(1) A license to practice as a direct-entry midwife in the state of Montana may be issued at the discretion of the board provided the applicant completes and files with the board an application for licensure and the required application fee. Applications for licensure from out-of-state applicants shall expire one year from the date of receipt of the application. The candidate must meet the following requirements:

(a) The candidate holds a current, valid, and unrestricted license to practice as a direct-entry midwife in another state or jurisdiction, which was issued under standards equivalent to or greater than current standards in this state as established in 37-27-201 or 37-27-203, MCA, and the administrative rules. Official written verification of such licensure status must be received by the board directly from the other state(s) or jurisdiction(s);

(b) The candidate shall supply certified transcripts sent directly from an institute of higher education, or certificates of completion from other courses of study, indicating the candidate has successfully completed educational requirements in pregnancy and natural childbirth, approved by the board as per ARM 24.111.601;

(c) The candidate shall supply proof of successful completion of all parts of the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) examination with a scaled score of 75 or higher. Candidate scores on the examination must be forwarded by the exam agency directly to the board;

(d) Candidates who were licensed without sitting for the NARM examination shall supply proof of successful completion of a qualifications examination (acceptable to the board) administered by the licensing authority of the state or jurisdiction granting the license;

(e) The candidate shall supply written documentation of good moral character consisting of three letters of reference, at least one of which must be from a licensed direct-entry midwife;

(f) The candidate shall supply a copy of the laws and rules from the state of licensure, which were in effect at the time the license was granted in the other state.

(2) Out-of-state applicants for direct-entry midwife licensure who do not meet the experience qualifications in (1)(a) and 37-27-201 or 37-27-203, MCA, whichever is applicable at the time of application, through an apprenticeship or other supervisory setting, but who participated as the primary birth attendant at 25 births, 15 of which included continuous care, may be approved by the board to enter directly into direct-entry midwife apprenticeship license Level III-B.

(a) The applicant must submit for board review and approval: a proposed supervisor agreement; a formal outline of the indirect supervision communication; and proof of the 25 births including 15 continuous-care births.

(i) The 25 births and 15 continuous-care births shall be evidenced by:

(A) the signed birth certificate as primary birth attendant;

(B) an affidavit from the birth mother; or

(C) documented records from the person who supervised the births to include prenatal records, birth records, and postpartum records.

(ii) Documentation of each of the 15 continuous-care births as defined in 37-27-103, MCA, must include at least five prenatal exams, one of which must have been performed before the beginning of the 28th week of gestation, as determined by last menstrual period or sonogram, and include one postpartum exam.

(iii) Ten of the 15 continuous-care births must have been performed under the direct supervision of a qualified supervisor.

(b) To complete Level III-B, at least eight continuous-care births must be supervised by a Montana-licensed direct-entry midwife.