Information for foreign-trained midwives
(3232) Verified: 2009 08 06
Information on requirements to practise
The profession of midwifery is regulated in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan, but not yet in the other provinces or the territories. Where the profession is regulated, it is illegal to practise midwifery without being licensed through the provincial regulatory body. Provincial regulatory bodies of professional midwives are responsible for setting the standards for entry into the profession and for issuing licences to those who meet established standards of qualifications and practice.
Where the profession is not regulated, employers may still require registration with a provincial/territorial professional regulatory body. Once you know where you will settle and work in Canada, you should contact the appropriate provincial regulatory body and/or the professional association. They will advise you on the current status of midwifery in that province/territory and how to apply for registration, if applicable (see list below).
For further information, you may also contact the following organizations:
- Canadian Midwifery Regulators Consortium (CMRC)
- Secretariat:
College of Midwives of Manitoba
235 - 500 Portage Avenue- Winnipeg MB R3C 3X1 Canada
- Phone : (204) 783-4520
- Fax : (204) 779-1490
- Email : admin@midwives.mb.ca
- http://cmrc-ccosf.ca/
- Canadian Association of Midwives (CAM)
- 442 - 6555 Chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges
- Montreal QC H3S 2A6 Canada
- Phone : (514) 807-3668
- Fax : (514) 738-0370
- Email : admin@canadianmidwives.org
- http://www.canadianmidwives.org
Information on assessment of qualifications
Internationally-trained midwives in all regulated provinces and territories may be required to complete a prior learning and experience assessment process (PLEA), or a bridging program, in order to become registered. Two bridging programs are available in Canada. The Multijurisdictional Midwifery Bridging Project (MMBP) is a pilot project developed jointly by regulators and educators in BC, Alberta, Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. The International Midwifery Pre-Registration Program (IMPP) is offered through Ontario’s Ryerson University. Please consult the regulatory body in your province of choice for current information and requirements.
If you need to have your credentials assessed before coming to Canada, you may contact an evaluation service and consult our Fact Sheet No. 2, "Assessment and recognition of credentials for the purpose of employment in Canada." Although the evaluation services offer expert advice on how qualifications obtained abroad compare with credentials obtained in a Canadian province or territory, the evaluation is advisory only and does not guarantee recognition of your qualifications for employment or certification purposes in Canada. Please note that they charge a fee for their services.
Other relevant information
For a current description of Canadian midwifery, including required competencies and working conditions in each province or territory, you can refer to the information prepared by the Canadian Midwifery Regulators Consortium at http://www.cmrc-ccosf.ca.
Specific provincial information
List of regulatory bodies
Alberta
- Midwifery Health Disciplines Committee, Alberta Health and Wellness
- 10025 Jasper Avenue, 22nd Floor
- Edmonton AB T5J 2N3 Canada
- Phone : (780) 422-2733
- Fax : (780) 415-2800
- Email : heather.cameron@gov.ab.ca
British Columbia
- College of Midwives of British Columbia (CMBC)
- 1682 West 7th Avenue, Suite 210
- Vancouver BC V6J 4S6 Canada
- Phone : (604) 742-2230
- Fax : (604) 730-8908
- Email : information@cmbc.bc.ca
- http://www.cmbc.bc.ca/
Manitoba
- College of Midwives of Manitoba
- 235-500 Portage Avenue
- Winnipeg MB R3C 3X1 Canada
- Phone : (204) 783-4520
- Fax : (204) 779-1490
- Email : admin@midwives.mb.ca
- http://www.midwives.mb.ca/
Northwest Territories
- Northwest Territories Health Professional Licensing (Midwifery)
- Department of Health & Social Services
Box 1320, CST-8- Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9 Canada
- Phone : (867) 920-8058
- Fax : (867) 873-0484
- Email : jeannette_hall@gov.nt.ca
- http://www.hlthss.gov.nt.ca/
Nova Scotia
- Midwifery Regulatory Council of Nova Scotia
- 1690 Hollis Street
P.O. Box 488- Halifax NS B3L 4H9 Canada
- Phone : (902) 424-3218
- Fax : (902) 424-0730
- Email : Anne.Jackman@ns.gov.ca
Ontario
- College of Midwives of Ontario
- 55 St. Clair Avenue West
Suite 813
Box 27- Toronto ON M4V 2Y7 Canada
- Phone : (416) 327-0874
- Fax : (416) 327-8219
- Email : admin@cmo.on.ca
- http://www.cmo.on.ca/
Quebec
- Ordre des sages-femmes du Québec (OSFQ)
- 204, rue Notre-Dame Ouest, bureau 400
- Montréal QC H2Y 1T3 Canada
- Phone : (514) 286-1313
- Fax : (514) 286-0008
- Email : ordresagesfemmes@osfq.org
- http://www.osfq.org/
Saskatchewan
- Saskatchewan College of Midwives
- 1st Floor, TC Douglas Building
3475 Albert Street
- Regina SK S4S 6X6 Canada
- Phone : (306) 787-1874
- Fax : (306) 787-0890
- Email : registrar@saskmidwives.ca
- http://www.saskmidwives.ca.
List of professional associations
Alberta
- Alberta Association of Midwives (AAM)
- Suite 166, #63, 4307-130 Avenue SE
- Calgary AB T2Z 3V8 Canada
- Phone : (403) 660-1696
- Email : info@alberta-midwives.com
- http://www.alberta-midwives.com/
British Columbia
- Midwives Association of British Columbia (MABC)
- # 204 - 636 West Broadway
- Vancouver BC V5Z 1G2 Canada
- Phone : (604) 736-5976
- Fax : (604) 736-5957
- Email : mabc@telus.net
- http://www.bcmidwives.com/
Manitoba
- Midwives Association of Manitoba (MAM)
- P.O. Box 3973, Redwood Postal Outlet
- Winnipeg MB R2W 5H9 Canada
- Email : midwivesofmanitoba@gmail.com
Newfoundland and Labrador
- Association of Midwives of Newfoundland and Labrador (AMNL)
- c/o Room 1017, Southcott Hall
100 Forest Road- St. John's NL A1A 1E5 Canada
- Phone : (709) 777-8140
- http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~pherbert/
Northwest Territories
- Midwives Association of NWT and Nunavut
- P.O. Box 995
- Fort Smith NT X0E 0P0 Canada
- Phone : (867) 872-6253
- Fax : (867) 872-5516
- Email : midwives.nwt.nu@auroranet.nt.ca
Nova Scotia
- Association of Nova Scotia Midwives (ANSM)
- P.O. Box 2722
- Halifax NS B3P 3P7 Canada
- Phone : (902) 582-7133
- Email : kayuka@eastlink.ca
Ontario
- Association of Ontario Midwives (AOM)
- 365 Bloor Street East, Suite 301
- Toronto ON M4W 3L4 Canada
- Phone : (416) 425-9974
- Phone (alternate): 1 866 418-3773
- Fax : (416) 425-6905
- Email : admin@aom.on.ca
- http://www.aom.on.ca/
Prince Edward Island
- P.E.I. Midwives Association
- P.O. Box 756
- Cornwall PE C0A 1H0 Canada
Saskatchewan
- Midwives Association of Saskatchewan (MAS)
- c/o 101 Albert Ave.
- Saskatoon SK S7N 1E6 Canada
- Phone : (306) 933-9867
- Email : info@saskatchewanmidwives.com