NARM’s Policy on Use of the CPM Credential

Midwives may not refer to themselves, or knowingly permit anyone else to refer to them, as a CPM, Certified Professional Midwife, or as NARM certified or accredited unless they have formally received the CPM credential and their status is active. Midwives who are in the process of applying for the credential, or who have allowed the credential to expire, or taken inactive status, or had their credential revoked, may not refer to themselves as a CPM or a Certified Professional Midwife, or as certified by NARM. Midwives whose CPM certification has expired may not refer to themselves as a Retired CPM unless they have been granted the status of CPM-Retired by NARM.

Midwives or student midwives in the process of applying for certification may not refer to themselves in any context as a CPM candidate or applicant because there is no such status granted by NARM. Regardless of enrollment in an educational program, a student may not use the title Student CPM. Being a candidate, applicant, or student does not verify meeting the certification requirements until the certificate is granted. If NARM becomes aware that a midwife who is not a CPM has printed or published material referring to themself in the above capacity or has misled the public through any means, a warning letter will be sent with instructions to remove the misinformation from any materials. If the correction is not made, notice will be sent to NARM’s legal counsel for further action.

Acceptable language for students can be “is in training to become a CPM”, and for those with expired certification: “previously certified as a CPM”, as a description of previous or intended certification, but not as a title.