MEAC Interim/Provisonal Requirements for Candidates

MEAC Pathway and MEAC to PEP Transition

Effective Oct 1, 2026 – March 31, 2028

The North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) has established an interim/provisional recognition period (October 1, 2026 through March 31, 2028) following MEAC's withdrawal from the U.S. Department of Education recognition. These interim procedures provide stability for graduates and candidates completing all graduation requirements at a MEAC-accredited school/program, as well as for candidates who choose to withdraw from a MEAC-accredited school/program and begin the Portfolio Evaluation Process (PEP), while preserving credential integrity through enhanced clinical reviews.


MEAC Graduate Requirements

For candidates completing their MEAC school/program during the provisional recognition period, the following requirements apply effective October 1, 2026 through March 31, 2028.


After graduating or completing all graduation requirements,  MEAC pathway candidates must complete the following steps: 

Step 1: Create a NARM Certemy Account

Contact NARM at support@narm.org to request a Certemy account.  Include the following in your request:

  1. Your first name, middle initial and last name. 
  2. The email you want associated with your Certemy account
  3. The name of your MEAC-accredited school/program.

Step 2: Complete the NARM Candidate Upload Document Request in your Certemy account

This request will be sent to each school/program to upload the transcript and other required documents.


MEAC-Accredited Schools will complete the following steps once the candidate graduates or completes all graduation requirements.

Step 1: Respond to the Candidate’s Request for Documentation Upload

The school will be emailed a link to complete the NARM Candidate Upload workflow. Using this, the school/program must upload the following documents:

  1. The candidate’s official transcript; and/or
  2. A letter of completion or ready-for-testing documentation, if applicable
  3. MEAC Summary of Clinical Experiences and Skills Verification Form
  4. All individual, preceptor-signed clinical experience to support the candidate’s transcripts.

MEAC to PEP Pathway Transition Requirements

MEAC pathway candidates may request a preliminary evaluation of their prior MEAC education and clinical experiences before deciding whether to withdraw from their MEAC school/program and continue through the Portfolio Evaluation Process (PEP). Completion of the preliminary evaluation does not obligate the candidate to withdraw from the MEAC program or continue through PEP.


MEAC pathway candidates will complete the following steps to begin the Portfolio Evaluation Process (PEP):

Step 1:  Contact NARM Support 

  1. Contact NARM Support to request a Candidate Placement Evaluation when transitioning from a MEAC school/program to PEP.  Include the following in the Support email: 
    1. First name, middle initial and last name. 
    2. The email you want associated with your Certemy account
    3. The name of your MEAC-accredited school.
  2. NARM will assign the MEAC to PEP Candidate Placement Evaluation Workflow, so that the candidate’s prior MEAC education and clinical learning can be evaluated.  
  3. The candidate may complete the preliminary Candidate Placement Evaluation while still enrolled in the MEAC school/program.  
  4. The candidate is not required to withdraw from the MEAC school/program to receive this evaluation. 
  5. The candidate fee for this evaluation is $75.00. 

Step 2:  Complete Candidate Placement Evaluation in Certemy

The candidate must complete the following steps in Certemy:  

  1. Form 100 and required demographic, education, training, and experience information; 
  2. Legal Attestation; 
  3. NARM-Registered Preceptor Attestation; 
  4. NARM Candidate Document Upload request; and 
  5. $75.00 nonrefundable Candidate Placement Evaluation fee. 

Completion of Candidate Placement Evaluation allows NARM to evaluate the candidate’s prior MEAC education.  It does not begin the PEP pathway or obligate the candidate to continue through PEP.  

The NARM Candidate Document Upload request is sent directly to the MEAC school/program to request the following: 

  1. A current, in-progress, or completed transcript; 
  2. MEAC to PEP Preceptor Status Verification Form(s); 
  3. The MEAC Summary of Clinical Experiences and Skills Verification Form; and 
  4. All individual, preceptor-signed clinical experience records supporting the candidate’s summary. 

Step 3:  NARM Reviews the Candidate’s Prior MEAC Education 

NARM will conduct a review of the Candidate Placement Evaluation documents to determine the PEP Phase equivalence.  The review includes: 

  • Dates of MEAC enrollment;
  • Documented clinical experiences; 
  • Preceptor information and status; and 
  • Equivalence with applicable PEP Phase requirements

NARM will provide the candidate with a Candidate Placement Evaluation Summary identifying the candidate’s preliminary Phase placement, the experiences accepted for evaluation, and remaining requirements. The summary will be emailed to the candidate and uploaded to the candidate’s Certemy account.  

Step 4:  Decide Whether to Continue through PEP 

After receiving the Candidate Placement Evaluation Summary, the candidate may decide whether to continue through PEP.  

A candidate who chooses to begin PEP must: 

  1. Formally withdraw from the MEAC school/program.
  2. Contact NARM at support@narm.org to state that they wish to begin with the PEP pathway.  

Candidates may not remain enrolled in the MEAC school/program while simultaneously continuing through the PEP pathway. 

Step 5:  Work with a NARM-Registered Preceptor after Withdrawal from MEAC School/Program 

Any clinical experiences obtained after withdrawal from the MEAC school/program must be signed by a NARM Registered Preceptor, or they will not be accepted towards your clinical requirements 

MEAC clinical experiences completed before the candidate’s withdrawal date may be evaluated as prior MEAC learning when supported by the required school/program records and preceptor-signed documentation.  

Step 6:  Complete the Remaining PEP Requirements 

If the candidate begins PEP, NARM will apply the results of the Candidate Placement Evaluation to the appropriate PEP Phases. The candidate must begin with Phase 1 and continue through Phase 4 to complete the PEP requirements.  Nonrefundable payment is required during each phase.  

Please note that all candidates must complete the following in Phase 3: 

  1. Form 200 - Continuity of Care Forms with chart forms 
  2. MEAC-accredited school/program skills verification and/or Form 201a and Form 206.  

Please note that candidates must maintain their own records/documentation for skills verification from their MEAC-accredited school/program.  NARM will require these during Phase 3.  

Candidates become eligible to take the NARM Examination after completing Phase 3 requirements, examination workflows and payment.  Following completion of all applicable PEP requirements and a passing examination score, the candidate may be issued the CPM credential.  


What Your MEAC-Accredited or Pre-Accredited School/Program Will Do Next:  

Respond to the Candidate’s Request for Documentation Upload

Using this, the school/program must upload the following documents:

  1. The candidate’s official transcript; 
  2. MEAC to PEP Preceptor Status Verification Form; 
  3. MEAC Summary of Clinical Experiences and Skills Verification Form; and 
  4. All individual, preceptor-signed clinical experience and skills records supporting the candidate’s transcripts.

IMPORTANT NOTICE — State Licensure Varies and May Be Affected by MEAC's Change in Federal Recognition Status

The Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) is a national credential administered by NARM. NARM determines eligibility for the CPM examination and CPM certification; NARM does not determine state licensure eligibility. The state regulatory status of the CPM credential and the authorized scope of practice for Certified Professional Midwives are governed by individual state laws and regulations, which vary widely and are subject to change. Because the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC) has withdrawn its petition for continued U.S. Department of Education recognition, some states may interpret this change in ways that affect licensure requirements for graduates of MEAC-accredited programs. NARM strongly advises each applicant to independently verify the current licensure requirements in the state(s) where the applicant intends to practice by contacting the applicable state licensing board or regulatory agency. NARM cannot provide state-specific licensure guidance and makes no representation regarding any applicant's eligibility for state licensure.

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