Applicants with an undergraduate degree in midwifery from a Canadian University must:

1. Have a four-year, honours bachelor’s degree in midwifery from a Canadian University, with a minimum B+ average (minimum 77%, equivalent to a McMaster 8.5 grade point average) in the final two years of undergraduate study.
   • McMaster’s grade conversion table for Canadian institutions can be found here.
2. Have at least 2 years of full-time (or an equivalent amount of part-time) clinical experience as a practicing midwife.
   • Note: Time spent in clinical settings while a student (e.g., student placements, clerkship, etc.) do not count towards this requirement.
3. Be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language.

Applicants who are a Registered Midwife in Canada and do not have undergraduate degree in midwifery, such as:

• Pre-legislation midwives who are registered in a Canadian jurisdiction,
• Indigenous Midwives who have completed a Community-Based Indigenous Midwifery Program, such as:
  • Tsi Non:we lonnakeratstha Ona:grahsta’ Aboriginal Midwifery Training Program
  • Inuulitsivik Midwife Training Program
• Midwives who are registered in a Canadian jurisdiction after completed a recognized assessment or bridging program, such as:
  • College of Midwives of Alberta: Prior Learning and Experience Assessment process (PLEA)
  • College of Midwives of Ontario: Orientation and Assessment Program
  • Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly known as, Ryerson University in Toronto, Ontario): International Midwifery Preregistration Program (IMPP)
  • University of British Columbia: International Educated Midwives Bridging Program (IEMBP)
  • Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières: Certificat personnalisé en pratique sage-femme au Québec

Applicants who meet the above requirements must also:

1. Be registered to practice midwifery in a Canadian jurisdiction.
2. Have at least 2 years of full-time (or an equivalent amount of part-time) clinical experience as a practicing midwife in Canada.
   • Note: Time spent in clinical settings while a student (e.g., student placements, clerkship, etc.) or completing your training or bridging process do not count towards this requirement.
3. Be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language.

Applicants from outside of Canada who have an undergraduate degree in midwifery must:

1. Have an undergraduate degree in midwifery that is equivalent to a four-year, honours bachelors degree in Canada, with a minimum B+ average (minimum 77%, equivalent to a McMaster 8.5 grade point average) in the final two years of undergraduate study.
2. Be recognized as midwife within the jurisdiction in which they practice.
3. Have at least 2 years of full-time (or an equivalent amount of part-time) clinical experience as a practicing midwife.
   • Note: Time spent in clinical settings while training to be a midwife (e.g., placements, clerkship, etc.) do not count towards this requirement.
4. Be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language.

Applicants from outside Canada should note:

• The Master of Science in Midwifery will not qualify you to practice midwifery in Canada.
• As a primarily online program, students in the Master of Science in Midwifery program are not eligible for Canadian study permits/visas outside of the week-long in-person residencies in the first and final years of the program.

Find more information on our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Determining Degree Equivalency

The World Education Services (WES) provides a free degree equivalency tool, which can help you identify the Canadian equivalent of your academic degree. You can access it here: World Education Services Degree Equivalency Tool (Canada)

Applicants should be aware that we have our own internal degree equivalency review process, which may occasionally differ from the WES results. So, if you have specific questions about your eligibility after using the free WES degree equivalency tool, please Contact Us.

We recognize that the training and registration requirements to become a midwife vary globally.

Applicants from outside of Canada with training other than an undergraduate degree in midwifery must have:

1. A degree (other than in midwifery) equivalent to a four-year, honours bachelor’s degree in Canada.
2. Whatever degrees, training, or credentials are required to be registered as a midwife within their local jurisdiction.
3. Be recognized as midwife within the jurisdiction in which they practice.
4. Have at least 2 years of full-time (or an equivalent amount of part-time) clinical experience as a practicing midwife.
   • Note: Time spent in clinical settings while training to be a midwife (e.g., placements, clerkship, etc.) do not count towards this requirement.
5. Be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language.

Applicants from outside Canada should note:

• The Master of Science in Midwifery will not qualify you to practice midwifery in Canada.
• As a primarily online program, students in the Master of Science in Midwifery program are not eligible for Canadian study permits/visas outside of the week-long in-person residencies in the first and final years of the program..

Find more information on our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Determining Degree Equivalency

The World Education Services (WES) provides a free degree equivalency tool, which can help you identify the Canadian equivalent of your academic degree. You can access it here: World Education Services Degree Equivalency Tool (Canada)

Applicants should be aware that we have our own internal degree equivalency review process, which may occasionally differ from the WES results. So, if you have specific questions about your eligibility after using the free WES degree equivalency tool, please Contact Us.

The Master of Science in Midwifery is not an entry-to-practice program and is not intended to prepare individuals to practice midwifery.

If you are interested in becoming a midwife, McMaster University’s Midwifery Education Program is a four-year undergraduate degree which prepares students to register as midwives. For information on the Program, see their website.

Additional information on becoming a midwife in Canada, including entry-to-practice midwifery programs at other Canadian institutions, can be found on the Canadian Association of Midwives website’s Becoming a Midwife page.

If you are a midwife who received their training outside of Canada and you want to practice midwifery in the Province of Ontario, the College of Midwives of Ontario has a program, which can lead to registration as a midwife. Learn more about the program here: Internationally Educated Midwives Orientation and Assessment Program

If you are a midwife who received their training outside of Canada and you want to practice somewhere else in Canada, you can contact the midwifery regulatory body of the province or territory in which you want to practice. The Canadian Midwifery Regulator Council maintains a list of the regulatory bodies on their website (List of Canadian midwifery regulators).