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Midwife Licensing Program

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Authorized by Arizona Revised Statutes 36-751-760 et seq. and Arizona Administrative Code R9-16-191 et seq., the Midwife Licensing Program licenses and regulates midwife services in Arizona.

What is a Midwife?

A midwife is a person who attends a woman in childbirth, but who is not a physician. Midwifery (being "with woman") focuses on providing care to normal childbearing women and their newborns.

In Arizona, there are two types of midwives who may legally assist a woman with childbirth: a certified nurse midwife and a licensed midwife. The midwifery model of care provides quality, personalized services to women seeking low-intervention pregnancy and birth services while still providing access to technical services through appropriate referral when the mother’s condition changes. The midwifery model of care is also cost effective, providing affordable services, decreasing the incidence of low birth weight, and reducing complications and the need for cesarean births.

Training/Licensing

  • Licensed Midwives - Educated in Midwifery
    • Licensed to practice in Arizona by the Office of Special Licensure, Arizona Department of Health Services, on the basis of a state administered examination.
    • Practices under Rules promulgated by the Arizona Department of Health Services.
    • Practices the independent management of care for healthy, low risk women, and their infants during pregnancy, labor and birth, and in the first few weeks after birth. Generally delivers babies in the home.
    • Consults with a physician and refers for medical care if any unusual or abnormal condition arises before, during or after delivery.
    • There are approximately 54 Arizona licensed midwives. Midwives currently practice in 7 counties in Arizona.
    • There is no state approved program of midwifery training in Arizona at this time.
    • *Requires geographically close Level I Centers to receive phone consultation, write orders and accept transport. Also uses the High Risk Perinatal Program, Arizona Department of Health Services, Section on Consultation, Case Management and Transport. Through the High Risk Perinatal Program, transport may be arranged, for example.
  • Certified Nurse-Midwife (C.N.M.) Educated as a Registered Nurse (R.N.) and in Midwifery
    • A Certified Nurse-Midwife is an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner who has specialized education in both nursing and midwifery. They earn graduate degrees, complete a midwifery education program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME), and pass a national certification exam administered by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB). They are licensed by the State Board of Nursing. CNMs are re-certified every 5 years through the AMCB. Within the United States, CNMs attend births within hospitals (96%), in birth centers (2%), and home settings (1.6%). Currently, there are 206 CNMs registered in Arizona.

License Application Forms

Umbilical Cord Blood Banking

For information on how to become a Licensed Midwife contact the Midwife Licensing Program at 602-364-2536.

Note: Files are in PDF format unless otherwise stated.