APRN committee weighs winding down stalled 'CNM‑I' regulations as no practitioners hold the license

The APRN committee of the Board of Nursing spent the bulk of its meeting reviewing two long‑outstanding regulations that create a 'certified nurse‑midwife independent' (CNM‑I) designation and discussing whether the rules should be completed or allowed to lapse.

The committee chair said the rules were first brought to the APRN committee in June 2022 and were later returned to the Board of Healing Arts for additional work. A member told the group the Board of Healing Arts appears to have let follow‑up fall through during staffing turnover and that, crucially, there are currently no practitioners licensed under the CNM‑I designation.

"I think it's a moot point," said a committee member, arguing that full practice authority now removes the original drivers for the CNM‑I designation and that few, if any, would seek the separate license. Committee members also described the designation's origins: it was originally pursued by some midwives as a response to difficulties with collaborative practice agreements and to provide stability for freestanding birth centers.

Still, the committee agreed that the outstanding work should not be left 'dangling.' The chair said the committee should either finish the regulations or have the appropriate board bring the matter back for action. Members settled on a plan to recruit non‑board certified nurse‑midwives to form an advisory group through the Board of Nursing to review and complete the remaining two regulations, with the goal of resolving the matter in a short interim period.

"I will reach out again and find some people," a committee member said, volunteering to contact potential advisory council participants. Members discussed a target of finding four certified nurse‑midwives to participate and completing the remaining regulatory steps within the coming year.

Why it matters: The discussion affects how the state recognizes an optional midwifery designation and whether residual regulations should remain in force. Committee members framed the choice as either completing the regulations so they are available if needed in the future, or formally closing the rulemaking so midwives are not subject to unused or confusing requirements.

Next steps: Committee members asked staff to attempt recruitment of four certified nurse‑midwives for an advisory group, and to resume regulatory work on the two outstanding CNM‑I items. The committee expects an update at its March meeting.