Certification Process

(1) Applications (a) Any individual who desires to practice as a certified professional midwife in Tennessee shall apply for certification to the Council on forms provided by the Council, and shall submit the fees required by Rule 1050-05-.06. (b) It is the intent of this rule that all steps necessary to accomplish the filing of the required documentation be completed prior to filing an application and that all documentation be filed simultaneously. (c) Application review and certification decisions shall be governed by Rule 1050-02-.05, where applicable. (2) Requirements (a) An applicant shall have current certification from the North American Registry of Midwives. It is the applicant’s responsibility to request verification of current NARM certification be submitted directly from NARM to the Council’s Administrative Office. (b) An applicant shall have current certification in CPR, including infant or neonatal resuscitation. The applicant shall submit a notarized photocopy of current certification in CPR with his/her application for certification as a CPM-TN. (c) An applicant shall submit a clear and recognizable, recently taken, bust photograph which shows the full head, face forward from at least the top of the shoulders up. (d) An applicant shall submit evidence of good moral character. Such evidence shall include at least two (2) letters attesting to the applicant’s character. One (1) of the required letters shall be submitted from a health care professional on the signator’s letterhead. No letters from family members or relatives shall be accepted. GENERAL RULES GOVERNING CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL CHAPTER 1050-05 MIDWIVES (e) If an applicant has ever been authorized to practice as a professional midwife in any other state or country, the applicant shall cause to be submitted the equivalent of a Tennessee Certificate of Endorsement from each such licensing agency which indicates the applicant either holds a current or active authorization to practice as a professional midwife and whether it is in good standing, or has held an authorization to practice as a professional midwife which is currently inactive and whether it was in good standing at the time it became inactive. It is the applicant’s responsibility to request this information be submitted directly from each such licensing agency to the Council’s Administrative Office. (f) An applicant shall disclose the circumstances surrounding any of the following: 1. Conviction of any criminal law violation of any country, state or municipality, except minor traffic violations. 2. The denial of professional licensure/certification application by any other state or the discipline of any professional licensure/certification in any state. 3. Loss or restriction of professional licensure/certification. 4. Any civil suit judgment or civil suit settlement in which the applicant was a party defendant including, without limitation, actions involving malpractice, breach of contract, antitrust activity or any other civil action remedy recognized under the country’s or state’s statutory common or case law. 5. Failure of any professional licensure or certification examination. (g) An applicant shall cause to be submitted to the Council’s Administrative Office directly from the vendor identified in the Council’s certification application materials, the result of a criminal background check.