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Summary of the Licensed Midwifery Practice Act of 1993

The law specifies the requirements for licensure and the scope of practice for a licensed midwife. The Division of Licensing of the Medical Board of California (Board) is responsible for issuing a license to practice midwifery to all applicants who meet the requirements and pay a prescribed fee.

The law provides that:

  • The holder of a midwifery license, under the supervision of a licensed physician and surgeon, is to attend cases of normal childbirth.
  • The licensed midwife may provide prenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum care, including family-planning care for the mother and immediate care for the newborn.
  • The licensed midwife is to disclose to the client that a supervising physician is regularly being briefed concerning the client's pregnancy.
  • The supervising physician, as described in section 2507 of the Code, is to have a current practice or training in obstetrics.
  • The supervising physician is to assume care of the client should complications arise.
  • A supervising physician cannot supervise more than four licensed midwives.
  • No person other than a licensed midwife, may hold himself/herself out as a licensed midwife or use any other term which may indicate or imply that he/she is a licensed midwife.
  • A licensed midwife cannot hold himself or herself out as a certified nurse-midwife, nurse midwife, or use the initials "CNM", unless he or she has been certified as a nurse midwife under Business and Professions Code, Article 2.5 Nurse-Midwives.
  • The Board is to issue a license to practice midwifery to all applicants who meet the requirements and pay the required fee.
  • An applicant for licensure must successfully complete a three-year postsecondary midwifery educational program accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the United States Department of Education, Division of Accreditation, and successfully complete a comprehensive licensing examination adopted by the Board which is equivalent, but not identical, to the American College of Nurse Midwives exam, or;

must successfully complete an approved midwifery education program that offers the opportunity for students to obtain credit for previous midwifery education and clinical experiences and successfully complete the written licensing examination, or;

must have successfully completed an educational program approved by the Board and is currently licensed as a midwife by a state with equivalent licensing standards. (Reciprocity)

  • The midwifery education program will allow the applicant to demonstrate, by practical examination, clinical competencies.
  • The midwifery education program's credit by examination policy must be approved by the Board.
  • Completion of clinical experiences must be verified by a licensed midwife or certified nurse-midwife and a physician and surgeon, all of whom shall be current in the knowledge and practice of obstetrics and midwifery.
  • The Board must approve specific educational programs that meet the requirements for the course of academic study, documentation of experience and skill and clinical evaluation. These programs must also be accredited by an accrediting organization approved by the Board.
  • Applicants must show evidence satisfactory to the Board that he/she has met the education standards established by the Board.
  • A person, who has been convicted of a misdemeanor violation of unlicenced practice (Business & Professions Code section 2052) prior to January 1, 1994, cannot be barred from licensure, solely because of that conviction.
  • Licenses for licensed midwifery must be renewed every two years upon payment of the current fee and certification of 36 hours of approved continuing education.
  • An expired license may be reinstated within five years from the expiration upon payment of the current fee and upon submission of proof of the applicant's qualifications.
  • The current licensing fee is $300.00, renewal fee is $200.00, and the delinquency fee is $50.00.
  • The Board may suspend or revoke the license of a licensed midwife for any of the following:
  • Unprofessional conduct.
  • Procuring a license by fraud or misrepresentation.
  • Conviction of a crime substantially related to the qualifications, function and duties of a licensed midwife.
  • Procuring, aiding, abetting, attempting, agreeing to procure, offering to procure, or assisting at, a criminal abortion.
  • Violating or attempting to violate, directly or indirectly, or assisting in or abetting the violation of, or conspiring to violate any provision or term of this chapter.
  • Making or giving false statements or information in connection with the application for issuance of a license.
  • Impersonating any applicant or acting as proxy for any applicant in an examination required for licensure.
  • Impersonating another licensed practitioner, or permitting or allowing another person to use his or her license for the purpose of providing midwifery services.
  • Aiding or assisting, or agreeing to aid or assist any person or persons, whether a licensed physician or not, in the performance of, arranging for, a violation of any of the provisions of Article 12 of Chapter 5.
  • Violators of this article are guilty of a misdemeanor.