Policies are approved by the Council to guide the professional knowledge, skills and judgment needed to practice midwifery safely in Nova Scotia.
In the Midwifery Act and Regulations, one of the prerequisites to active-practising licensure is graduation from an approved Canadian university midwifery education program.
Applicants seeking licensure for clinical midwifery practice must meet continuing competency requirements as set out in the Regulations Respecting Midwifery, section 12 (b):
Policy on clinical experience shortfalls
Council members shall at all times act in compliance with Council By-Laws.
Policy on competency assessment and bridging programs
Continuity of care is a fundamental principle of Canadian midwifery practice and is highly valued by clients seeking midwifery services.
Registered midwives with an active-practising (clinical) or provisional (clinical) licence must be certified every two years in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Midwives must display their licences at their place of employment.
Registered midwives with an active practising (clinical) or provisional licence (clinical) must complete a course or assessment in obstetric emergency skills every two years.1
Registered midwives with an active practising (clinical) or provisional (clinical) licence must complete a program or course in fetal health surveillance (FHS) every three (3) years.
List of required equipment and supplies for home birth setting.
All Nova Scotia Health Authority/IWK sites where midwifery services are offered must have formal arrangements in place for transport of the woman and/or newborn from home birth to hospital when needed.