Written by AI from public information on 2026-10-26. Fees and rules change and vary by province — confirm with the official body before relying on anything here.
Typical cost
about CA$3,000 to CA$6,000
an estimate in Canadian dollars
Time to earn it
about 4 years
Issued by Canadian Midwifery Regulators Council and provincial regulators
Required to start: Practising midwifery needs registration with the provincial regulator.
About
A registered midwife provides care to people during pregnancy, labour, birth and the early weeks after delivery. Midwives support healthy pregnancies, monitor the health of parent and baby, and help families make informed choices about their care. They also recognise when a situation needs a doctor or other specialist and arrange that care.
Registration is required by law. You cannot practise midwifery or use the title of registered midwife without it. The Canadian Midwifery Regulators Council sets the national exam used for entry to practice. Each province and territory then registers midwives and sets its own rules for who may practise there.
How to get it
Complete an approved midwifery education program
Study in a midwifery program that your regulator recognises. These are university-level programs that combine classroom learning with supervised clinical placements. Internationally educated midwives can apply through an assessment route instead.
Gain supervised clinical experience
Your education must include hands-on experience caring for clients through pregnancy, birth and the period after birth. Your program tracks this, and your regulator will check that you have met its requirements.
Pass the national registration exam
Sit the exam run through the Canadian Midwifery Regulators Council. It tests whether you have the knowledge and judgment needed to practise safely as a new midwife.
Apply to your provincial or territorial regulator
Submit your application, proof of education, exam results and any other documents the regulator asks for. This may include identity checks, a criminal record check and proof of language ability.
Meet the final registration conditions
Most regulators also require current emergency skills certification and professional liability coverage before they grant a licence. Once everything is approved, you are registered and may begin practising.
The exam
The registration exam is run through the Canadian Midwifery Regulators Council. It is a written exam that checks your knowledge of safe, competent midwifery care. It also tests how you apply that knowledge to realistic situations. Your regulator will tell you when you are eligible to sit it and what happens if you need to try again.
Licensed by each province
Each province and territory issues this itself, under its own rules. Midwives are regulated province by province and territory by territory, so the details differ depending on where you want to work. Application forms, fees, extra requirements and renewal rules can all vary. Some regions offer a route for midwives already registered elsewhere in Canada to move their registration. Always check with the regulator in the place you plan to practise before you apply.
Careers that mention it
No Canadian career on the site names this yet.
Keeping it
Registration is not permanent. You must renew your licence regularly with your regulator. Renewal usually means paying a fee, confirming that you are still fit to practise and showing that you have kept your skills up to date. Midwives also need to keep their emergency skills certification and liability coverage current. Missing a renewal deadline can lead to extra steps or a lapse in your right to practise.