WV SB993

Creates a new licensure system for professional midwives in West Virginia, administered by the Board of Registered Nurses, with initial and renewal fees capped at $500

Requires applicants to hold a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) credential from the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) and complete either a MEAC-accredited program or NARM's portfolio evaluation process

Licenses are valid for two years and require proof of current NARM certification, continuing education, peer review, and participation in a perinatal outcomes data registry for renewal

Mandates licensed midwives consult with obstetrical providers for high-risk conditions including complete placenta previa, HIV infection, pre-eclampsia, preterm labor, and uncontrolled diabetes, and maintain written emergency transfer plans

Provides a 12-month transition period allowing midwives currently practicing with CPM credentials to obtain licensure without additional requirements, and establishes misdemeanor penalties up to $250 for practicing without a license