2006 Minnesota Statutes

147D.17 LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS.
    Subdivision 1. General requirements for licensure. To be eligible for licensure, an
applicant, with the exception of those seeking licensure by reciprocity under subdivision 2, must:
(1) submit a completed application on forms provided by the board along with all fees
required under section 147D.27 that includes:
(i) the applicant's name, Social Security number, home address and telephone number,
and business address and telephone number;
(ii) a list of degrees received from educational institutions;
(iii) a description of the applicant's professional training;
(iv) a list of registrations, certifications, and licenses held in other jurisdictions;
(v) a description of any other jurisdiction's refusal to credential the applicant;
(vi) a description of all professional disciplinary actions initiated against the applicant in
any jurisdiction; and
(vii) any history of drug or alcohol abuse, and any misdemeanor or felony conviction;
(2) submit a diploma from an approved education program or submit evidence of having
completed an apprenticeship;
(3) submit a verified copy of a valid and current credential, issued by the North American
Registry of Midwives or other national organization recommended by the advisory council and
approved by the board, as a certified professional midwife;
(4) submit current certification from the American Heart Association or the American Red
Cross for adult and infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation;
(5) submit a copy of the applicant's medical consultation plan;
(6) submit documentation verifying that the applicant has the following practical experience
through an apprenticeship or other supervisory setting:
(i) the provision of 75 prenatal examinations, including 20 initial examinations;
(ii) supervised participation in 20 births, ten of which must be in a home setting;
(iii) participation as the primary birth attendant under the supervision of a licensed traditional
midwife at an additional 20 births, ten of which must have occurred outside a state licensed
health care facility;
(iv) 20 newborn examinations; and
(v) 40 postpartum examinations;
(7) submit additional information as requested by the board, including any additional
information necessary to ensure that the applicant is able to practice with reasonable skill and
safety to the public;
(8) sign a statement that the information in the application is true and correct to the best
of the applicant's knowledge and belief; and
(9) sign a waiver authorizing the board to obtain access to the applicant's records in this or
any other state in which the applicant has completed an approved education program or engaged
in the practice of traditional midwifery.
    Subd. 2. Licensure by reciprocity. To be eligible for licensure by reciprocity, the applicant
must be credentialed by the North American Registry of Midwives or other national organization
recommended by the advisory council and approved by the board and must:
(1) submit the application materials and appropriate fees as required under subdivision 1,
clauses (1), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), and (9), and section 147D.27;
(2) provide a verified copy from the appropriate body of a current and unrestricted credential
for the practice of traditional midwifery in another jurisdiction that has initial credentialing
requirements equivalent to or higher than the requirements in subdivision 1; and
(3) provide letters of verification from the appropriate government body in each jurisdiction
in which the applicant holds a credential. Each letter must state the applicant's name, date of birth,
credential number, date of issuance, a statement regarding disciplinary actions, if any, taken
against the applicant, and if the applicant is in good standing in that jurisdiction.
    Subd. 3. Temporary permit. The board may issue a temporary permit to practice as a
licensed traditional midwife to an applicant eligible for licensure under this section if the
application for licensure is complete, all applicable requirements in this section have been met,
and a nonrefundable fee set by the board has been paid. The permit remains valid only until the
meeting of the board at which a decision is made on the application for licensure.
    Subd. 4. Licensure by equivalency during transition period. (a) From July 1, 1999, to
July 1, 2001, a person may qualify for licensure if the person has engaged in the practice of
traditional midwifery in this state for at least five years in the period from July 1, 1994, to June
30, 1999, and submits documentation verifying the practical experience described in subdivision
1, clause (6). To be eligible for licensure under this subdivision, the person must also submit the
application materials and the appropriate fees required under subdivision 1, clauses (1), (4),
(5), (6), (7), (8), and (9), and section 147D.27.
(b) An application for licensure under this subdivision must be submitted to the board
between July 1, 1999, and June 30, 2001. Licensure under this subdivision may be renewed
once. Within a two-year period from the date a license is issued by the board in accordance with
this subdivision, the licensed traditional midwife must obtain a certification from the North
American Registry of Midwives as a certified professional midwife. If certification is not obtained
within this time period, the licensed traditional midwife must obtain a new license by applying
for licensure and fulfilling the requirements then in existence for obtaining an initial license
as a licensed traditional midwife.
    Subd. 5. License expiration. Licenses issued under this chapter expire annually.
    Subd. 6. Renewal. To be eligible for license renewal, a licensed traditional midwife must:
(1) complete a renewal application on a form provided by the board;
(2) submit the renewal fee;
(3) provide evidence every three years of a total of 30 hours of continuing education
approved by the board as described in section 147D.21;
(4) submit evidence of an annual peer review and update of the licensed traditional midwife's
medical consultation plan; and
(5) submit any additional information requested by the board. The information must be
submitted within 30 days after the board's request, or the renewal request is nullified.
    Subd. 7. Change of address. A licensed traditional midwife who changes addresses must
inform the board within 30 days, in writing, of the change of address. All notices or other
correspondence mailed to or served on a licensed traditional midwife by the board at the licensed
traditional midwife's address on file with the board shall be considered as having been received
by the licensed traditional midwife.
    Subd. 8. License renewal notice. At least 30 days before the license renewal date, the board
shall send out a renewal notice to the last known address of the licensed traditional midwife on
file. The notice must include a renewal application and a notice of fees required for renewal. It
must also inform the licensed traditional midwife that licensure will expire without further action
by the board if an application for license renewal is not received before the deadline for renewal.
The licensed traditional midwife's failure to receive this notice shall not relieve the licensed
traditional midwife of the obligation to meet the deadline and other requirements for license
renewal. Failure to receive this notice is not grounds for challenging expiration of licensure status.
    Subd. 9. Renewal deadline. The renewal application and fee must be postmarked on or
before July 1 or as determined by the board. If the postmark is illegible, the application shall be
considered timely if received by the third working day after the deadline.
    Subd. 10. Inactive status and return to active status. (a) A license may be placed in
inactive status upon application to the board by the licensed traditional midwife and upon
payment of an inactive status fee.
(b) Licensed traditional midwives seeking restoration to active from inactive status must
pay the current renewal fees and all unpaid back inactive fees. They must meet the criteria for
renewal specified in subdivision 6, including continuing education hours equivalent to one hour
for each month of inactive status, prior to submitting an application to regain licensure status. If
the inactive status extends beyond five years, a qualifying score on a credentialing examination,
or completion of an advisory council-approved eight-week supervised practical experience is
required. If the licensed traditional midwife intends to regain active licensure by means of eight
weeks of advisory council-approved practical experience, the licensed traditional midwife shall
be granted temporary licensure for a period of no longer than six months.
    Subd. 11. Licensure following lapse of licensure status for two years or less. For any
individual whose licensure status has lapsed for two years or less, to regain licensure status,
the individual must:
(1) apply for license renewal according to subdivision 6;
(2) document compliance with the continuing education requirements of section 147D.21
since the licensed traditional midwife's initial licensure or last renewal; and
(3) submit the fees required under section 147D.27 for the period not licensed, including the
fee for late renewal.
    Subd. 12. Cancellation due to nonrenewal. The board shall not renew, reissue, reinstate, or
restore a license that has lapsed and has not been renewed within two licensure renewal cycles
starting July 1999. A licensed traditional midwife whose license is canceled for nonrenewal must
obtain a new license by applying for licensure and fulfilling all requirements then in existence for
initial licensure as a licensed traditional midwife.
    Subd. 13. Cancellation of licensure in good standing. (a) A licensed traditional midwife
holding an active license as a licensed traditional midwife in the state may, upon approval of the
board, be granted licensure cancellation if the board is not investigating the person as a result of a
complaint or information received or if the board has not begun disciplinary proceedings against
the licensed traditional midwife. Such action by the board shall be reported as a cancellation of
licensure in good standing.
(b) A licensed traditional midwife who receives board approval for licensure cancellation is
not entitled to a refund of any license fees paid for the licensure period in which cancellation of
the license occurred.
(c) To obtain licensure after cancellation, a licensed traditional midwife must obtain a new
license by applying for licensure and fulfilling the requirements then in existence for obtaining an
initial license as a traditional midwife.
History: 1999 c 162 s 9