The BCCNM board on Feb. 26, 2026, approved a new
Midwives: Regulatory Supervision of Students practice standard, alongside changes to the regulatory framework for student midwife clinical activities. These changes support BCCNM's transition to the
Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA) and will take effect on
April 1, 2026.
- What's changing
Under the HPOA, students who are in the process of meeting eligibility requirements must practise under the
supervision of a licensee. To align with this requirement:
-
A regulatory supervision model will be introduced.
Student clinical activities will be permitted through
regulatory supervision, rather than student registration. -
A new practice standard is now in place for midwives.
The
Midwives: Regulatory Supervision of Students practice standard sets clear expectations for midwives who supervise students in clinical settings.
- About the new practice standard
The new standard outlines midwives' responsibilities when providing regulatory supervision, including:
- general accountability for supervision,
- determining appropriate student activities,
- setting conditions for student practice, and
- clear, respectful communication.
The standard is designed to:
- align with section 32 of the HPOA and BCCNM's bylaws,
- reduce risk of harm to clients when students perform restricted or complex activities,
- promote quality supervision and culturally safe learning environments, and
- ensure consistency with the nursing regulatory supervision model.
Cultural safety, cultural humility, and anti‑racism are embedded throughout the standard, with specific expectations to support safe and respectful learning environments for Indigenous students.
- Why this change matters
Moving to a regulatory supervision model reflects current best practices, supports interprofessional clinical placement models, and provides clearer, more consistent expectations for supervising midwives. The approach is aligned with BCCNM's right‑touch regulation principles and with equivalent standards for nurses.
Questions?
Connect with our
Standards Support team.