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.
The NARM board has recently initiated a new policy to allow students who are in their last semester of a MEAC school to take the NARM Written Examination prior to graduation. This policy has been created due to the many school graduates who need to pass the NARM Written Examination in order to receive their state midwifery license, but who graduate several months before the regular NARM test dates thus delaying their ability to get their license well past their graduation date.
In the past, a midwife who did not yet have a MEAC diploma had to apply through the PEP process, which cost extra money and also required the NARM Skills Assessment. After graduation, the student could skip the PEP process and go straight to the CPM Application for the NARM Written Examination. Under the new policy, the student who is in the last semester of the MEAC program and who is expected to graduate within six months, and who has met all the NARM experience requirements, and who has the approval of the director of the school, may submit a CPM application and register to take the NARM Written Examination.
The student must first order an application from NARM or download the application forms linked here. The student must fill out the General Application and the CPM Application (not the PEP application), and submit these applications along with the appropriate fee, to NARM Applications. In lieu of the MEAC diploma, the student may submit the specified letter from the director of their school.
When the application materials and the letter have been received and approved by NARM Applications, the candidate will receive notification and a Written Examination Intent Form from the NARM Test Department. The student will then return the Intent Form to the Test Department, indicating the chosen date and site for the NARM Written Examination. After the examination, the student will receive the results from the NARM Test Department. That letter may be used to provide evidence to the state of passing the NARM Written Examination. If the state requires a letter from NARM, the student must request that the letter be sent. (NARM does not notify any state agency of exam results without the written permission of the candidate, except when the candidate registers for the exam through the state agency.)
In order to receive the CPM certificate, the candidate will need to send a notarized copy of the MEAC diploma, or an official transcript from the school indicating completion of requirements, to NARM Applications. No additional payments will be needed, but proof of MEAC graduation will be required.
The letter from the school that must be sent with the CPM application must contain specific language required by NARM and must be on official school stationary and signed by both the candidate and the director of the school. The specific language is included with this letter, and may be retyped, copied or pasted onto the school stationary. The school may then continue to use that form for each candidate unless notified by NARM of any changes.
For more information, or any questions, please call the NARM Test Department at 1-888-353-7089.
The school stationary must contain the address and phone for the school and the name of the director. The wording for the letter on school stationary must include:
Candidates name______________________________________
Address_____________________________________________
City________________________ State______ zip_________
Phone______________________ e-mail__________________
Name of school _______________________________________
Expected date of graduation______________________________
The above student is currently enrolled in this school, is in the final semester of studies, is expected to graduate within six months, and has permission of the director of the school to apply to take the NARM Written Examination.
The student has completed all required clinical skills for CPM certification, including, UNDER DIRECT SUPERVISION OF AN APPROVED PRECEPTOR:
20 births as an active participant
20 births as a primary midwife
75 prenatal exams, including 20 initial exams
20 newborn exams
40 postpartum exams
At least 10 of the required primary births have been in out-of-hospital settings, and continuity of care (four or more prenatal visits, birth, newborn exam, and one postpartum visit) has been provided for at least three clients.
The student has successfully performed all of the skills on the NARM Skills Checklist. A second signature of verification has been obtained for specific skills as designated by the school. These skills have been verified by the school, and documentation of these skills is kept in the school records.
The student has also developed practice guidelines, informed consent, and an emergency care plan.
Candidate's signature ___________________________________________ date____________
Signature of director of school ____________________________________ date___________