NARM Certification

Overview

National Midwifery Institute graduates qualify to sit the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) examination which, if passed, leads to the CPM Credential. All twenty-six states that recognize direct-entry midwives practicing in predominately out-of-hospital settings use the NARM Written Examination or the CPM credential as the basis for legal recognition. Midwives in several other states are working on laws to license midwives using the CPM credential. CPMs also practice in states where direct-entry midwifery is unregulated and licensure is not yet available.

NMI graduates must apply for NARM Certification within three (3) years of graduation. If certification takes longer than three years, NARM will require documentation of ten (10) additional primary births, twenty-five (25) hours of continuing education, and five (5) hours of peer review within the three (3) years prior to the application submission. 

Testing is available electronically year round.

It’s never too early to familiarize yourself with the NARM exam application, especially because some NARM application forms require preceptor initials/signatures. Prior to beginning apprenticeship, we encourage students to download the NARM application forms for students enrolled in MEAC-accredited schools from the NARM website and to become familiar with them. 

NARM Application Forms*

You can download the NARM application forms for graduates of MEAC-accredited schools here:

  • NARM Application forms for MEAC Students - You will have a choice to either click the button titled "Download the full CPM Application including all routes of entry," or to download individual forms from the provided links. Please note that if you choose to download the full application, it will include many forms that you are not required to complete. The individual forms that you need to complete are: Checklist form 130, General Application Form 100, Form 200*, Form 102, Form 204, and Form 205B.  
  • NARM Exam Candidate Information Bulletin - Recommended reading for all NARM Exam candidates! 

*A Note about Practical Experience Form 200: One of the application forms for MEAC students is titled “Continuity of Care—Practical Experience Form 200." According to a note on the bottom of this form, “All applicants must submit complete 2 charts for the Continuity of Care births listed on this form. NARM reserves the right to request the other 3 charts.” However, MEAC has developed a Continuity of Care Documentation Form to be used in place of client charts for the applications of students in MEAC-accredited programs. This form is a required part of your NARM application and is linked here.   

NARM Audit Info

NARM routinely audits every 6th application received. Documents required for random audits are Informed Disclosure, Informed Consent Documents, Practice Guidelines, and Emergency Care Form. Documents must be submitted within 2 weeks of request. Random audits do not stop a CPM candidate from moving though the application process, but if any discrepancies are discovered during the audit process they will need to be resolved before a CPM certificate is issued.

Additionally, the NARM applications office reserves the right to request verification (audit) of any information submitted with student applications, including client charts. It is the responsibility of the student to have access to client charts in the event of an audit. Keep in mind that it is illegal to copy client charts without written client consent.

Please note that if you submit client charts that include client identifying information (name, address, social security number, phone number, etc) and do NOT include a copy of written client consent with the chart, your charts will be immediately shredded by the NARM applications office and your application will be delayed. Either remove this information or attach written client consent to your charts. 

NARM Application Information

Students apply to NARM directly once they have graduated from NMI. Students pay the testing fee directly to NARM: testing sites may charge an additional fee. Upon a student’s graduation, NMI sends a letter to NARM confirming that all requirements for graduation have been completed and including an official transcript. Upon review of applications, students receive instructions from NARM about scheduling their testing date and location. 

Useful Links

State Licensure

The Certified Professional Midwife credential, issued by NARM, is a national credential accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), the accrediting body of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE, formerly NOCA). However, in many states direct-entry midwives must apply for state licensure in order to legally practice. 

Below, please find links to individual states' offices that license direct-entry midwives. Information is listed alphabetically by state.    If your state is not listed here, licensure is not currently available. 

Note: Some state licensure requirements exceed NMI's graduation requirements/NARM exam qualifications. It is the responsibility of the student to be informed about licensure requirements in their state and to complete all requirements for licensure. Students are encouraged to review applicable statutes and licensure requirements in their state early on in their training. Students who require additional experience to qualify for licensure in a state may make specific enrollment arrangements with NMI.

  • Alaska - Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development
  • Arizona - Arizona Department of Health Services, Midwife Licensing
  • Arkansas - Arkansas Department of Health
  • California - Medical Board of California, Licensed Midwives - Applicants
  • Colorado - Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, Office of Direct-Entry Midwifery Registration
  • Delaware - Delaware Division of Professional Regulation - Midwifery Practitioner
  • Idaho - Idaho Bureau of Occupational Licenses, State Board of Midwifery
  • Indiana - Indiana Professional Licensing Association - Certified Direct Entry Midwifery Committee
  • Louisiana - Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners - Licensed Midwives
  • Maine - Maine's direct-entry midwifery licensing law very recently passed, and goes into effect 1/1/2020. Online applications for licensure are not available at this time. Link directs to Maine Association of Certified Professional Midwives
  • Maryland - Maryland Board of Nursing Direct Entry Midwife Advisory Committee 
  • Minnesota - Licensure as a Licensed Traditional Midwife is voluntary in Minnesota. LTMs are licensed by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice
  • Montana - Montana Alternative Health Care Board
  • New Hampshire - New Hampshire Midwives Association - Contact information for New Hampshire Midwifery Council found here
  • New Jersey - New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs - Midwifery Liaison Committee
  • New Mexico - New Mexico Department of Health - Public Health Division
  • Oregon - Oregon Health Licensing Agency - Board of Direct Entry Midwives
  • Rhode Island - License application, provided by Rhode Island Advisory Council on Midwifery
  • South Carolina - South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control - Licensed Midwives
  • Tennessee - Tennessee Department of Health - Council of Certified Professional Midwifery
  • Texas - Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation - Midwives
  • Utah - Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing
  • Virginia - Virginia Board of Medicine
  • Vermont - Vermont Secretary of State Professional Regulation
  • Washington - Washington State Department of Health
  • Wisconsin - Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
  • Wyoming - Wyoming Board of Midwifery