(a) No person shall practice or offer to practice or hold oneself out to practice midwifery unless approved under this Article.

(b) A Certified Nurse Midwife approved under this Article may practice midwifery in a hospital or non-hospital setting. The Certified Nurse Midwife shall consult, collaborate with, or refer to other providers licensed under this Article, if indicated by the health status of the patient. A Certified Nurse Midwife approved under this Article is authorized to write prescriptions for drugs in accordance with N.C. Gen. Stat. § 90-18.8(b).

(b1) A Certified Nurse Midwife with less than 24 months and 4,000 hours of practice as a Certified Nurse Midwife shall (i) have a collaborative provider agreement with a collaborating provider and (ii) maintain signed and dated copies of the collaborative provider agreement as required by practice guidelines and any rules adopted by the joint subcommittee of the North Carolina Medical Board and the Board of Nursing. If a collaborative provider agreement is terminated before the Certified Nurse Midwife acquires the level of experience required for practice without a collaborative provider agreement under this Article, the Certified Nurse Midwife shall have 90 days from the date the agreement is terminated to enter into a collaborative provider agreement with a new collaborating provider. During the 90-day period, the Certified Nurse Midwife may continue to practice midwifery as defined under this Article.

(c) Graduate nurse midwife applicant status may be granted by the joint subcommittee in accordance with N.C. Gen. Stat. § 90-178.4 (1983, c. 897, s. 1; 2000-140, s. 60; 2023-14, s. 4.3(c).)