Updated June 17, 2026​​

This page introd​​uces the scope of midwifery practice in B.C., highlighting how legislation, standards, and individual competence work together to ensure safe, ethical, and appropriate​ care.

What will I learn?​​

• About the midwifery scope of practice
• The difference between midwifery profession's scope of practice vs.  individual midwife's scope of practice
• About the "controls on practice" framework and how it helps midwives to practice within scope

Stand​ards

• Midwives: Con​​sultation, Referral, and Transfer of Care​​​

The midwifery model in B.C. is grounded in a holistic and evidence-informed approach that views pregnancy and childbirth as normal physiologic processes. Central to this model are the principles of continuity of care, informed choice, collaborative practice, and respect for clients as primary decision-makers.

You can find detailed information about the Midwifery Model of Practice and Philosophy of Care on the Midwives Association of British Columbia (MABC) website.

Midwives in B.C. practise autonomously across a range of settings and in partnership with clients, supporting families throughout the reproductive journey with dignity and respect.

BCCNM's standards detail the minimum requirements for safe practice of midwifery. The Competencies of Registered Midwives​ provide details of the skills and knowledge expected of a midwife in B.C.

What is Scope of practice?​​

​Understanding scope of practice

In B.C., the Nurses a​​nd Midwives Regulation​ ​​sets out midwives' scope of practice. The Regulation defines midwifery as the health profession in which a person provides midwifery services during normal pregnancy, labour, delivery,​ and the postpartum period.

Scope of practice refers to the activities that midwives are educated, competent, and authorized to perform.

There are two aspects of midwifery scope:

1. Midwifery profession's scope of practice​​

This includes:

• T​he Regulation and other relevant federal and provincial legislation

• BCCNM bylaws, standards of p​ractice, and other regulatory documents

2. Individual midwife's scope of practice​​

A midwife's individual scope of practice is shaped by their unique background and practice setting. Each midwife's individual practice will look different. Midwives individual scope of practice within their practice settings is influenced by:

• Their education
• Authority to perform activities
• Their individual competence, i.e., the ability to integrate and apply knowledge, skills, attitudes, and judgment for safe and appropriate performance in practice
• Policies that may restrict a midwife's practice in a practice setting (e.g., clinic, hospital, or home)

Staying with​in scope: Controls on practice

Controls on practice is a framework that helps define a midwife's scope of practice. It can be used as a decision support tool to help you understand what activities are in scope, when you can perform them, what limits or conditions must be met, and what competencies are required.

See the Controls on practice ​​page for a description of the four levels of regulatory control on a midwife's practice. ​​

​Reso​urce​​s

​Learning modules​​