Occupational Profile

Midwife

Midwives are primary health care professionals who provide continuity of care for women and babies throughout pregnancy, birth and a six week period after birth.

Related Video(s)
Midwife (5:03)

Avg. Salary $84,245.00
Avg. Wage $46.94
Minimum Education 4 years post-secondary
Outlook N/A
Employed 2,100
In Demand High

NOC & Interest Codes

The Midwife is part of the following larger National Occupational Classification (NOC).

Midwives NOC 3232.1

Midwives

NOC code: 3232.1

SOCIAL: Interest in analyzing data for the purpose of counselling and educating women concerning diet and pre-natal health practices; and in reassuring patients and providing emotional support during labour and the post-natal period
INNOVATIVE: Interest in operating medical equipment to examine patients and monitor fetuses during labour; and in conducting normal deliveries
DIRECTIVE: Interest in instructing patients on how to care for themselves and their infants; and in providing ongoing advice and support

Reading Interest Codes

A Quick Guide

The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation. It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective and Social.

Each set of 3 interest codes is listed in order of importance.

A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.

A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.

Learn More

Duties

Updated Apr 10, 2017

Midwives are responsible for the care of women and babies in uncomplicated situations. In general, midwives:

educate women about pregnancy, labour, delivery and the postpartum period, and encourage them to make their own health care decisions
examine women during pregnancy and assess their physical and psychological well-being
identify potentially abnormal conditions during pregnancy and advise clients about alternative care options
consult or refer clients to other health care professionals in the event of potentially abnormal conditions or according to client wishes
counsel and educate women concerning diet, exercise and other prenatal health practices
monitor the condition of the mother and baby during labour
use hands on skills to assist women in birthing babies
provide emotional support to clients and their families during pregnancy, labour, birth and the postpartum period
administer emergency measures and arrange for immediate contact with physicians when abnormal conditions arise
examine and care for newborn infants
educate clients about breast feeding, infant care, and newborn growth and development
see clients during the postnatal period, instruct them in how to care for themselves and their babies, and provide ongoing support
counsel individuals and conduct classes about pregnancy and childbirth, parenthood, family planning and related topics
maintain records and write reports
order laboratory investigations and ultrasounds
participate in maternity health care teams in hospitals and community health settings.

Working Conditions

Updated Apr 10, 2017

Midwives work in clients' homes and in clinics, hospitals and birth centres. They may be required to stand, kneel, bend or squat for long periods of time. Some lifting up to 20 kilograms is required.

Midwives may be on call 24 hours a day and work long, unpredictable hours. Some midwives work together so no one person has to be on call all of the time.

Strength Required Lift up to 20 kg

Skills & Abilities

Updated Apr 10, 2017

Midwives need the following characteristics:

a genuine concern for people and the ability to accept them as they are
good health, stamina and energy
manual dexterity
flexibility
the maturity and emotional stability required to instill confidence and deal with emergency situations
good organizational skills.

They should enjoy counselling and educating women and their families.

Educational Requirements

Updated Apr 10, 2017

In Alberta, regulations and competencies for the practice of midwifery were established in 1994. The Midwifery Regulations Advisory Committee (MRAC) has established a framework for registering midwives and regulating midwifery practice.

Many of the midwives currently practising in Alberta have taken their training in other provinces or countries. On an ongoing basis, they take further education courses such as neonatal resuscitation and Red Cross basic resuscitation workshops.

Related Education

The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.

Mount Royal University

Bachelor of Midwifery

For a broad list of programs and courses that may be related to this occupation try searching using keywords.

Midwives must have reliable vehicles and the equipment required to practice midwifery.

Certification Requirements

Updated Apr 10, 2017

Midwife

Midwife

Midwives provide comprehensive prenatal, labour, birth and postpartum care to clients experiencing normal pregnancy, and provide counselling, education and emotional support related to the clients' physical, psychological and social needs.

Legislation

Midwife is a protected title under Alberta's Health Disciplines Act and Midwifery Regulation. To call yourself a Midwife or practice as a Midwife, you must be registered by the Midwifery Health Disciplines Committee. Registered members provide health services listed in the Regulation.

Education

Registration requires successful completion of: (1) an approved midwifery or refresher program within a specified time period prior to application, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, and (2) an approved examination. For official, detailed information about registration requirements, visit the Alberta Health website or contact the Registrar for Midwives.

Working in Alberta

Midwives who are registered by and in good standing with a regulatory organization elsewhere in Canada may be eligible for registration in Alberta if registered practitioners in the two jurisdictions have similar responsibilities and competencies. For more information, see "What if I am already certified in another province or territory?" and the Alberta regulatory authority (below).

To find more information on the certification process for internationally educated midwives see Midwife Registration Process on the AlbertaCanada.com website.

Contact Details

Registrar
College of Midwives of Alberta
215, 1935 Avenue NE
Calgary, Alberta
Canada T2E 7C8
Phone number: 780-422-2733
Email: registrar.cma@shaw.ca

Employment & Advancement

Updated Apr 10, 2017

In Alberta, midwives are self-employed. They have hospital privileges in the Calgary Health Region, Peter Thompson Health Region and Westview Health Region, and at the Royal Alexandra and Stony Plain General hospitals in the Edmonton Region. Negotiations are underway in other health regions. Effective April 1, 2009, Midwifery is funded by the health care system in Alberta.

Midwives are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 3124: Allied Primary Health Practitioners. In Alberta, 92% of people employed in this classification work in the Health Care and Social Assistance industry.

The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the Health Care and Social Assistance Industry)
location in Alberta
employment turnover (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions)
occupational growth (work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions that never existed before)
size of the occupation.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Wage & Salary

Updated Apr 10, 2017

Midwives are independent practitioners. No salary data is available.

Midwives are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 3124: Allied primary health practitioners.

According to the 2015 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, Albertans in the Allied primary health practitioners occupational group earned on average from $40.75 to $48.37 an hour. The overall average wage was $46.94 an hour. For more information, see the Allied primary health practitioners wage profile.

Related High School Subjects

Science
- Biology
- Chemistry
Health, Recreation and Human Services
- Health Care Services
- Human and Social Services