midwife




OCCUPATION INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Who is the registering body responsible for regulating Midwives in Alberta?   

In Alberta, you must be registered with the Midwifery Health Disciplines Committee regulated by Alberta Health and Wellness http://www.health.gov.ab.ca/ to practice as a Midwife. Only registered members may call themselves Midwives. 

What are the registration requirements for midwives?

In order to obtain full (that is unrestricted registration) midwives must:

  1. Have attended to 60 births in the past five years. Of these, 40 must be as a primary care giver, 30 with continuity of care, and at least 10 births in hospital and 10 out of hospital.
  2. Have actively maintained the practice of midwifery.
  3. Have graduated from a recognized school of midwifery and completed a baccalaureate level degree or specified courses at first year university level with 70% grade in each course. Currently the only recognized schools are Canadian. Schools located in other countries are assessed individually
  4. Have neonatal resuscitation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification and obstetrical emergency skills.
  5. Complete a Prior Learning & Experience Assessment (PLEA) organized by the Midwifery Health Disciplines Committee.
  6. Successfully pass the Canadian Midwifery Registration Examination (CMRE).
  7. Apply to the Midwifery Health Disciplines Committee for registration.
  8. Have a membership with the Alberta Association of Midwives.

Temporary Registration

The Midwifery Health Disciplines Committee provides a provisional license for candidates eligible for the PLEA. This provisional license enables the midwife to undertake a restricted practice until the next PLEA process occurs. The candidate requires a supervising midwife/practice to support her provisional status.

What is the Prior Learning and Experience Assessment (PLEA)?

This is the process by which a candidate demonstrates that they have the necessary education, skills and experience to practice safely in the Alberta Healthcare System and so are eligible to take the assessment examinations. The PLEA consists of an application for registration, submission of a detailed portfolio. If the portfolio demonstrates apparently adequate education and experience the candidate is allowed to move on to the written and practical exams. Written exams are offered twice a year in May and September/October. Practical assessment is run when there are enough applicants. Application forms may be obtained from the Midwifery Registrar.

Note: It is necessary for the candidate to be highly proficient in professional English and understand the Canadian model of midwifery.

What is the Canadian Midwifery Examination?

http://cmrc-ccosf.ca

Each province and territory is responsible for ensuring that Canadian and internationally educated applicants for midwifery registration meet an acceptable level of competence before they begin to practice in Canada. This level of competence is measured, in part, by the Canadian Midwifery Registration Examination (CMRE).

The CMRE is a seven hour exam, written in two 3.5 hour parts on the same day. Each part
consists of multiple-choice questions. Most are case based. Applicants are encouraged to be aware of exam registration deadlines, exam criteria, exam fee, exam frequency and, the turnaround time for exam results.

What are the educational requirements for Midwives in Alberta?

(Note: Regulatory bodies compare international education and experience to Canadian standards)

In Canada, the following post-secondary institutions offer midwifery programs: 

Additional Occupational Information

For more information on occupational duties and wages, visit the Alberta Learning Information Service at www.alis.gov.ab.ca and search for Midwife under occupational information. Information is also available at the Canadian Midwifery Regulators Consortium.

What training programs or services are available for internationally educated midwives?

The Multi-jurisdictional Midwifery Bridging Projectis a bridging program for qualified midwives educated outside of Canada. It assists internationally educated midwives in preparing to meet the requirements for registering and practicing as a midwife in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba or the Northwest Territories. Mount royal College offers the prerequisites for the MMBP Program.  This is only for those with midwifery education and is not appropriate for nurses wanting to enter midwifery.

The International Midwifery Pre-Registration Program (IMPP) is offered by Ryerson University’s G. Raymond Chan School of Continuing Education.

What information resources are available for Midwives in Alberta?

Alberta Association of Midwives (AAM)
website: www.albertamidwives.com

Canadian Association of Midwives
website: http://www.canadianmidwives.org

The Canadian Midwifery Regulators Consortium
website: http://cmrc-ccosf.ca/node/2
 

                                                                                                                            Last Updated: August 2009