About NARM CPM Certification

First you will need to determine your Educational Category for Certification. Read all the possibilities below to see where your education fits.


If you are an Entry Level Midwife and Want to Become a NARM CPM . . .

Entry-level PEP candidates must:

Step 1: Complete NARM’s Portfolio Evaluation Process (PEP)

A. Fulfill the General Education Requirements (described in How to Become a Certified Professional Midwife).

B. Complete the General Application Form 100 and PEP Application forms.

C. Provide verification from the preceptor(s) that the applicant has achieved proficiency on each area listed on the Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities Essential for Competent Practice Verification Form.

D. Submit a copy of both sides of current CPR (Adult and either Infant or Neonatal Resuscitation) Certification.

E. Provide an affidavit (notarized statement) from the preceptor(s) asserting that the applicant has developed and utilizes:

1. Practice guidelines;

2. An informed consent document;

3. Forms and handouts relating to midwifery practice;

4. An emergency care plan.

F. Provide three letters of reference (personal, professional and client). All three letters must be sent directly to NARM by the individual providing the reference, not by the applicant.

G. Pass the NARM Skills Assessment given by a NARM Qualified Evaluator (QE).

Upon fulfillment of the above requirements, the applicant will be sent a Letter of Completion of NARM’s Portfolio Evaluation Process (PEP).

Step 2: Apply for Certification.

A. Submit PEP CPM Application Checklist Form 400 (which will be sent to you with your Letter of Completion of NARM’s PEP Process).

B. Send Letter of Completion of NARM’s PEP as verification of experience and skills.

C. Pass the NARM Written Examination.

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If you are a Experience Midwife and Want to Become a NARM CPM . . .

Experienced Midwife PEP Candidates must:

Step 1: Complete NARM’s Portfolio Evaluation Process (PEP)

  1. Fulfill the General Education Requirements (described in the Instructions for Report of Clinical Experience Form 121):
  2. Complete the General Application Form 100 and Experienced Midwife Application forms.
  3. Send a letter of request explaining the applicant’s special circumstances.
  4. Send the best documentation possible that the applicant has fulfilled the experience and skills requirements, including any relevant certificates, diplomas, licenses, and degrees.
  5. Using the instructions for Experienced Midwife applicant on Form 201, provide a written account of how the applicant acquired the skills required for NARM Certification. Details should be listed on Form 201b with codes transferred to Form 201.
  6. Submit a copy of both sides of current Adult CPR and Neonatal Resuscitation Certification.
  7. Provide copies of:
    1. Practice guidelines;
    2. An informed consent document;
    3. An emergency care form.
  8. Provide three letters of reference (personal, professional and client).
  9. Pass the NARM Skills Assessment given by a NARM Qualified Evaluator (QE) or complete the Second Verification of Skills Form 206 (available at www.narm.org/secondskills.htm).
    Upon fulfillment of the above requirements, the applicant will be sent a Letter of Completion of NARM’s Portfolio Evaluation Process (PEP).

Step 2: Apply for Certification.

  1. Submit PEP CPM Application Checklist Form 400 (which will be sent to you with your Letter of Completion of NARM’s PEP Process).
  2. Send Letter of Completion of NARM’s PEP as verification of experience and skills.
  3. Pass the NARM Written Examination.

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If you are an Internationally Educated Midwife and Want to Become a NARM CPM . . .

Internationally Educated Midwife PEP Candidates must:

Step I. Educational Validation

  1. Fill out the Form from International Credentialing Associates, Inc. (ICA)
  2. Notify NARM Applications Department of submission of educational validation to ICA via email at applications@narm.org

Step II. Verification of Experience and Skills

  1. When the NARM Applications Department receives validation from ICA, the Applications Department will inform you of additional forms you may need to submit. Complete the appropriate NARM application forms.
  2. Document ten out-of-hospital births
  3. Satisfy skills verification requirements (if necessary).
  4. Submit a copy of both sides of current Adult CPR and Neonatal Resuscitation Certification.
  5. Submit copies of:
    1. Practice guidelines;
    2. Informed consent document;
    3. Emergency care form.
  6. A Letter of Completion of NARM’s Portfolio Evaluation Process will be sent after all requirements are met.

STEP III. Application for Certification

All Internationally Educated candidates must:

  1. Submit the CPM Application Form (400) and the Letter of Completion of NARM’s PEP Program.
  2. Upon approval of the application materials, the NARM Written Examination will be scheduled. The NARM Written Examination is only given in the U.S.
  3. The Certified Professional Midwife certification will be issued after all requirements are met.
    Based on the information provided to NARM by ICA, some Internationally Educated Midwives will not be required to submit Skills Verification or sit the Skills Examination. The IEM applicant will be notified by NARM Applications if additional documentation is required.

Internationally Educated Midwives who are required to have skill verification will have two options:

Option 1--Take a Skills Assessment with a qualified evaluator.

Option 2--Send in Forms 201 and 202 signed by a CPM with your Application, and

Send in Form 206 (Second Skills Check Off) and Form 207 signed by a different CPM with your Application

When you have passed the Skills Assessment, you will be sent Form 400 and notified that you are eligible to take the Written Examination.

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If you are a Graduate of a MEAC Accredited Program and Want to Become a NARM CPM . . .

Graduates of a MEAC-accredited program must:

A. Fulfill the General Education Requirements

B. Complete the General Application Form 100 and all requirements on Checklist Form 130

C. Submit Continuity of Care—Practical Experience Form 200, or school forms previously approved by NARM, documenting a minimum of three (3) births with women for whom the applicant has provided primary care during at least 4 prenatal visits, birth, newborn exam and 1 postpartum exam.

D. Submit Out-of-Hospital Birth Documentation Form 204, or school forms previously approved by NARM, documenting functioning in the role of primary midwife or primary under supervision for a minimum of 10 births in home or other out-of-hospital settings.

E. Submit Document Veritifcation Form 205b.

F. Send a notarized copy of one of the following:

  • original graduation certificate or diploma, or
  • a final transcript with the school insignia, or
  • a letter of intent of completion from the administrator of the program on school letterhead (this does not need to be notarized) The applicant is responsible for sending a notarized copy of graduation certificate, diploma or final transcript to the NARM Applications Department prior to issuance of certificate.

G. Pass the NARM Written Examination. (If you have already taken the NARM Written Examination as part of your state licensing process, you may submit evidence of having passed it, and you may subtract the examination fee you paid from the certification fees.)

Original certificates, diplomas, final transcipts or letters of intent of completion on school letterhead sent directly to NARM by the school do not need to be notarized.

MEAC graduates are expected to apply for NARM Certification within three years of graduation. If application for certification is made after this time, NARM will require documentation of ten (10) primary births, twenty-five (25) hours of continuing education, and five (5) hours of peer review within the three (3) years prior to the application submission. Form available upon request.

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If you are a CNM/CM and Want to Become a NARM CPM . . .

Candidates certified by the American College of Nurse Midwives Certification Council (ACC) must:

A. Fulfill the General Education Requirements

B. Complete the General Application Form 100 and Checklist Form 140

C. Send notarized copy of current ACC CNM/CM certificate

D. Submit Continuity of Care—Practical Experience Form 200 documenting a minimum of three (3) births with women for whom the applicant has provided primary care during at least 4 prenatal visits, birth, newborn exam and 1 postpartum exam.

E. Submit Out-of-Hospital Birth Documentation Form 204 documenting functioning in the role of primary midwife or primary under supervision for a minimum of 10 births in home or other out-of-hospital settings.

F. Pass the NARM Written Examination.

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If you are Legally Recognized to Practice Midwifery in one of the Following States and Want to Become a NARM CPM . . .

  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Florida
  • Louisiana
  • New Hampshire
  • New Mexico
  • Montana
  • Oregon
  • South Carolina
  • Texas
  • Washington

Candidates with Legal Recognition in States Previously Evaluated for Educational Equivalency must:

A. Fulfill the General Education Requirements

B. Complete the General Application Form 100 and Checklist Form 150

C. If you are licensed/registered in Alaska, Arizona, New Hampshire, or South Carolina, you must fill out the additional forms provided. If you are licensed/registered in Louisiana, contact NARM for additional requirements.

D. Pass the NARM Written Examination. If you have already taken the NARM Written Examination as part of your state licensing process, you may submit evidence of having passed it, and you may subtract the examination fee you paid from the certification fees. (At this time the NARM Written Examination is only given in the United States.)

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If you are Legally Recognized to Practice Midwifery in the United Kingdom (UK) and Want to Become a NARM CPM . . .

Candidates with Legal Recognition in the United Kingdom (UK) must:

A. Fulfill the General Education Requirements

B. Complete the General Application Form 100 and Checklist Form 150

C. Fill out the additional forms provided.

D. Pass the NARM Written Examination. (At this time the NARM Written Examination is only given in the United States.)

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