Internationally-educated midwives

​Midwifery bridging programs​

• Internationally educated midwives must complete the Internationally Educated Midwives Bridging Program​ (IEMBP) at Univers​​ity of British Columbia before applying for licensure with BCCNM.

• To ensure applicants can practise safely, competently, and ethically, all internationally educated nurses must demonstrate they have the knowledge, skills, abilities, and judgement expected of a graduate of a BCCNM-recognized education program.​ 

• The program supports m​idwives educated outside of Canada to understand and meet the expectations of British Columbia's midwifery model of practice.    

How to apply

1. Apply to BCCNM

• Create a BCCNM account (if you haven't already).
• Complete an Application for Midwife Registration (form 159).
• Submit your application and all required supporting documentation registermidwives@bccnm.ca.
• We will send instructions to pay your application fee once your application is recieved.

2. UBC program confirmation & competency certifications

Once you have successfully completed the IEMBP, UBC will send us confirmation of program completion, and the competency certifications completed during your program. Typically this includes:

• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• Emergency skills
• Fetal health surveillance
• Neonatal resuscitation

​3. Licensing exam & provisional licensure

• You will be required to complete the Canadian Midwifery Registration Examination (CMRE), the licensing exam.
• You may be eligible for provisional licensure while you prepare to take the CMRE.​​

​4. Practising licence & fees

After you pass the regulatory exam, you will be eligible for practising licensure.

• If you have a provisional licence, your licensure will automatically update in the online directory​.
• If you do not have a provisional licence, you will sent instructions to pay your licensing fee. You are not authorized to practice as a midwife until you are listed in the online directory.
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Assessing your application

Good character

Good character refers to having the qualities and traits relevant to nursing, such as:

• moral or ethical strength;
• integrity, integrity, candour, empathy and honesty;
• an appreciation of the difference between right and wrong; and
• the moral fibre to do that which is right and not to do that which is wrong.
  

To determine if you meet the good character eligibility standard, the information we consider includes:

• the completeness, correctness, and accuracy of the information you provided on the application form or in any communication with BCCNM;
• past or current regulatory investigations and outcomes;
• outstanding criminal charges, convictions for crimes, and other breaches of laws;
• past or current workplace investigations;
• concerns raised from educational institutions;
• any history of unethical or dishonest behaviour;
• disrespectful conduct when engaging with BCCNM;
• your explanation, and context, for past events;
• steps taken to rehabilitate after past actions and/or misconduct;
• character and employment references; and
• reflections and insights demonstrating an appreciation of the problematic nature and harms caused by past actions and/or misconduct.

Capacity to practice

Capacity is having the competence to practice without undue impairments by a health condition. If you have disclosed, or other information indicates you have, a health condition that may currently impair your ability to practice competently, the information we consider includes:

• complaints, in any jurisdiction, related to your competence and/or capacity;
• past or current regulatory investigations and outcomes;
• outstanding criminal charges, convictions for crimes, and other breaches of laws;
• past or current workplace investigations;
• concerns raised by education institutions;
• substantial breaks in practice;
• self-disclosure of a current, or recently manifested, physical or mental ailment, an addiction to alcohol or drugs, or problematic substance use, that may impair your physical, mental, or emotional ability or capacity, to practise;
• your explanation, and context, for a past event;
• information from treating physician(s), specialist(s), or other healthcare provider, who can provide an opinion as to your current health status, it’s potential to impair competence to practice, any recommendations for safe entrance into the profession, (we only request this information in certain circumstances);
• supports and/or strategies you have in place; and
• reference letters.​
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