The Department of Health (DOH) certifies, licenses, and regulates heath professions in Washington State.  Most of these health professions are governed by a board, commission, or advisory committee which are supported by DOH.  Each health profession's scope of practice is defined in law, and must fully cover the costs of its licensing and disciplining activities through fees for licensing, renewal, registration, certification, and examination.  All health professions are subject to the Uniform Disciplinary Act (UDA).
 
A licensed midwife renders medical care for compensation to a woman during prenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum stages, up to the newborn or up to two weeks of age.  To be licensed in Washington, a midwife must:

• have a high school education;
• be at least 21 years of age;
• possess a certificate or diploma from a midwifery program;
• obtain a minimum of three years of midwifery training;
• meet minimum educational requirements;
• for a student midwife during training, undertake the care of at least 50 women in each of the prenatal, intrapartum, and early postpartum periods;
• observe an additional 50 women in the intrapartum period; and
• pass an examination.

 
Foreign candidates must present with the application a translation of the foreign certificate or diploma made by and under the seal of the consulate of the country in which the certificate or diploma was issued.
 
A midwife licensed under this chapter may obtain and administer prophylactic ophthalmic medication, postpartum oxytocic, vitamin K, Rho immune globulin—human, and local anesthetic, and may administer other drugs or medications prescribed by a physician.

A licensed midwife may seek a limited prescriptive license extension and an additional license extension to include medical devices and implants.  The license extensions do not apply to newborn care.
 
To obtain a limited prescriptive license extension, a candidate must complete additional study and training requirements including a number of obstetrical pharmacology training hours consistent with the training hours required for other similar prescribers and additional training consistent with guidelines commensurate with other professions providing family planning and treating common prenatal and postpartum conditions and any other sources.
 
To obtain an additional license extension to include medical devices and implants, a candidate must complete:

• the study and training requirements to obtain a limited prescriptive license extension;
• a minimum number of completed procedures under supervision;
• trainings as required by the device manufacturers; and
• any additional training consistent with guidelines commensurate with other professions providing family planning and treating common prenatal and postpartum conditions and any other relevant sources.

 
A midwife licensed in Washington State may obtain and administer prophylactic ophthalmic medication, postpartum oxytocic, vitamin K, Rho immune globulin—human, and local anesthetic, and may administer other drugs or medications prescribed by a physician, an advanced registered nurse practitioner, a naturopath, or a physician assistant acting within the practitioner's scope of practice.
 
A midwife licensed in the state of Washington who has been granted a limited prescriptive license extension by the Secretary of Health may prescribe, obtain, and administer antibiotic, antiemetic, antiviral, antifungal, low-potency topical steroid, and antipruritic medications and therapies, and other medications and therapies as defined in the midwifery legend drugs and devices rule for the prevention and treatment of conditions that do not constitute a significant deviation from normal in pregnancy or postpartum, and hormonal and nonhormonal family planning methods.

A midwife licensed in the state of Washington who has been granted an additional license extension to include medical devices and implants by the Secretary of Health may prescribe, obtain, and administer hormonal and nonhormonal family planning medical devices.
 
Foreign candidates seeking a license to practice midwifery in Washington State are not required to have the foreign certificate or diploma translation be made under the seal of the consulate of the country where the certificate or diploma was issued.

DOH is required to conduct rule-making in collaboration with the Washington Medical Commission and the Midwifery Advisory Committee.