Status of Midwifery in New York
The NYS Professional Midwifery Practice Act (PMPA), passed in 1992, established criteria for licensure of all midwives and created the NYS Board of Midwifery. NYS is the first state in which nurse-midwives and direct-entry midwives are regulated by the same legislation and the same Board using the same designation – Licensed Midwife (LM).
That said, this law and the regulations developed from it were enacted before the CPM credential was fully developed and has not embraced it as a direct route to licensure. CPMs can get licensed in NYS, but they need to demonstrate their credentials to the Board and must take the AMCB exam (used to certified CNMs & CMs). Even so several CPMs have done so (including a Chair of the Board). [For details about education requirements go to The Board’s webpage -- http://www.op.nysed.gov/midwifelic.htm ]
All midwives licensed in NYS must have a bachelor’s degree (in any subject) and attend an accredited midwifery school. It is possible to use the apprenticeship route to become a CPM, but to become licensed in NYS the CPM must be supplemented with further study. Furthermore, the law allows LMs to provide well-woman care, but the CPM does not currently certify that training. LMs must also have some training in pharmacology, but the NYS Education Department has developed a 3 hour course for that.
While CNMs, CMs, and CPMs can get licensed in NY, the primary barrier to independent midwifery and access to licensed midwives for homebirth is the requirement that all LMs have a written practice agreement (WPA) with a physician or hospital with obstetric privileges. This is why access to licensed midwives for homebirth is limited to particular areas of the state. The Board has no control over this requirement; it is written into the law and only the state Legislature can change it.
Education Requirements for Licensure in NYS:
All midwives, regardless of credential or educational background must meet certain criteria to be eligible for licensure in NYS:
-- Bachelor's degree (doesn't matter what subject) -- which you already have.
-- Midwifery education at a NYS approved midwifery school*
-- Can demonstrate competency in particular areas relating to well-woman care and pharmacology (see http://www.op.nysed.gov/midwif.htm check under education)
All midwives must take and pass the AMCB certification exam which is designed for CNMs or CMs, but which all midwives in NYS must take (the NARM exam is not accepted here).
* Several MEAC schools have been deemed acceptable by NYS. CPMs using the PEP process can become licensed, but they must then go to a midwifery school and have a bachelor’s degree. Several CPMs have become licensed in NYS by attending the distance learning program at the National College of Midwifery and obtaining a BS in midwifery.
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