Cal. BPC § 2512.5 — California Code / Code bpc / Division 2 / Chapter 5 / Article 24 / Section 2512.5
Section 2512.5
Status: in_force

A person is qualified for a license to practice midwifery when he or she satisfies one of the following requirements:

(a) (1) Successful completion of a three-year postsecondary midwifery education program accredited by an accrediting organization approved by the board. Upon successful completion of the education requirements of this article, the applicant shall successfully complete a comprehensive licensing examination adopted by the board which is equivalent, but not identical, to the examination given by the American College of Nurse Midwives. The examination for licensure as a midwife may be conducted by the Division of Licensing under a uniform examination system, and the division may contract with organizations to administer the examination in order to carry out this purpose. The Division of Licensing may, in its discretion, designate additional written examinations for midwifery licensure that the division determines are equivalent to the examination given by the American College of Nurse Midwives.

(2) The midwifery education program curriculum shall consist of not less than 84 semester units or 126 quarter units. The course of instruction shall be presented in semester or quarter units under the following formula:

(A) One hour of instruction in the theory each week throughout a semester or quarter equals one unit.

(B) Three hours of clinical practice each week throughout a semester or quarter equals one unit.

(3) The midwifery education program shall provide both academic and clinical preparation equivalent, but not identical to that provided in programs accredited by the American College of Nurse Midwives, which shall include, but not be limited to, preparation in all of the following areas:

(A) The art and science of midwifery, one-half of which shall be in theory and one-half of which shall be in clinical practice. Theory and clinical practice shall be concurrent in the areas of maternal and child health, including, but not limited to, labor and delivery, neonatal well care, and postpartum care.

(B) Communications skills that include the principles of oral, written, and group communications.

(C) Anatomy and physiology, genetics, obstetrics and gynecology, embryology and fetal development, neonatology, applied microbiology, chemistry, child growth and development, pharmacology, nutrition, laboratory diagnostic tests and procedures, and physical assessment.

(D) Concepts in psychosocial, emotional, and cultural aspects of maternal and child care, human sexuality, counseling and teaching, maternal and infant and family bonding process, breast feeding, family planning, principles of preventive health, and community health.

(E) Aspects of the normal pregnancy, labor and delivery, postpartum period, newborn care, family planning or routine gynecological care in alternative birth centers, homes, and hospitals.

(F) The following shall be integrated throughout the entire curriculum:

(i) Midwifery process.

(ii) Basic intervention skills in preventive, remedial, and supportive midwifery.

(iii) The knowledge and skills required to develop collegial relationships with health care providers from other disciplines.

(iv) Related behavioral and social sciences with emphasis on societal and cultural patterns, human development, and behavior related to maternal and child health, illness, and wellness.

(G) Instruction shall also be given in personal hygiene, client abuse, cultural diversity, and the legal, social, and ethical aspects of midwifery.

(H) The program shall include the midwifery management process, which shall include all of the following:

(i) Obtaining or updating a defined and relevant data base for assessment of the health status of the client.

(ii) Identifying problems based upon correct interpretation of the data base.

(iii) Preparing a defined needs or problem list, or both, with corroboration from the client.

(iv) Consulting, collaborating with, and referring to, appropriate members of the health care team.

(v) Providing information to enable clients to make appropriate decisions and to assume appropriate responsibility for their own health.

(vi) Assuming direct responsibility for the development of comprehensive, supportive care for the client and with the client.

(vii) Assuming direct responsibility for implementing the plan of care.

(viii) Initiating appropriate measures for obstetrical and neonatal emergencies.

(ix) Evaluating, with corroboration from the client, the achievement of health care goals and modifying the plan of care appropriately.

(b) Successful completion of an educational program that the board has determined satisfies the criteria of subdivision (a) and current licensure as a midwife by a state with licensing standards that have been found by the board to be equivalent to those adopted by the board pursuant to this article.