In December 2025, BCCNM surveyed midwives to gather input on two potential models of currency to maintain practising licensure. The existing model poses administrative challenges and raises concerns regarding appropriateness of the criteria to maintain practicing licensure as well as potential misalignment with incoming legislation (HPOA) and BCCNM's right-touch regulatory philosophy.
The options:
- Option 1 – Minimum births & practice hours as a currency requirement
This option requires midwives to meet minimum birth numbers (40 total births for new midwives and 10 births for experienced midwives) AND to complete at least 900 practice hours (including 300 clinical hours) over a three-year period.
Midwives who are unable to meet the minimum birth requirements will have a “no intrapartum care" limit placed on their license and will continue to meet the practice hours requirements. Midwives will engage with BCCNM's licensing committee if they want this limit removed.
Midwives who are unable to meet both practice hours and birth numbers will not be eligible for practising licensure with BCCNM.
- Option 2 – Practice hours as a currency requirement & a new intrapartum care standard
This option would still require new midwives to meet minimum births (40 total) until they have consolidated intrapartum skills but would remove the minimum birth requirements for experienced midwives. All midwives would meet the 900 practice hours (including 300 clinical hours) requirements over a three-year period.
In addition to meeting the practice hours requirements for currency, midwives who provide intrapartum care will meet expectations set out in a new BCCNM
Intrapartum Care Practice Standard.
Midwives who are unable to meet practice hours will not be eligible for practising licensure with BCCNM.
We thank the nearly 100 registrants who participated in the survey, sharing their time and feedback. Their insights are helping shape BCCNMs approach to reflect the realities of practice and promote safe, equitable care for all clients.
What we heard
Option 2 was most frequently selected as the best option to support BCCNM to ensure the public is protected when receiving care from midwives (900 practice hours, including at least 300 clinical, plus meeting the intrapartum practice standard). However, support was often conditional on reviewing the proposed intrapartum standard before committing.
Competency cannot be reduced to birth counts. Many respondents expressed concern that numeric birth minimums could disadvantage midwives in rural, remote, or alternative practice arrangements.
Flexibility and sustainability matter. Respondents highlighted the need for clear “on- and off-ramps" for re-entry, recognition of diverse roles, and safeguards to prevent attrition.
Equity and inclusion are essential. Feedback emphasized collaboration, including engagement across varied practice settings.
Outstanding questions remain about definitions, hour tracking, and the evidence base for thresholds.
What happens next
BCCNM is continuing to consult with community midwives, midwifery leaders and system partners on the options for midwifery currency as well as practice standard revisions. Early in the new year, we will share the proposed practice standards revisions for input.
We remain committed to a process that balances public protection with flexibility and fairness for midwives across all practice contexts.