This consultation period will close on June 30, 2023.
About this consultation:
On February 3, the College launched a consultation process proposing significant changes to the Registration Regulation under the Midwifery Act, 1991. We thank you for your comments and submitted changes to the Ministry on May 1, 2023.
The College has reviewed all of the feedback we received from registrants and stakeholders in our prior consultation. We are now requesting your feedback on one additional change.
We are proposing to add a new registration requirement as follows:
Applicants must provide satisfactory evidence of competency in fetal surveillance
This new requirement would be included in the Registration Regulation and would only take effect when individuals initially apply to the College at the time of entry into practise.
The rationale for adding the requirement is directly tied to the College’s main mandate to protect the public: fetal health surveillance is a core function in the practice of midwifery, and it is not sufficiently covered in the courses currently required for registration (neonatal resuscitation, emergency skills, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
How to provide feedback
You may submit your comments on this page below.
Midwife on May 23, 2023
I agree that it should. We took on an internationally trained midwife once only to find out this skill was completely lacking. Fetal Health Surveillance encompasses both proper IA and EFM which guides every labour.
Midwife on May 21, 2023
Yes I agree this should be included.
Midwife on May 18, 2023
Very important to remain current with these guidelines. (As an aside NRP every year is alot! Why are our standards for this higher than any other provider)
Midwife on May 12, 2023
Yes I agree, with ongoing renewal for competency q2-3 years
Midwife on May 10, 2023
I support FHS for NRs and also GRs every 2-3 years
Midwife on May 3, 2023
I support this requirement. However, it should be a rolling recertification process similar to NRP, CPR.
Midwife on May 3, 2023
I do support a CMO registration requirement to show competency in fetal health surveillance (which includes IA and EFM interpretation). In my opinion, it should not only be mandatory as an initial registration requirement, but similar to CPR and ESW, to be renewed every 2-3 years.
Midwife on May 3, 2023
I fully support adding FHS course to the competency requirement part along with NRP, ESW and CPR. FHS is an essential part of practicing midwifery.
Midwife on May 2, 2023
There needs to be a distinction between Fetal Health Surveillance and Electronic Fetal Monitoring. Being specific about the objective is really important.
Fetal health surveillance could be interpreted as a generalized term to include monitoring fetal wellbeing throughout pregnancy and labour. This could include interpretation of u/s, monitoring growth and FHR/NST/EFM at any point in the pregnancy and/or labour.
I do feel that competency in EFM is very important but question the need to attach a requirement to a Regulation. Prescribing specific competencies can be problematic if the landscape or competency changes and it has proven to be very difficult to update or change Regulations in a timely manner. Also courses in EFM are fairly limited and this further restricts access to acceptable courses.
Does the College feel the argument to including EFM in the Regulations is compelling enough to risk locking it in a Reg? Would it not be better suited to keep within a Standard or Guideline or an integral part of the professional development portfolio and the peer and practice assessments.
Midwife on May 2, 2023
Yes, every 2 years
Midwife on May 2, 2023
This is a definite requirement. Midwives who do not work in full scope or who transfer care for oxytocin will not be able to obtain this competency through day to day management. It should also be required to be renewed every 2 to 3 years.
Midwife on May 2, 2023
I agree that this should be a college requirement, with recertification required every 3 years.
Midwife on May 2, 2023
This is a very good step, and ongoing 2- or 3-year certification should be added.
Midwife on May 2, 2023
Yes – annual competency in fetal health surveillance should be mandatory.
Midwife on May 2, 2023
I agree, and recertification regularly in a short refresher.
Midwife on May 1, 2023
I agree to adding the fetal surveillance requirement to Registration – as well as required periodic recertification.
Midwife on May 1, 2023
I am in agreement with this addition to the registration regulation.
Midwife on May 1, 2023
Fetal Surveillance should definitely be a part of initial registration and an on going competency at annual registration like CPR , NRP , ESW .
Midwife on May 1, 2023
I agree with FHS being a required competency at initial registration and think it should be an ongoing competency with regular recertification required.
Midwife on May 1, 2023
I’m in agreement that this should be required when registering but also should be done as a refresher every 2-3 years
Midwife on May 1, 2023
I agree that at initial registration this is a good idea, but we all become more competent as we use fetal surveillance day in and day out. There are so many other competencies that we have to keep up, that it becomes overwhelming.
Midwife on May 1, 2023
Agree. Ongoing competency. But once you’ve done 10 times can it be required less often ?
Midwife on May 1, 2023
Totally makes sense. I support this change as a requirement for new registrant midwives.
Midwife on May 1, 2023
FHS should be a requirement for initial registration and ongoing every 2 years.
Midwife on May 1, 2023
Agree
Midwife on May 1, 2023
I agree competency in EFM should be required for registration and definitely proof of fluent competency should be necessary to keep practicing as a registered midwife
Midwife on May 1, 2023
I don’t object to this requirement in principle, since I think this is probably something we all recognize as essential, but I’m curious about why this skill would be singled out. Midwives should be able to demonstrate competence in a wide variety of skills not covered by the courses required for registration. We should be able to start IVs, safely prescribe medications within our scope, and conduct normal births, for example. I would like to better understand why this skill specifically is being highlighted as a requirement.
I would hope that “satisfactory evidence of competency” would also be clearly defined.
Midwife on May 1, 2023
I agree
Midwife on May 1, 2023
I disagree with this being mandatory.
This is part of understanding that a midwife should have knowledge about and keep her/himself updated as necessary.
Midwife on May 1, 2023
The program has changed three times since I registered. Recertifying should be required every 2-5 years
Midwife on May 1, 2023
I agree and it should be a regular requirement on renewal every 2-3 years.
Midwife on May 1, 2023
Should be required for certification and recertification.
Midwife on May 1, 2023
I agree with FHS being a required competency at initial registration and I would recommend that it become an ongoing competency with regularly recertification required (such as every 2 years, like emergency skills).
Midwife on May 1, 2023
I am in support of the recommendation of adding the new registration requirement to show competency in fetal health surveillance
Midwife on May 1, 2023
I agree.
Midwife on May 1, 2023
This should absolutely be required.
Midwife on May 1, 2023
If this is going to be added, it should be required to re-certify every few years. Just doing one course for initial registration isn’t going to ensure competency…needs to be ongoing and updated every so often.
Midwife on May 1, 2023
Should require ongoing recertification
Midwife on May 1, 2023
I agree this need to be added as part of competency requirment
Midwife on May 1, 2023
I am in support of adding the new registration requirement to show competency in fetal health surveillance