State Mandated Competency Expansion
Source: Statute Analysis
Some states have chosen to require additional training or demonstrated competencies beyond the national entry-level standards for Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) because their statutes encompass an advanced scope of CPM practice. In these states, CPMs may be expected to provide services such as limited obstetric ultrasound, administering specific medications, or offering gyn care outside the postpartum period, which go beyond the foundational competencies outlined in NARM’s Job Task Analysis. As a result, states have implemented mechanisms—such as supplemental training requirements, clinical verification, or board-approved certifications—to ensure that midwives can legally and safely perform these expanded functions. These requirements reflect both the evolving nature of community-based midwifery and the need to align professional responsibilities with state-defined scopes of practice, while maintaining public safety, provider competence, and access to high-quality, client-centered care.