WSR 20-10-001
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
[Filed April 22, 2020, 3:49 p.m., effective April 22, 2020, 3:49 p.m.]
Effective Date of Rule: Immediately upon filing.
Purpose: WAC 246-834-050 Examination requirements for licensure as a midwife, 246-834-060 Initial application requirements for licensure as a midwife, and 246-834-160 Student midwife permit. In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the department of health (department) is amending requirements for examination for midwifery applicants. Currently, applicants must take and pass three examinations to become a licensed midwife: (1) The national examination given by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM); (2) the jurisprudence given by the department; and (3) the state licensing examination given by the department. This emergency rule removes the requirement for the NARM since it is not currently administered. Also, the department is amending the passing score for the Washington state licensure exam from eighty percent to seventy-five percent.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-834-050, 246-834-060, and 246-834-160.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.50.135.
Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest.
Reasons for this Finding: The state of emergency in Washington state due to the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a shortage of midwives as expectant families are moving away from planned hospital births. Washington midwives have seen a significant uptick, both in late transfers and planned out of hospital births, as the population shifts toward midwifery care.
The NARM examination is given at testing sites that are closed due to shelter in place and social distancing practices. Maintaining the NARM as a licensing requirement would essentially put a stop to licensing midwives when that profession is greatly needed.
The midwifery program will maintain the requirement of the jurisprudence examination and the state examination which tests the scientific and practical fitness of candidates to practice midwifery. Also, amending the passing score for the state examination to seventy-five percent will allow a greater number of candidates to successfully pass the examination on the first attempt, while maintaining quality in licensing applicants. Approximately sixty-five percent of candidates pass the state examination on the first attempt. Amending the passing score to seventy-five percent would allow for approximately eighty percent of candidates to successfully pass the examination on their first attempt, thus allowing qualified individuals to become licensed in a more timely fashion.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 3, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 3, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: April 22, 2020.
Jessica Todorovich
Chief of Staff
for John Wiesman, DrPH, MPH
Secretary
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 17-15-024, filed 7/7/17, effective 8/7/17)
WAC 246-834-050Examination requirements for licensure as a midwife.
An applicant for midwifery licensure shall successfully pass:
(1) ((The midwifery examination offered by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM);
(2))) The Washington state licensure examination with a minimum passing score of ((eighty))seventy-five percent; and
(((3)))(2) The midwifery jurisprudence examination with a passing score of one hundred percent, as offered by the department.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 19-15-005, filed 7/5/19, effective 8/5/19)
WAC 246-834-060Initial application requirements for licensure as a midwife.
(1) An applicant for a midwife license shall submit to the department the following:
(a) Initial application on forms provided by the department.
(b) Fees required in WAC 246-834-990.
(c) Proof of high school graduation, or its equivalent.
(d) Proof of at least three years of midwifery training, per RCW 18.50.040 (2)(a), unless the applicant qualifies for a reduced academic period.
(e) Proof of completion of seven clock hours of HIV/AIDS education as required in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 8.
(f) Proof of successful completion of the midwifery jurisprudence exam, as offered by the department.
(2) In addition to the requirements in subsection (1) of this section, an applicant for a midwife license shall also: (((a))) Have transcripts sent directly to the department from the applicant's midwifery school demonstrating that the applicant has received a certificate or diploma in midwifery. An applicant applying under WAC 246-834-065 or 246-834-066 may be exempted from this requirement.
(((b) Have verification of passing the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) examination. Results must be sent directly to the department from NARM.))
(3) Once all application requirements in this section are met, and additional requirements in WAC 246-834-065 or 246-834-066 if applicable, the department will schedule the applicant for the Washington state specific component exam.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 17-15-024, filed 7/7/17, effective 8/7/17)
WAC 246-834-160Student midwife permit.
(1) A student midwife permit may be issued to any individual who has:
(a) Successfully completed an accredited midwifery program as specified in WAC 246-834-135, or is foreign trained as specified in WAC 246-834-065(1);
(b) Obtained a minimum period of midwifery training of at least three academic years as required by WAC 246-834-140;
(c) Met the minimum education requirements required in WAC 246-834-140 (2)(a) and (b);
(d) Documentation of undertaking the care of not less than fifty women in each of the prenatal, intrapartum and early postpartum periods as required by RCW 18.50.040 (2)(c); and
(e) ((Satisfactorily completed the NARM examination required by WAC 246-834-050; and
(f))) Filed a completed application for student midwife permit under WAC 246-834-060 and accompanied by a nonrefundable fee as specified in WAC 246-834-990.
(2) The student midwife permit authorizes the individuals to practice and observe women in the intrapartum period under the supervision of a licensed midwife under 18.50 RCW, an allopathic physician under chapter 18.71 RCW, an osteopathic physician under chapter 18.57 RCW or certified nurse midwife under chapter 18.79 RCW.
(3) Once all application requirements including clinical components are completed the applicant may be eligible to sit for the Washington state licensure examination.