STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR AMENDING OF RULES Pursuant to authority granted under the Midwives Licensing Act, W.S. 33-46-103(j), the Board of Midwifery has filed with the office of the Attorney General and the Legislative Service Office copies of revised rules and regulations which it proposes to file with the Secretary of State. These rules and regulations are drafted to implement the authority of the Board to regulate the practice of Midwifery in Wyoming in accordance with W.S. 33-46-103(j). Chapter 3 Section 3 has been revised in order to clarify the initial licensure requirements. Section 4 has been revised in order to ensure that the rules reflect the most current national requirements for certification as a midwife. Section 7 has been revised to clarify the requirements for reciprocal licensure.
CHAPTER 3 LICENSE REQUIREMENTS Section 1. General Requirements for Licensure. It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the Board receives all documentation necessary to prove to the Board s satisfaction that the applicant meets all the requirements for licensure herein. The applicant shall provide satisfactory evidence to the Board that they: (a) (b) Are legal inhabitants of the United States, and Have a high school diploma or equivalent; (c) Have not been convicted of a crime which in the judgment of the board renders the person unfit to practice midwifery; and (d) board; and (e) Have not provided materially false or misleading information to the Satisfy the requirements established in these rules. Section 2. Certification. The applicant must provide proof of current certification as a certified professional midwife by the NARM. Section 3. Education. The applicant must have graduated from a midwifery education program accredited by the MEAC or a similar successor organization. (a) If the applicant has not graduated from a midwifery education program accredited by the MEAC or a similar successor organization, the applicant shall; (i) have five (5) years of experience practicing as a licensed midwife in another state, or (ii) have five (5) years of experience practicing as a Certified Professional Midwife by NARM in another state; and (b) The applicant shall provide the board with evidence of successful completion of board approved courses in the treatment of respiratory distress in newborns, pharmacology, the treatment of shock, intravenous therapy, and suturing specific to midwives as follows: (i) Treatment of respiratory distress in newborns- current certification in neonatal resuscitation obtained through completion of American Heart Association approved cardiopulmonary resuscitation courses and American Academy of Pediatrics approved neonatal resuscitation courses. 3-1
(ii) Pharmacology specific to midwives- training obtained through completion of MEAC approved courses, or other courses sponsored by or approved by the Board which cover all drugs listed in the formulary. (iii) Treatment of shock- training obtained through completion of MEAC approved courses or other courses approved by the Board. (iv) Intravenous therapy- training obtained through completion of MEAC approved courses or other courses approved by the Board. (v) Suturing specific to midwives- training obtained through completion of MEAC approved courses or other courses approved by the Board. Section 4. Practical Experience. During the course of their educational process, all applicants are expected to acquire the full range of entry-level midwifery skills as defined in the NARM Candidate Information Bulletin (CIB) and on the NARM Skills, Knowledge and Abilities Essential for Competent Practice Verification Form 201. The applicant shall complete a practicum or course of practical experience in midwifery. Completion of clinical training required by NARM for qualification as a Certified Professional Midwife shall satisfy the practicum required for licensure by the Act. Section 5. Background Check. Every applicant shall provide the board fingerprints and other information necessary for a criminal history record background check. Section 6. Personal Interview. The applicant may be required to appear for a personal interview with the board if the Application Review Committee deems an interview appropriate in general, or in a specific case; Section 7. License by Reciprocity. An individual holding a license in good standing to engage in the practice of midwifery under the laws of another state may, upon approval of the board, be issued a license in this state, provided: (a) The applicant is currently licensed or certified by any state with requirements at least as stringent as this state; and (b) The state of licensure or certification requires certification as a certified professional midwife by the NARM in order to obtain licensure or certification in that state; and (c) The applicant has not been sanctioned in another state without resolution satisfactory to the Board. Section 8. Provisional License. The board may issue a provisional license to: (a) Any person eligible for licensure, to allow the applicant to practice 3-2
under the supervision of another midwife, a person licensed under the Medical Practice Act or a certified nurse midwife until the board has the opportunity to act on the person's application for licensure. However, this paragraph shall not apply to any person whose license or certificate is under revocation, suspension, investigation or disciplinary restriction in another state; (i) A provisional license issued under this paragraph is valid until action is taken on the application. (b) Any person (i.e. a student midwife), undertaking the practicum required under this act to practice under the supervision of another midwife, a certified nurse midwife or a person licensed under the Medical Practice Act; one (1) year. (i) A provisional license issued under this paragraph is valid for (c) Any person licensed or certified in another state with requirements at least as stringent as this state to practice for thirty (30) days to provide education and instruction in midwifery or to act as a locum tenens for a midwife licensed under this act. (i) A provisional license is not required in order to provide classroom instruction or continuing education that does not involve participation at a birth. 3-3
CHAPTER 3 LICENSE REQUIREMENTS Section 1. General Requirements for Licensure. It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the Board receives all documentation necessary to prove to the Board s satisfaction that the applicant meets all the requirements for licensure herein. The applicant shall provide satisfactory evidence to the Board that they: (a) (b) Are legal inhabitants of the United States, and Have a high school diploma or equivalent; (c) Have not been convicted of a crime which in the judgment of the board renders the person unfit to practice midwifery; and (d) board; and (e) Have not provided materially false or misleading information to the Satisfy the requirements established in these rules. Section 2. Certification. The applicant must provide proof of current certification as a certified professional midwife by the NARM. Section 3. Education. The applicant must have graduated from a midwifery education program accredited by the MEAC or a similar successor organization. (a) If the applicant has not graduated from a midwifery education program accredited by the MEAC or a similar successor organization, the applicant shall; (i) have five (5) years of experience practicing as a licensed or certified midwife in another state, andor (ii) have five (5) years of experience practicing as a Certified Professional Midwife by NARM in another state; and (b) The applicant shall provide the board with evidence of successful completion of board approved courses in the treatment of respiratory distress in newborns, pharmacology, the treatment of shock, intravenous therapy, and suturing specific to midwives as follows: (i) Treatment of respiratory distress in newborns- current certification in neonatal resuscitation obtained through completion of American Heart Association approved cardiopulmonary resuscitation courses and American Academy of Pediatrics approved neonatal resuscitation courses. 3-1
(ii) Pharmacology specific to midwives- training obtained through completion of MEAC approved courses, or other courses sponsored by or approved by the Board which cover all drugs listed in the formulary. (iii) Treatment of shock- training obtained through completion of MEAC approved courses or other courses approved by the Board. (iv) Intravenous therapy- training obtained through completion of MEAC approved courses or other courses approved by the Board. (v) Suturing specific to midwives- training obtained through completion of MEAC approved courses or other courses approved by the Board. Section 4. Practical Experience. During the course of their educational process, all applicants are expected to acquire the full range of entry-level midwifery skills as defined in the NARM Candidate Information Bulletin (CIB) and on the NARM Skills, Knowledge and Abilities Essential for Competent Practice Verification Form 201. The applicant shall complete a practicum or course of practical experience in midwifery. Completion of clinical training required by NARM for qualification as a Certified Professional Midwife shall satisfy the practicum required for licensure by the Act.The applicant shall: (a) Attend a minimum of twenty (20) births; (b) While functioning in the role of primary midwife under supervision, attend a minimum of an additional twenty (20) births; (i) A minimum of ten (10) of the twenty (20) births attended as primary midwife under supervision must be in homes or other out-of-hospital settings. (ii) A minimum of three (3) of the twenty (20) births attended as primary midwife under supervision must be with women for whom you have provided primary care during at least four (4) prenatal visits, birth, newborn exam and one (1) postpartum exam. (iii) At least ten (10) of the twenty (20) primary births must have occurred within three (3) years of application submission. (c) While functioning in the role of primary midwife under supervision, the licensee must document having completed: exams; (i) (ii) Seventy-five (75) prenatal exams, including twenty (20) initial Twenty (20) newborn exams; and 3-2
(iii) Forty (40) postpartum exams. Section 5. Background Check. Every applicant shall provide the board fingerprints and other information necessary for a criminal history record background check. Section 6. Personal Interview. The applicant may be required to appear for a personal interview with the board if the Application Review Committee deems an interview appropriate in general, or in a specific case; Section 7. License by Reciprocity. An individual holding a license in good standing to engage in the practice of midwifery under the laws of another state may, upon approval of the board, be issued a license in this state, provided: (a) The applicant is currently licensed or certified by any state with requirements at least as stringent as this state; and (b) The applicant holdsthe state of licensure or certification requires current certification as a certified professional midwife by the NARM in order to obtain licensure or certification in that state; and (c) The applicant meets the criteria established in this chapter, and (dc) The applicant has not been sanctioned in another state without resolution satisfactory to the Board. Section 8. Provisional License. The board may issue a provisional license to: (a) Any person eligible for licensure, to allow the applicant to practice under the supervision of another midwife, a person licensed under the Medical Practice Act or a certified nurse midwife until the board has the opportunity to act on the person's application for licensure. However, this paragraph shall not apply to any person whose license or certificate is under revocation, suspension, investigation or disciplinary restriction in another state; (i) A provisional license issued under this paragraph is valid until action is taken on the application. (b) Any person (i.e. a student midwife), undertaking the practicum required under this act to practice under the supervision of another midwife, a certified nurse midwife or a person licensed under the Medical Practice Act; one (1) year. (i) A provisional license issued under this paragraph is valid for (c) Any person licensed or certified in another state with requirements at 3-3
least as stringent as this state to practice for thirty (30) days to provide education and instruction in midwifery or to act as a locum tenens for a midwife licensed under this act. (i) A provisional license is not required in order to provide classroom instruction or continuing education that does not involve participation at a birth. 3-4