Certified Professional Midwife Licensing and Regulation.

HB 5501 establishes a licensing and regulatory framework for Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) in West Virginia. The bill requires applicants to hold a current NARM certification, complete MEAC-accredited education or a NARM portfolio evaluation, and meet basic qualifications like being 18+ and having a high school diploma. It mandates that licensed midwives renew their licenses every two years by providing proof of current NARM certification and participation in perinatal outcome data reporting. This bill directly affects midwives seeking to legally practice in West Virginia by creating new licensing standards under the state's regulatory authority.