Maintaining the Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) credential does not end when initial certification is awarded. NARM requires CPMs to renew their certification on a regular cycle and demonstrate continued professional development, current emergency-response training, participation in peer review, and ongoing use of required practice documents.
For a CPM approaching renewal, the important thing is to treat recertification as an ongoing process rather than something to complete during the final few weeks before expiration. NARM currently requires certification renewal every three years, with the renewal process handled through the CPM’s Certemy account.
How Often Does a NARM CPM Need to Recertify?
NARM CPM certification is renewed every three years. The specific expiration date can be found in the CPM’s Certemy account, which also displays outstanding requirements and their associated due dates.
NARM describes recertification as part of its continuing-competence and quality-assurance process. The purpose is not simply to collect continuing education hours. The renewal requirements are designed to keep certified midwives engaged in professional education, peer review, current CPR and neonatal resuscitation training, cultural awareness education, and the professional practice documents associated with CPM practice.
That makes the three-year period important. A CPM should keep certificates, course records, peer-review documentation, and other supporting information organized throughout the cycle instead of trying to reconstruct everything immediately before submitting the application.
How Many CEUs Are Required for NARM CPM Recertification?
NARM’s current Candidate Information Booklet states that CPMs need 30 continuing education contact hours, equal to 3.0 CEUs, during the three-year certification period. NARM uses the term CEU for continuing education associated with recertification, although the requirements may be documented in contact hours or units.
There is also a specific definition of a contact hour. NARM considers one contact hour to be 55 clock minutes. A half contact hour can be awarded for a session lasting between 30 and 55 minutes, while less than 30 minutes does not qualify for a continuing education contact hour.
The 30-hour requirement should not be viewed as one large block of coursework that must be completed at the end of the cycle. NARM provides several continuing education categories, allowing CPMs to build their professional development from different types of eligible activities.
What Counts Toward the 30 Contact Hours?
NARM allows qualifying education and professional activities to be combined from several categories. The current Candidate Information Booklet identifies categories covering accredited continuing education, other relevant coursework, research and writing, teaching, self-study or relevant life experience, volunteer service, certain MANA statistics activities, and service in an out-of-country maternity center or clinic. Each category has its own maximum number of contact hours that can be applied.
For example, Category 1 can provide up to 25 contact hours and covers accredited continuing education related to midwifery, women’s health, or evaluation and care of the newborn. Category 2 allows up to 10 contact hours for relevant coursework without accredited CEUs. Other categories provide additional ways to document eligible professional learning and service.
This category structure matters because completing 30 hours does not automatically mean every combination of activities will satisfy NARM’s requirements. CPMs should review the current NARM recertification guidance and the applicable category limits before assuming that a particular course, activity, or professional experience will count.
Peer Review Is a Separate Mandatory Requirement
One of the most important points about NARM CPM renewal is that peer review is not simply another optional continuing education activity. Five contact hours of peer review are mandatory for recertification. NARM allows the requirement to be met through participation in peer review and/or attendance at a peer-review workshop.
NARM describes Community Peer Review as routine, confidential, professional, non-punitive, and educational. The process gives midwives an opportunity to review cases with other midwives, discuss care and outcomes, identify areas for improvement, and participate in continuing quality improvement.
Because five contact hours are specifically identified as a mandatory recertification area, a CPM should track peer-review participation separately from general continuing education. Keeping a clear record can make the eventual Certemy submission much easier.
CPR and NRP Must Remain Current
Current emergency-response credentials are another mandatory part of NARM CPM recertification. NARM requires current CPR and neonatal resuscitation training, and its current guidance specifies that accepted courses must include a hands-on skills component. Online-only courses are not accepted for this requirement.
NARM lists approved CPR providers including the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, American Safety and Health Institute Basic Life Support, and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. For neonatal resuscitation, NARM states that courses must be approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Canadian Paediatric Society, or pre-approved by NARM, and the course must be approved for use in the United States or Canada.
This requirement is worth watching well before the CPM expiration date. A certification that expires during the renewal process can create an avoidable problem, particularly when the required course includes an in-person skills component.
Cultural Awareness Education Is Also Required
NARM also requires documentation of a workshop, course, or module addressing cultural awareness within the previous three years. This is listed as a mandatory recertification area rather than something that can simply be replaced with unrelated continuing education.
The broader NARM guidance describes acceptable cultural-awareness education in terms that can include subjects such as bias, racism, disparities in outcomes, communication differences across cultures, economic factors, power differences in relationships, and microaggressions. CPMs should retain documentation showing completion of an acceptable course or module.
Required CPM Practice Documents
Recertification also requires the CPM to affirm current use of several professional practice documents. NARM identifies the Practice Guidelines, Emergency Care Form, Informed Disclosure, and Informed Consent documents as part of the mandatory renewal requirements.
This requirement highlights an important difference between simply collecting CEUs and maintaining the CPM credential. NARM’s renewal process also asks the CPM to confirm that key elements of professional practice remain current.
If you are reviewing the broader path to becoming a CPM, see our guide to NARM CPM eligibility and certification pathway. For candidates who are specifically reviewing professional knowledge before taking the certification examination, our CPM knowledge review resource provides a separate preparation option.
Two Ways to Complete NARM CPM Recertification
Once the mandatory renewal requirements are covered, NARM provides CPMs with two ways to complete the remaining portion of the recertification process. The choice depends on whether the CPM wants to document additional continuing education or prefers to demonstrate current knowledge by retaking the NARM examination.
The first option is to complete the mandatory recertification requirements and add 25 additional contact hours from the eligible continuing education categories. The second option is to complete the mandatory requirements and retake the NARM examination before the current certification expires.
Option 1: Complete the Additional 25 Contact Hours
For CPMs choosing the continuing education route, the additional 25 contact hours can be assembled from a mixture of NARM’s approved education categories. The education should be relevant to the professional knowledge and skills associated with midwifery, women’s health, or evaluation and care of the newborn, depending on the category being used.
The important point is that the 25 hours are in addition to the mandatory areas discussed in Part 1. The five-hour peer review requirement, current CPR and neonatal resuscitation training, cultural awareness education, required practice-document affirmations, and other mandatory items still have to be addressed.
NARM’s CEU system also places limits on how many hours can be claimed from individual categories. A CPM therefore should not assume that completing 25 hours of any combination of professional activities will automatically satisfy the requirement. The activity must fit an eligible category and remain within that category’s applicable limit. ([narm.org](https://narm.org/pdffiles/CIB.pdf))
Option 2: Retake the NARM Examination
A CPM who does not want to complete the additional 25 contact hours can choose the examination route. Under NARM’s current recertification requirements, the CPM completes the mandatory renewal areas and retakes the NARM examination before the existing certification expires.
This option is particularly important for CPMs who are planning their renewal well in advance. It is not simply a way to wait until after certification has expired and then use an examination as a substitute for the normal renewal process. NARM’s recertification guidance specifically describes the examination option as something completed before the certification expiration date.
CPMs considering this route should therefore check the current examination scheduling and application requirements rather than leaving the decision until the final days of their certification period.
How Certemy Is Used for CPM Recertification
NARM uses Certemy as its online platform for certification and recertification activities. CPMs can use their account to maintain certification information, upload documentation, track continuing education, and monitor outstanding renewal requirements.
NARM states that Certemy displays the remaining requirements and due dates associated with a certification. CEUs can also be stored in the system before the CPM is ready to submit the recertification application.
This makes Certemy useful throughout the three-year cycle, rather than only at renewal time. A CPM can keep documentation organized as courses and professional activities are completed, reducing the need to locate certificates and records later.
When Can You Submit a NARM Recertification Application?
Timing matters because NARM does not accept a standard recertification application at any point during the three-year certification period. The current NARM guidance states that recertification can be applied for within 90 days before the certification expiration date.
This creates a useful distinction between completing your requirements and submitting your renewal application. A CPM can complete qualifying education and maintain documentation throughout the three-year period, but the actual recertification application is submitted during the permitted renewal window.
A practical approach is to use the months before that window to confirm that every requirement has been completed, certificates are available, peer-review documentation is organized, and CPR and NRP credentials remain current.
What Happens If CPM Certification Expires?
A CPM’s certification is considered expired if the certification deadline passes without completing recertification or declaring an appropriate inactive or retired status. NARM provides a limited period after expiration during which the CPM can still address the status without going through the full longer-term reactivation process.
Within 90 days after expiration, a CPM can submit the required materials for recertification or declare inactive or retired status, subject to NARM’s applicable requirements and fees.
This does not mean that the normal expiration date should be treated as a suggested deadline. A CPM who allows the certification to expire may face additional requirements, additional fees, and potential interruption in active certification status.
Late Recertification Within 90 Days
NARM states that a recertification application may be submitted up to 90 days after the certification expiration date, with a late fee applying. The current NARM recertification information also explains that expired CPMs can use this period to recertify or declare inactive or retired status.
Because fees and administrative requirements can change, CPMs should verify the current NARM billing schedule and Certemy instructions at the time they submit their application rather than relying on an older renewal checklist.
What Happens More Than 90 Days After Expiration?
The process becomes more involved when a CPM remains expired for more than 90 days. NARM’s reactivation requirements include additional evidence of recent professional activity and continuing education.
Under the current guidance, reactivation after this period requires the CPM to document attendance at five births within the five years preceding reapplication. The CPM must also provide evidence of 30 contact hours completed during the previous three years, including five hours of peer review, along with current CPR and neonatal resuscitation credentials and the required cultural-awareness education.
To reactivate the credential, NARM also requires either retaking the NARM examination or submitting a current state midwifery license or current AMCB certification, according to the applicable reactivation pathway.
Why the Expiration Date Should Be Tracked Carefully
The difference between renewing on time, renewing shortly after expiration, and seeking reactivation later can be significant. The longer the certification remains expired, the more documentation and professional activity may be required.
For that reason, CPMs should treat the expiration date as a firm planning point. A useful renewal calendar can begin several months before expiration by checking CEU totals, confirming peer review, reviewing CPR and NRP expiration dates, completing cultural-awareness education if necessary, and checking the Certemy account for outstanding requirements.
The goal is to enter the 90-day renewal window with the substantive requirements already organized, rather than discovering at that point that a certificate is missing or a required activity has not been completed.
A Simple Three-Year Renewal Strategy
Rather than waiting until the final year, CPMs can divide renewal preparation across the entire certification cycle. After completing a course or qualifying professional activity, save the certificate and record the date and number of contact hours. Track peer review separately, since five hours are specifically required. Monitor CPR and NRP expiration dates independently from general CEUs.
During the final year, review the NARM categories and confirm that the activities being counted actually fit the applicable requirements. Then, as the 90-day application window approaches, use Certemy to verify the remaining items and prepare the recertification submission.
This approach turns recertification into a routine professional-maintenance process instead of a last-minute paperwork exercise.
Keep Documentation for Your NARM Recertification
Good recordkeeping is one of the simplest ways to make CPM recertification easier. NARM’s renewal process requires supporting information for continuing education and other professional requirements, so CPMs should keep certificates, course details, peer-review records, CPR and NRP documentation, and other relevant records together throughout the three-year cycle.
Certemy provides a place to maintain certification information and CEU records, but CPMs should also retain their original supporting documentation. If a course certificate identifies the provider, course title, completion date, and number of contact hours, keep that information available rather than relying entirely on an online account.
NARM Can Audit Recertification Information
Completing a renewal application does not mean that supporting documentation will never be reviewed again. NARM’s CPM practice-document guidance states that random audits may require CPMs to provide copies of documents associated with their professional practice.
The documents specifically identified by NARM include the Practice Guidelines, Informed Disclosure, Informed Consent for Waiver of Midwife’s Plan of Care, and Emergency Care Form. CPMs affirm their current use of these documents during the recertification process.
NARM also requires CPMs to have written Practice Guidelines. The guidelines are part of professional practice and may be requested during an audit, making it important to keep current versions accessible rather than treating the recertification affirmation as a formality.
What Is Inactive Status?
CPMs who are not actively practicing may have circumstances in which inactive status is more appropriate than allowing the credential to expire without taking action. NARM provides an inactive-status option within its certification-maintenance framework.
The key point is that inactive status should be handled through NARM rather than simply ignoring the certification expiration date. NARM’s recertification information explains that a CPM whose certification is approaching expiration can declare inactive or retired status, subject to the applicable process and requirements.
Inactive status can therefore be useful for a CPM who needs to step away from active practice while maintaining an organized relationship with the credentialing organization.
How Can an Expired CPM Certification Be Reactivated?
The requirements become more substantial when certification has remained expired for more than 90 days. NARM treats this situation differently from a normal on-time recertification.
The current reactivation guidance requires documentation of five births attended within the five years before reapplication. The CPM must also document 30 contact hours completed during the previous three years, including five hours of peer review. Current CPR and neonatal resuscitation training and the required cultural-awareness education are also part of the reactivation requirements.
NARM further provides two ways to address the professional-credential component of reactivation: retaking the NARM examination or submitting a current state midwifery license or AMCB certification, depending on the applicable circumstances.
These requirements demonstrate why maintaining the original renewal deadline is much simpler than allowing a certification to remain expired for an extended period.
NARM CPM Recertification Fees
NARM’s published billing information lists different fees depending on when the CPM completes the renewal process. The current schedule lists a $216 recertification fee before expiration and a $270 fee when recertification is completed within 90 days after expiration.
NARM also lists separate fees for inactive status and reactivation. Because certification fees can change, CPMs should confirm the current amount directly through NARM before submitting payment rather than relying on an older article, saved screenshot, or third-party checklist.
Build a NARM CPM Renewal Checklist
A simple checklist can prevent a small missing requirement from delaying renewal. Before entering the final 90-day application window, a CPM can review the following areas:
- Certification date: Confirm the current CPM expiration date in Certemy.
- Continuing education: Review the total contact hours completed during the three-year cycle.
- Peer review: Confirm that the required five contact hours have been completed and documented.
- CPR: Verify that the CPR credential remains current and includes the required hands-on component.
- Neonatal resuscitation: Confirm that the NRP credential meets NARM’s current requirements.
- Cultural awareness: Confirm completion of an acceptable workshop, course, or module within the required three-year period.
- Practice documents: Make sure the required Practice Guidelines and other NARM practice documents are current and in use.
- CEU documentation: Keep certificates and supporting records available.
- Certemy account: Review the outstanding requirements shown in the online portal.
- Application timing: Submit the recertification application during the permitted 90-day renewal window.
A Practical NARM CPM Renewal Timeline
A three-year renewal cycle is easier to manage when it is broken into smaller checkpoints. During the first two years, the focus can be on completing relevant education, participating in peer review, and maintaining current emergency-response credentials. There is no reason to wait until the final year to begin collecting documentation.
During the final year, review the accumulated CEUs against NARM’s current category requirements. Check whether cultural-awareness education has been completed, confirm CPR and NRP status, and make sure the required practice documents remain current.
As the 90-day application period approaches, review Certemy and resolve any outstanding requirements. Keep copies of the documentation used for the application and confirm the applicable NARM fee before submitting payment.
This staged approach also gives a CPM time to correct an issue. If a course does not qualify for the expected number of contact hours or an emergency-response credential needs updating, there is still time to address it.
What CPMs Should Remember About Recertification
NARM CPM recertification is more than reaching a particular CEU total. The current process combines continuing education with peer review, emergency-response training, cultural awareness, professional practice documentation, and timely submission through Certemy.
The standard renewal cycle is three years, with 30 contact hours required through the applicable recertification pathway. Five of those hours must come from peer review, while CPR, neonatal resuscitation, cultural-awareness education, and the required professional-practice affirmations must also be addressed.
CPMs who plan ahead have a much clearer path through renewal. Keeping records throughout the cycle, monitoring the expiration date, checking Certemy regularly, and reviewing NARM’s current requirements before submitting the application can help avoid unnecessary delays or complications.
Final NARM CPM Recertification Checklist
| Requirement | What to Check |
|---|---|
| Renewal cycle | CPM certification is renewed every three years. |
| Continuing education | Complete the applicable CE/contact-hour requirements or use the examination renewal option. |
| Peer review | Complete and document five contact hours. |
| CPR | Maintain a current qualifying CPR credential with the required hands-on component. |
| Neonatal resuscitation | Maintain current qualifying NRP training. |
| Cultural awareness | Complete an acceptable course, workshop, or module within the required period. |
| Practice documents | Confirm current use of NARM’s required professional documents. |
| Certemy | Review requirements, upload documentation, and submit the renewal application. |
| Expiration | Complete renewal before the certification deadline whenever possible. |
For the most current requirements, CPMs should verify their individual renewal status and documentation requirements through NARM and their Certemy account because policies, fees, and administrative procedures can change over time.
Related resource: If you are researching the initial pathway rather than renewal, see our guide to NARM CPM certification eligibility and application requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often does a NARM CPM need to renew certification?
NARM CPM certification is renewed every three years. CPMs should check their individual expiration date in Certemy and complete the applicable renewal requirements before that date.
How many continuing education hours are required for NARM CPM recertification?
NARM’s current Candidate Information Booklet requires 30 continuing education contact hours, or 3.0 CEUs, during the three-year certification period. CPMs should also review the category limits that determine which activities can be counted.
Is peer review required for NARM CPM renewal?
Yes. NARM currently requires five contact hours of peer review or qualifying peer-review activity as part of CPM recertification.
Can a CPM renew after the certification has expired?
NARM allows a limited period after expiration for recertification, with additional requirements and a late fee. If the certification remains expired for more than 90 days, the reactivation process includes additional professional experience, continuing education, and credentialing requirements.
Where is NARM CPM recertification submitted?
NARM uses Certemy for CPM recertification. The platform allows CPMs to maintain certification information, track requirements, store CEU information, and submit applicable renewal materials.
Disclaimer
This article is provided for general educational purposes and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM). Certification requirements, fees, deadlines, and administrative procedures may change. Always verify current requirements directly with NARM before applying for or renewing CPM certification.
