Where Can Jill Dillard Legally Practice Midwifery With Her New CPM Certification?
The Duggar family now has a certified medical professional in the family. Jill Dillard has announced that she passed the North American Registry of Midwives’ “7-hour comprehensive” exam to obtain her midwife certification. The Duggar daughter is now officially a Certified Professional Midwife, also known as a CPM. So where exactly can Jill Dillard legally practice midwifery?
Derick Dillard shared some “big news” with Duggar fans yesterday. The doting husband congratulated his wife Jill Dillard for officially becoming a Certified Professional Midwife. A feat that the Duggar daughter has been working on for years. Derick noted in the congratulatory note that Jill hoped to use her new certification to “further God’s kingdom.” Derick says that “now begins” the fruit of Jill’s labor as she can begin to “contribute to society” and become productive for “the Kingdom.”
Those words seem to indicate, since the Dillard family plans to stay in Central America for “long-term” mission work, that Jill plans to provide midwife services to woman in Central America. Therefore, many are asking if Jill can legally practice midwifery in El Salvador, Honduras or other Central American countries she may frequent during her mission work.
First, let’s take a look at the certification that Jill received from the North American Registry of Midwives. The NARM sets certification standards for Certified Professional Midwives who are “qualified to provide the Midwives Model of Care.” The organization notes that it is the only midwifery credential that requires knowledge about and experience in out-of-hospital settings. Therefore, CPMs work in settings outside of the hospital such as homes or birth centers.
The certification allows Jill Dillard to legally practice midwifery in 30 U.S. states including Arkansas.
Outside of the United States, Jill also has some options. As the Inquisitr previously reported, El Salvador has no midwifery regulations and many other neighboring countries allow direct entry midwives. Therefore, it seems that Jill will easily be able to practice midwifery in El Salvador without legal issue. Some of the countries simply require apprenticeship with other local midwives before allowing individual practice.
What do you think about the announcement that Jill Dillard is a certified professional midwife through the North American Registry of Midwives? Does it surprise you that she completed her midwife training? Do you think she will provide midwife care to women in Central America as part of her mission work?
[Image Credit: Instagram]
