​Updated June 17, 2026​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Reserved titles are a central and critical public protection element of B.C.'s health professions regulatory framework.

What will I learn?​​

• Who can use the reserved title “midwife"

• What title(s) to use when identifying as a midwife​

What's in a tit​​le?

Midwives use titles in ways that comply with the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA), the Nurses and Midwives Regulation, BCCNM general bylaws, and BCCNM ethics standards and practice standards. ​

The reserved title “midwife" carries significant meaning and conveys a level of knowledge and skill in managing the health care of a client. 

The ​HPOA restricts the use of reserved titles, abbreviations of the title, or an equivalent title in another language, for use by licensees of a regulatory college. You can review the BCCNM bylaws for specifics about classes of midwife licensees.

If you do not hold licensure with the college, you are not authorized to use the title “midwife" or any of its variations.

Only BCCNM licensees may use a reserved midwifery title when practising in B.C. This means you are not authorized to use the reserved title when you are still applying or in the process of becoming licensed with BCCNM. You must receive official confirmation of your status as a BCCNM licensee before using the title.

Using the title “midwife" without proper qualifications is an offence under the HPOA, is fraudulent, and may have legal and regulatory consequences.

Test your "use of title" know-how with the scenarios below​.

New grad, new title​​

Brianna is a new graduate in the process of licensing with BCCNM. While preparing to write her midwifery exam, she is working in her first job as a midwife. During her orientation, a colleague tells her she should sign RM, for Registered Midwife, after her name. Brianna thought she was supposed to use the title RM Provisional until she passes her exam and is converted to full practicing status, but now she’s not sure.

What title can Brianna use?

Brianna is right: she has provisional registration and should use the title and sign her documentation as Registered Midwife (Provisional) or RM(P). When Brianna passes the Canadian Midwifery Registration Examination (CMRE), her provisional registration can be converted to practising and she can use the title RM.  

Practising vs. non-practising status

Maddi, an RM, is going on maternity leave. She contacts BCCNM and changes her licensure status from practising to non-practising. Maddi asks Meera, the clinic manager, to update her profile on the clinic’s website to reflect her status as a "non-practising midwife." Meera says that isn’t necessary as Maddi is still a midwife. Maddi is confused as she thought she was only authorized to use the title registered midwife if she had practicing status.

What title can she use?

Maddi is correct. Only midwives who have a practicing licensure with BCCNM are authorized to use the title "r​​egistered midwife/RM." If you change your license status to non-practicing, you must use the title "non-practicing midwife." If you hold no licensure with the college, you are not authorized to use the title “midwife” or any of its variations. 

Midwives who don’t hold a practicing licensure and have a website that includes the word “midwife” (e.g., www.bestmidwife.com) can’t use a reserved title in the website’s URL or email address (e.g., midwife@wcmidwife.ca) as stated in the HPOA.​

Moving to a new jurisdiction

Lin completed her midwifery education in Ontario and worked there as a midwife for 15 years. She is now moving to B.C. and wishes to continue practising in her new home province. With all the preparations for the move, she has let her licensure in Ontario. lapse.  When applying for licensure and corresponding with BCCNM she signs her name “Lin Nguyen, RM.”  Should she do that?

What title can she use?

No. As Lin no longer holds a practising license, she is not authorized to use the title "midwife"​ until she is licensed in one of the classes of midwifery outlined in the BCCNM bylaws. 

Individuals who hold valid practising licensure from another jurisdiction, but are not licensed with BCCNM, are not auth​orized to use the title "midwife" in B.C. as this implies they are licensed with BCCNM. When referring to themselves they should state they have a practising or non-practising licensure in the applicable jurisdiction but not in B.C.​

​Appropriate use of "doctor” in your c​​​redentials

If you're a nurse or midwife ​with doctoral education, it's important to remember that most people associate "doctor" with medical doctors or physicians. Even though you've earned a doctoral degree, it's important to communicate your role clearly. Using “doctor" in a health-care setting might confuse or mislead clients, health professionals, and organizations.

Your a​cademic credentials don't allow you to practise midwifery, practical nursing, nursing, or psychiatric nursing. So, avoid using your academic credentials in a way that suggests you're registered for a designation you're not.

So, how can you show​​ your achievements without causing confusion?

• Introduce​​ yourself with your name, role, and reserved title when you firs​​t meet clients or health-care professionals. Keep reminding them of your role and avoid using language or statements that may cause confusion. If someone calls you "doc​​tor" thinking you're a physician, correct them.

• Use your name and the regulatory title that reflects your designation. 

• Don't call yourself "d​octor" in situations where the title may confuse or mislead clients or the health-care team.

• Use your regula​tory title appropriately in documentation, signatures​, business cards, websites, and advertisements. ​
  

FAQs

I want to use a protected title in a proposed business name. What is the process to do this?

​

Certain titles such as “nurse," “registered midwife," and “NP" are protected under British Columbia legislation. If you are seeking BCCNM's consent to use a protected title in a proposed business name per BC Registry Services' requirement, please follow the process outlined below.​​

​1. ​Receive Results of Name Request from BC Registry Services:

After you submit your application to BC Registry Services, BC Registry Services will send you a Results of Name Request document, which will state if BCCNM's consent is required to use the title in the business name.

2. ​Submit documents to BCCNM:

Email the following to  titlerequests@bccnm.ca:

• a copy of the Results of Name Request document from BC Registry Services, and

• ​a completed copy of BCCNM's Use of Title Request form.

​​Please note:

• Our typical turnaround time for reviewing use of title requests is 2–4 weeks after both documents are received.
• This process is to review the use of a protected title in a proposed business name when required to do so per BC Registry Services only.
• You can contact a BCCNM Standards Consultant for questions about BCCNM standards, limits, or conditions related to licensee practice, if needed: Standards Support intake form.
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Rel​ated BCCNM public notices

• ​​Public Advisory – Unauthorized practice of midwifery

Resources​​​

• Health Professions and Occupations Act
  
• Nurses and M​idwives Regulation​
• BCCNM bylaws