Midwifery in Canada
Midwifery is a regulated health profession in Canada that offers comprehensive, client-centered care throughout pregnancy, labour, birth, and the postpartum period. Registered midwives are primary health care providers who are trained to:
- Conduct prenatal assessments and screenings
- Provide intrapartum and newborn care
- Support breastfeeding and postpartum recovery
- Promote informed choice and cultural safety
- Recognize and respond to complications appropriately
Midwives can attend births at home, in birth centres, or in hospitals, depending on the client’s needs and clinical indications. Midwifery care in Canada is rooted in continuity of care, choice of birthplace, and informed decision-making.
Who is the Canadian Midwifery Regulators Council (CMRC)?
The Canadian Midwifery Regulators Council (CMRC) is a national organization that brings together the regulatory authorities for midwifery in each Canadian province and territory where midwifery is regulated. The CMRC works to ensure that midwifery care across Canada is safe, competent, and consistent, while allowing for jurisdictional differences in legislation and practice.
Key Roles of the CMRC Include:
- Developing and maintaining the Canadian Competencies for Midwives
- Creating and overseeing the Canadian Midwifery Registration Examination (CMRE)
- Supporting pan-Canadian standards for midwifery regulation
- Promoting regulatory excellence and interjurisdictional mobility for midwives
- Ensuring the protection of the public through high professional standards
The Canadian Midwifery Registration Examination (CMRE)
The CMRE is a national, standardized exam administered by the CMRC and is a requirement for registration as a midwife in most Canadian jurisdictions. It is designed to assess whether candidates have the entry-level knowledge, clinical judgment, and decision-making skills necessary to provide safe and effective midwifery care.
Key Features of the CMRE:
- Eligibility: Candidates must have completed an approved midwifery education program in Canada or an internationally educated midwife bridging program recognized by a provincial regulator.
- Format: The exam consists of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) that are case-based and scenario-driven, testing both foundational knowledge and applied clinical reasoning.
- Content Areas:
The CMRE is based on the Canadian Competencies for Midwives and typically includes questions on:- Antepartum care and assessment
- Intrapartum management and emergency response
- Postpartum and newborn care
- Reproductive and sexual health
- Professional responsibilities, ethics, and collaboration
- Competency-Based: The exam is structured around the CMRC’s Competency Framework, which includes:
- Clinical practice
- Professional relationships and communication
- Health and wellness promotion
- Legal, ethical, and professional responsibilities
- Cultural safety and advocacy
- Administration: The CMRE is usually offered twice per year and is administered in English and French.
Why the CMRE Matters
Passing the CMRE confirms that a midwife has met the national standard for safe, entry-level practice in Canada. It is a key step in becoming registered and legally eligible to practice midwifery in regulated provinces and territories.
