requiring the full NRP program (Online written exam and Skills testing) to uphold a standard of CPM skill outweighs the challenges individuals may face. For those CPMs who continue to experience difficulties in accessing NRP, we encourage you to reach out to your local CPMs or state professional organizations to find NRP courses to fulfill recertification requirements. In the upcoming weeks, we will offer a resource list of Community Based NRP Instructors here.

NARM NRP Policy updates

Skills Testing NRP Requirement:

As announced in March 2022, the COVID related exemption of NRP Skills testing (hands on portion) expires January 1, 2023.

NRP cards issued after January 1, 2023 will be required to have the complete documentation of NRP (Online written exam and Skills testing).

NARM will continue to accept unexpired NRP cards as meeting the NRP Requirement for certification and recertification applications. However, NARM strongly encourages having the complete NRP program (Online written exam and Skills testing) so CPMs are best prepared to meet the needs of their clients.

NRP Advanced Requirement:

With the NRP 8^th edition update in 2021, the AAP has created two course pathways for providers (see details highlighted below). NARM acknowledges that some of the advanced skills such as IO administration of newborn medications and Umbilical Vein Catheterization are not essential for CPMs who attend Community based births, however we recognize that completion of the NRP Advanced course is important to have a basic understanding of the full AAP NRP algorithm.

NRP Advanced is required effective March 1, 2023 for certification or recertification.

Highlights of 8th Edition AAP NRP:

There are two levels of NRP provider learning:

NRP Essentials (Lessons 1–4) Includes skills through face-mask ventilation and laryngeal mask insertion.
NRP Advanced (Lessons 1–11) Includes chest compressions and resuscitation skills for term and preterm newborns.

Read complete details of 8th edition NRP program here.

More Reminders

NARM’s Renewal Deadline

In recent years, expiration dates of Certifications have been the CPM’s birth date. However, NARM has provided a grace period from the actual birth date through the end of the birth month.

With integration of the Certemy portal, this grace period has been phased out. Effective June 1, 2022, expiration dates will now be the actual date listed for Certification or Preceptor Registration.

NARM’s Online Application Program

Have you registered with Certemy yet? Certemy is the online portal used for certification, recertification, and preceptor applications. System access is available for all active, inactive, and retired CPMs, preceptors, and current applicants-in-process with the exception of PEP. In December 2020, NARM sent an email with information on how to log in to the Certemy system. If you haven’t logged in or need assistance, please email info@narm.org.

eBlast emailed December 20, 2022

Thank you all to all the CPMs who volunteered to participate in the Preceptor/Student Accountability Committee!

Our next step will be to review applications and assemble the committee. The committee will include three experienced preceptors and one Student Advocate. The Student Advocate should be a new CPM who has recently been certified through the PEP process.

If you missed our previous request for applications, you can complete the application online here to be considered for the committee.

DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEE: MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH AT MIDNIGHT

NARM’s New Renewal Deadline

In recent years, expiration dates of Certifications have been the CPM’s birth date. However, NARM has provided a grace period from the actual birth date through the end of the birth month.

With integration of the Certemy portal, this grace period is being phased out. Effective June 1, 2022, expiration dates will now be the actual date listed for Certification or Preceptor Registration.

NARM’s New Online Application Program

Have you registered with Certemy? Certemy is the new online program to process Certification, Recertification, and Preceptor applications. In December 2020, NARM sent an email with information on how to log in to the Certemy system. If you haven’t logged in or need assistance, please email dan@narm.org.

eBlast emailed September 9, 2022

NARM Registered Preceptor Policy Survey

Ask NARM:

Upcoming Events…

Join The Virtual International Day of the Midwife Conference!

NARM Informed Disclosure for Midwifery Care Update

NARM Registered Preceptor Policy Survey

PEP Phase 3 and Phase 4 are Merging!

Ask NARM: How do I redeem the recertification credit from completion of the Job Analysis?

Upcoming Events—

Join The MANA Legacy Memorial Celebration!

Join The Virtual International Day of the Midwife Conference!

NRP Policy Advocacy

NRP Policy Advocacy Documents

Have you completed your NARM 2024 Job Analysis?

How do I get my $50 credit and CEUs?

Ask NARM: Can a CNM be my Preceptor?

Congratulations to Iowa and Virginia!

Updated Community-Based NRP Instructor Directory!

NARM Accountability Update

Community-Based NRP Instructor Directory

Some Reminders

NRP Advanced Requirement

NARM Job Analysis 2023

Welcome New Board Chair, Kim Pekin!

April 2022: More Preceptor Resources!

August 2022: Overview of the History of Preceptor-Student Relationship Tools

September 2022: Launched the Preceptor-Student AccountabilityCommittee

October 2022: NRP Survey

Appreciation for Outgoing Board Chair, Miriam Khalsa!

Results from the NARM NRP Survey!

NARM NRP Policy updates

Skills Testing NRP Requirement:

NRP Advanced Requirement:

Highlights of 8th Edition AAP NRP:

More Reminders

NARM’s Renewal Deadline

NARM’s Online Application Program

Thank you all to all the CPMs who volunteered to participate in the Preceptor/Student Accountability Committee!

NARM’s New Renewal Deadline

NARM’s New Online Application Program

Contact

Frequent pages

Key pdf file

Contact

Frequent pages

Key pdf file

September 2022: Launched the Preceptor-Student Accountability
Committee