The College of Midwives of Ontario is mandated to regulate midwifery in the public interest.
Our primary obligation is to ensure that midwives in Ontario are qualified, skilled, and competent to practise so Ontarians can be confident in the care they receive from professional midwives.
We regulate midwives by:
- Registering midwives, so every midwife entering practice has the education and experience to provide quality care.
- Establishing high standards of care and ensuring that midwives maintain them.
- Requiring practising midwives to maintain an active practice and show ongoing improvement in their knowledge and skills.
- Investigating and responding to concerns or complaints about the care provided by midwives.
Midwives provide care in various settings, including homes, clinics, hospitals, and birth centres. All midwives follow the same professional standards of practice. We provide guidance to help them do so.
The College is here to help members of the public. If you have any questions for the College about your midwife or midwifery practice, please call 416.640.2252 or email us at cmo@cmo.on.ca.
What to Expect From a Midwife
Midwives are highly skilled primary care providers who work with people during what can be an exciting yet vulnerable time. Your midwife will work with you through your pregnancy, labour, and the first six to eight weeks after the birth of your baby. Whether you’ve had midwifery care before or not, it’s important to be aware of what you can and should expect from the experience.
How We Work Together
Our work relies on midwives, stakeholders, clients, and members of the public all doing their part to keep midwifery at a high standard in Ontario. Clients, former clients, and members of the public are invited to become involved in the College’s activities.
Midwife Status Check
As regulated health professionals, midwives are listed in a public directory with information about their practice, registration, and conduct. This gives clients and the public a transparent view of registered midwives. The College cannot recommend a midwife to you or help you find a midwife.
Complaints and Concerns about a Midwife
The College takes concerns and complaints about registrants seriously. We’ve developed thorough processes to address each situation appropriately within our mandate.
Unauthorized or Illegal Practice
The College takes the unauthorized and illegal practice of midwifery very seriously. It works to address these instances to ensure the public remains confident in receiving safe and ethical care from qualified midwives.