Midwives Regulations

t MIDWIVES REGULATIONS PLEASE NOTE This document, prepared by the Legislative Counsel Office, is an office consolidation of this regulation, current to April 1, 2026. It is intended for information and reference purposes only. This document is not the official version of these regulations. The regulations and the amendments printed in the Royal Gazette should be consulted on the Prince Edward Island Government web site to determine the authoritative text of these regulations. For more information concerning the history of these regulations, please see the Table of Regulations on the Prince Edward Island Government web site (www.princeedwardisland.ca). If you find any errors or omissions in this consolidation, please contact: Legislative Counsel Office Tel: (902) 368-4292 Email: legislation@gov.pe.ca Midwives Regulations Table of Contents MIDWIVES REGULATIONS Table of Contents Section Page PART 1 – INTERPRETATION AND DESIGNATION 5 1. Definitions................................................................................................................................................ 5 2. Designation of midwifery ........................................................................................................................ 5 PART 2 – REGISTRATION 6 REGISTER 6 3. Parts of register ........................................................................................................................................ 6 GENERAL REGISTRATION 6 4. General registration .................................................................................................................................. 6 5. Education ................................................................................................................................................. 6 6. Examination ............................................................................................................................................. 6 7. Currency requirements ............................................................................................................................. 7 8. Insurance requirements ............................................................................................................................ 7 9. Additional qualifications .......................................................................................................................... 7 10. Continuing education and competency .................................................................................................... 7 PROVISIONAL REGISTRATION 7 11. Provisional registration ............................................................................................................................ 7 SPECIAL REGISTRATION 8 12. Special registration ................................................................................................................................... 8 PART 3 – DESIGNATIONS AND RESERVED ACTIVITIES 8 13. Designations of members ......................................................................................................................... 8 14. Reserved activities ................................................................................................................................... 8 PART 4 – GENERAL 10 15. Name of corporation .............................................................................................................................. 10 SCHEDULE 11 DRUGS OR CLASSES OF DRUGS THAT MAY BE PRESCRIBED AND ADMINISTERED BY MIDWIVES 11 c t Current to: April 1, 2026 Page 3 PART 1 – INTERPRETATION AND DESIGNATION Midwives Regulations Section 1 REGULATED HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT CHAPTER R-10.1 MIDWIVES REGULATIONS Pursuant to sections 2 and 96 of the Regulated Health Professions Act R.S.P.E.I. 1988, Cap. R-10.1, Council made the following regulations: PART 1 – INTERPRETATION AND DESIGNATION 1. Definitions In these regulations (a) “Act” means the Regulated Health Professions Act R.S.P.E.I. 1988, Cap. R-10.1; (b) “College” means the Prince Edward Island College of Nursing and Midwifery; (c) “Council” means the Council of the College; (d) “midwife” means a member who is registered in the register for midwifery; (e) “midwifery” means the health profession in which a person applies particular knowledge, skills and judgment in (i) pre-conception care, (ii) the care, assessment and monitoring of pregnant clients and babies during pregnancy, labour and the post-partum period, and (iii) the management of spontaneous vaginal deliveries; (f) “post-partum period” means the eight-week period immediately following the birth of a baby; (g) “refresher program” means a refresher program in midwifery consisting of a formal curriculum, a set of individualized assignments of studies and experiences, a set of continuing education credits, a practicum or a combination of these elements. (EC709/22; 148/26) 2. Designation of midwifery Midwifery is designated as a regulated health profession. (EC709/22) c t Current to: April 1, 2026 Page 5 PART 2 – REGISTRATION Section 3 Midwives Regulations PART 2 – REGISTRATION Register 3. Parts of register The register for midwifery is divided into the following parts: (a) general registration; (b) provisional registration; (c) special registration. (EC709/22) General Registration 4. General registration (1) The registrar shall register an applicant in the general registration part where (a) the registrar is satisfied that the applicant meets all the requirements for registration set out in subsection 12(2) of the Act and these regulations and registers the applicant pursuant to subsection 12(3) of the Act; or (b) the Council directs the registrar to register the applicant in the general registration part pursuant to subsection 12(6) of the Act or reinstate the registration of the applicant in the general registration part pursuant to subsection 24(4) of the Act. Reinstatement period (2) For the purpose of subsection 24(1) of the Act, a midwife may apply for reinstatement of registration in the general registration part within three years after a lapse in the registration. (EC709/22) 5. Education For the purpose of clause 12(2)(d) of the Act, the requirements with respect to education are the successful completion of (a) either (i) a baccalaureate program in midwifery offered by an accredited post-secondary institution in Canada, approved by the Council, or (ii) education or training the Council considers substantially equivalent to a program described in subclause (i); (b) a course on fetal health surveillance, approved by the Council; and (c) a course on prescribing and administering controlled drugs and substances, approved by the Council. (EC709/22) 6. Examination For the purpose of clause 12(2)(d) of the Act, the required examination is the Canadian Midwifery Registration Examination or other competency examination approved by the Council. (EC709/22; 229/24) Page 6 Current to: April 1, 2026 t c PART 2 – REGISTRATION Midwives Regulations Section 7 7. Currency requirements For the purposes of clause 12(2)(f), subclause 22(2)(a)(ii) and clause 24(4)(c) of the Act, an applicant shall have done one of the following within the four years immediately preceding the date of the application to demonstrate currency of professional knowledge and skills: (a) successfully completed the educational requirement set out in section 5; (b) actively practised midwifery without any restrictions for at least 1,000 hours and attended at least 30 births; (c) successfully completed a refresher program satisfactory to the registrar. (EC709/22) 8. Insurance requirements For the purposes of clause 12(2)(j), subclause 22(2)(a)(v) and clauses 24(4)(f) and 25(3)(c) of the Act, an applicant or a member registered under these regulations, as the case may be, is required to hold or be covered by professional liability insurance under a policy that provides coverage of not less than $35,000,000 per claim or occurrence and an aggregate limit of not less than $35,000,000 excluding legal or court costs. (EC709/22) 9. Additional qualifications For the purposes of clause 12(2)(k), subclause 22(a)(v.1) and clause 24(4)(g), an applicant shall have up-to-date certification, approved by the Council, in (a) neonatal resuscitation; (b) cardiopulmonary resuscitation; and (c) obstetrical emergency skills. (EC709/22) 10. Continuing education and competency For the purpose of subclause 22(2)(a)(i) of the Act, an applicant shall fulfil the requirements for continuing education and competency established by the Council pursuant to sections 60 and 60.1 of the Act. (EC709/22) Provisional Registration 11. Provisional registration (1) Where an applicant for registration under section 12 of the Act, or the renewal or reinstatement of registration in the general registration part under section 22 or 24 of the Act, does not meet the requirements for currency of professional knowledge and skills, the Council may direct the registrar to register the applicant in the provisional registration part, subject to the term or condition that the applicant successfully completes a refresher program approved by the Council, within a specified time period. Satisfaction of term or condition (2) Where a midwife satisfies the term or condition imposed under subsection (1), the registrar shall register, or renew or reinstate the registration of, the midwife in the general registration part. Subject to supervision (3) A midwife registered in the provisional registration part shall be supervised in practising midwifery by a midwife registered in the general registration part, approved by the Council. c t Current to: April 1, 2026 Page 7 PART 3 – DESIGNATIONS AND RESERVED ACTIVITIES Section 12 Midwives Regulations No renewal or reinstatement (4) Registration in the provisional registration part may not be renewed or reinstated. (EC709/22) Special Registration 12. Special registration (1) Where the Council directs the registrar to register an applicant pursuant to subsection 13(3) of the Act, the registrar shall register the applicant in the special registration part. No renewal or reinstatement (2) Registration in the special registration part may not be renewed or reinstated. (EC709/22) PART 3 – DESIGNATIONS AND RESERVED ACTIVITIES 13. Designations of members For the purpose of subsection 89(1) of the Act, the designations of a midwife include (a) midwife; (b) registered midwife; and (c) RM or R.M. (EC709/22) 14. Reserved activities (1) Subject to subsection (4) and any terms or conditions imposed on the midwife’s registration, a midwife is authorized to perform the following reserved activities: (a) communicating to a person or the person’s personal representative a diagnosis identifying a disease or disorder as the cause of symptoms of the person in circumstances in which it is reasonably foreseeable that the person or the person’s personal representative will rely on the diagnosis; (b) performing any of the following procedures on tissue below the dermis or below the surface of a mucous membrane: (i) an episiotomy or amniotomy, or the repair of an episiotomy or lacerations not involving the anus, anal sphincter, rectum or urethra, (ii) venepuncture or a skin prick to obtain a blood sample, (iii) intravenous cannulation; (c) administering a substance by injection, transfusion, inhalation, mechanical ventilation, irrigation, topical means or enteral or parenteral instillation; (d) putting an instrument, hand or finger (i) beyond the point in the nasal passages where they normally narrow and the pharynx for the purpose of nasopharyngeal suctioning of a newborn, (ii) beyond the opening of the urethra, for the purpose of bladder catheterization, (iii) beyond the labia majora, for the purpose of (A) conducting an internal examination or amniotomy, (B) fitting, inserting or removing a contraceptive device, (C) applying internal fetal electrodes, Page 8 Current to: April 1, 2026 t c PART 3 – DESIGNATIONS AND RESERVED ACTIVITIES Midwives Regulations Section 14 (D) collecting swabs or smears for diagnostic testing, or (E) cervical ripening; (iv) beyond the anal verge, for the purpose of (A) assessing perineal repair, (B) administering a drug, or (C) collecting a rectal swab for a culture; (e) prescribing and administering the drugs or classes of drugs set out in the Schedule to these regulations; (f) prescribing and administering to a client 18 years of age or older, a vaccine recommended in the Canadian Immunization Guide published by the Public Health Agency of Canada; (g) prescribing and administering a vaccine for Hepatitis B to an infant birthed by a client who is Hepatitis B positive; (g.1) prescribing and administering a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) monoclonal antibody to an infant; (h) administering a vaccine prescribed by the Chief Public Health Officer; (i) applying or ordering the application of sound energy for the purpose of monitoring a pregnant client and fetus; (j) applying or ordering the application of electrical energy in the form of phototherapy in a hospital; (k) managing labour and conducting the delivery of a baby; (l) ordering and interpreting screening and diagnostic tests that do not use prescribed forms of energy. Reserved activities, emergency (2) Subject to subsection (4) and any terms or conditions imposed on the midwife’s registration, a midwife is authorized to perform the following reserved activities in an emergency: (a) putting an instrument, hand or finger (i) beyond the larynx, for the purpose of (A) intubating a neonate, or (B) placing a laryngeal mask airway in a neonate, (ii) beyond the labia majora, for the purpose of (A) inserting a uterine tamponade, (B) manually extracting the placenta, or (C) bimanual clot evacuation; (b) performing a procedure on tissue below the dermis or the surface of a mucous membrane for the purpose of umbilical venous catheterization. Special authorization for reserved activity (3) On application the registrar may grant to a midwife who has completed a course on surgical first assist for a caesarean section, approved by the Council, special authorization to perform a procedure on tissue below the dermis for the purpose of electrocautery, wound closure and suturing. Terms and conditions (4) On performing any reserved activity, a midwife shall ensure c t Current to: April 1, 2026 Page 9 PART 4 – GENERAL Section 15 Midwives Regulations (a) the midwife has reasonable access to a medical practitioner or nurse practitioner in respect of the client for the purposes of consultation, referral or transfer; and (b) where the midwife is attending a birth, there is a second attendant present who has the following qualifications: (i) up-to-date certification in neonatal resuscitation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, approved by the Council; (ii) training in neonatal and obstetrical emergencies, approved by the Council. (EC709/22; 229/24; 148/26) PART 4 – GENERAL 15. Name of corporation (1) For the purpose of clause 15(1)(d) of the Act, the name of a corporation applying for a permit to carry on the business of providing the professional services of a midwife shall be, in the opinion of the registrar, in good taste, dignified and professional. Change of name (2) Before changing its name, a health profession corporation shall obtain written confirmation from the registrar that the proposed name meets the requirements of subsection (1). (EC709/22) Page 10 Current to: April 1, 2026 t c Midwives Regulations SCHEDULE SCHEDULE DRUGS OR CLASSES OF DRUGS THAT MAY BE PRESCRIBED AND ADMINISTERED BY MIDWIVES (a) analgesics and sedatives; (b) anesthetics (local); (c) antibiotics; (d) antiemetics; (e) antifungals; (f) antihemmorhagics; (g) antihemorrhoidals; (h) antihistamines; (i) anti-inflammatories; (j) antireflux medications; (k) antivirals; (l) contraceptives; (m) crystalloid or colloid intravenous solutions; (n) epinephrine and sodium bicarbonate; (o) ergot alkaloids; (p) hydrocortisone; (q) immune globulins; (r) lactation aids or suppressants (domperidone); (s) laxatives; (t) narcotics and narcotic agonists; (u) oxytocics; (v) prostaglandins; (w) uterotonics; (x) vitamins, including phytonadione (Vitamin K1). (EC808/22) c t Current to: April 1, 2026 Page 11