37-27-201. Qualifications of applicants for license -- educational and practical experience requirements. To be eligible for a license as a direct-entry midwife, an applicant:

(1) must possess a high school diploma or its equivalent;

(2) must be of good moral character and be at least 21 years of age;

(3) shall satisfactorily complete educational requirements in pregnancy and natural childbirth, approved by the board, which must include but are not limited to the following:

(a) provision of care during the antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum, and newborn period;

(b) parenting education for prepared childbirth;

(c) observation skills;

(d) aseptic techniques;

(e) management of birth and immediate care of the mother and the newborn;

(f) recognition of early signs of possible abnormalities;

(g) recognition and management of emergency situations;

(h) special requirements for home birth;

(i) intramuscular and subcutaneous injections;

(j) suturing necessary for episiotomy repair;

(k) recognition of communicable diseases affecting the pregnancy, birth, newborn, and postpartum periods;

(l) assessment skills; and

(m) the use and administration of drugs authorized in 37-27-302;

(4) shall acquire practical experience, which may be attained in a home, clinic, or hospital setting. Practical experience attained in a hospital does not constitute training or supervision by the hospital, nor may a hospital be required to provide practical experience. At a minimum, this experience must include the following types and numbers of experiences acquired through an apprenticeship or other supervisory setting:

(a) provision of 100 prenatal examinations;

(b) observation of 40 births; and

(c) participation as the primary birth attendant at 25 births, 15 of which included continuous care, as evidenced by:

(i) birth certificates from Montana or another state;

(ii) a signed affidavit from the birthing mother; or

(iii) documented records from the person who supervised the births;

(5) shall file documentation with the board that the applicant has been certified by the American heart association or American red cross to perform adult and infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Certification must be current at the time of application and remain valid throughout the license period; and

(6) shall file documentation with the board that the applicant has been certified by the American academy of pediatrics or the American heart association to perform neonatal resuscitation. The applicant's certification must be current at the time of application and remain valid throughout the license period.

History: En. Sec. 7, Ch. 550, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 314, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 14, Ch. 230, L. 1999.