Midwifery law in Washington state?

[Alison Cole]

Ok, so my understanding had always been that there were only two midwifery schools (SMS & Bastyr) that were recognized by the state of WA and that to get licensure here I would have had to go through one of those programs. However, the other day I met a woman who told me that if you get a CPM, WA now has a program to obtain licensure regardless of schooling. I've heard exactly the opposite in the past. The link on the Midwive's Association of WA page that gets you to the state law on the subject is broken, and google has given me no information, nor has the health dept. website. Anyone know how I can find some more info on this?

And what about malpractice insurance? I believe that I've heard that it's the law that WA midwives carry it, which I have some issues with. Any info on that?

TIA.

[Karin J]

As far as I know, you can get liscensure 2 ways. One is go to a MEAC accredited school like SMS or Bastyr (and there are a few out of state that are MEAC also) or you can do the PEP process. The PEP process requires you to get your CPM by meeting all of the NARM requirements and submitting a portfolio of your work, births, etc to the licensing board. They will either approve you or tell you that you need to do more work in XX area and resubmit. There are a couple of midwives that I know in WA who did not go to SMS or Bastyr. One is in Renton; the other is in Bellingham. They are both LMs.

Malpractice insurance is not required for homebirths in the state of WA. It is, however, required to attend births in a birthcenter.

The last time I checked any of this info was last fall, so of course, it could have changed in that time. I sure hope not; restrictions are tight enough already!

[mwherbs]

oh fun and tricky--- the thing is and pay attention to this- for almost as long as the schools have existed there was a challenge mechansm but they never fully defined it( this was actually against the law- but they didn't care, the state just ignored or put off applicants) there was a nurse living in Walla Walla in the 80's who was a British trained mw who had done 1000's of births in foreign countries and she was told she would have to go to Seattle school in order to get a license, that they would waive 2 years for her but that she would still have to do a year !!! for the longest time I had a copy (I guess rare copy) of the challenge forms the state put out- so no one successfully challenged until maybe 6-7 years ago- but after those gals slipped through my understanding was they closed up the challenge method- so schooling is essential and that it is actually more requirements than just meac accredited schooling- because there are some specific ability to RX and administer drugs and maybe some other hrly requirements and educational requirements that would be supplemental--- talk to the state and tack it down what you will need to do-- forcing the issue with them only makes for a future ax to grind- and you many end up with a license that is in danger of being lost due to repeated investigations --

as for having malpractice to practice it is a requirement if you are going to be a medicaid provider---- you can still be a licensed mw without insurance and practice....

I recently sent the law and regulation links to another thread - let me look and find it and I'll send it on