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​ Applicants for registration and practising midwives must successfully complete and maintain certification in the following competency areas as outlined in the Policy on Continuing Competencies:

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Minimum requirements
Completion of a course that complies with the guidelines of the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada. The course must cover the following core areas for CPR and emergency cardiac care:

  • Adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation
  • Pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation
  • Two-rescuer scenarios
  • Use of bag valve mask
  • Management of foreign-body airway obstruction
  • Use of Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
Approved courses
  • Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada – Basic Life Support (BLS)
  • Canadian Red Cross – Basic Life Support (BLS)
  • American Heart Association – Basic Life Support (BLS)
  • St. John Ambulance – CPR BLS & AED
  • Lifesaving Society – Basic Life Support (BLS) Responder CPR/Health Care Provider (HCP) with AED
  • St. Mark James Training – CPR Health Care Provider (HCP)
Not sure you've got the right course? Look for Basic Life Support (BLS) or Health Care Professional (HCP) in the course listing.
(Re)certification requirements
  • Provider: Annual certification. In cases where the approved course done not require or recommend annual certification, it is considered valid for a maximum of two years.
  • Instructor: Proof of current CPR instructor status.
  • Format: Current registrants can complete approved courses online; first-time applicants and former registrants that are reinstating their registration after more than 60 days must complete the course in-person.

Emergency skills

Minimum requirements
Successful completion of a course that covers emergency management in the following areas:

  • Postpartum haemorrhage
  • Shoulder dystocia
  • Cord prolapse
  • Undiagnosed breach
  • Undiagnosed twins
  • Fetal well-being
Approved courses
  • Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada – Advances in Labour and Risk Management (ALARM)
  • Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada – Managing Obstetrical Risk Efficiently (MOREOB)
  • Association of Ontario Midwives – Emergency Skills Workshop (ESW)
  • Midwives Association of Manitoba – Emergency Skills for Midwives (ESM)
  • Midwives Association of BC and University of British Columbia Continuing Professional Development – Midwives Emergency Skills Program (MESP)
  • Alberta Association of Midwives – Emergency Skills Workshop (ESW)
  • Any BCCNM recognized midwifery education program – Emergency Skills Course
(Re)certification requirements
  • Provider: Every two years.
  • Instructor: Proof of current ES instructor status.
  • Format: Current registrants can complete approved courses online; first-time applicants and former registrants that are reinstating their registration after more than 60 days must complete the course in-person.

Fetal Health Surveillance

Minimum requirements
Participation in a Canadian fetal health surveillance course, module or workshop that includes:

  • A review of the fundamentals of antenatal and intrapartum fetal health surveillance
  • Completion of the National Fetal Health Surveillance Online Exam (minimum passing grade 80%).
Approved courses
  • University of British Columbia Continuing Professional Development – Fundamentals of Fetal Health Surveillance Online Manual and Exam.
  • Hospital perinatal program or BCCNM approved midwifery education program – Fundamentals of Fetal Health Surveillance course)
  • Hospital perinatal program or BCCNM approved midwifery education program – Fetal Health Surveillance Refresher/Renewal
(Re)certification requirements
  • Provider: Every two years.
  • Instructor: Proof of current FHS instructor status.
  • Format: Current registrants can complete approved courses online; first-time applicants and former registrants that are reinstating their registration after more than 60 days must complete the course in-person.

Neonatal Resuscitation

Minimum requirements
Completion of a course that meets or exceeds the Canadian Paediatric Society’s (CPS) National Guidelines and NRP levels 1-11, with skills required for a primary care provider and as applicable within the midwifery scope of practice.
Approved courses
Any Canadian NRP course taught by a CPS-certified NRP instructor.
(Re)certification requirements
  • Provider: Annual certification
  • Instructor: Proof of current NRP instructor status.
  • Format: Current registrants can complete approved courses online; first-time applicants and former registrants that are reinstating their registration after more than 60 days must complete the course in-person.

Proof of certification requirements

Applicants and registrants will be required to demonstrate that they have met the continuing competencies requirement, based on the type of application.
First-time applicant or reinstatement
  • Applicants need to submit a copy of their continuing competency certificates to registermidwives@bccnm.ca​.
  • Where the course requires an in-person component, the certificate for this portion must be submitted to confirm validity (for example, if completing MESP you must submit the MABC issued certificate).
  • BCCNM will confirm that certificates are valid and not expired prior to granting registration.
​Registration renewal (practising registrants)
  • During registration renewal, practising registrants will attest to having valid certificates that are not expired as of April 1 of that year.
  • Copies of certificates do not need to be submitted. Please keep proof of certification for your records as your continuing competencies may be audited.
  • This also applies to applicants who are reinstating their registration within 60 days.​