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Midwife

Frequently Asked Questions

To take the exam, the applicant must:

  • submit the application;
  • pay the application and exam fees;
  • meet the licensing requirements for selected route to licensure: education, births, care exam, experience/training, etcetera;  
  • receive a notice of eligibility from the department to sit for the exam.

Midwifery program staff members administer the exam individually by appointment in Tumwater. It is a multiple choice, paper-based exam.

You must submit requests for ADA accommodations in writing 30 days before the date of the exam you would like to schedule.

Requests must include:

  • Written verification from a healthcare provider indicating the nature and extent of the disability, and how the disability affects the applicant’s ability to take the exam. The verification should also include recommended accommodations.
  • Requests can be faxed to 360-236-2901, emailed or mailed to:
    Midwifery Program
    P.O. Box 47852
    Olympia, WA 98504-7852

If you need to cancel or reschedule an exam you must contact the Department of Health, Midwifery Program at 360-236-4883 or by email.

The exam has 85 multiple choice questions.

You are allowed one hour and 30 minutes to complete the exam.

No. You are not allowed to bring anything into the testing room.

The cost of the exam is $155 each time you take it. You can pay ahead with your application or pay at the front counter at the time of the exam. The front counter takes cash, check and credit card.

Exam content will come from a variety of sources. The primary references for the exam are:

State law requires a score of at least 80 percent. The legislature established that applicants must pass the examination to become credentialed. The legislature did not establish provisions or resources to use the examination results for purposes other than as a pass-fail mechanism. For this reason, we provide applicants only with pass or fail results for the examination.

Typically you are given your score the day of your exam. If that’s not possible, notices will be by email within 10 working days. Examination scores will not be released to anyone except as provided above unless release is authorized in writing by the applicant.

You must wait at least 14 days from the date of your most recent exam.

State law prohibits us from releasing examination questions. (RCW 42.56.250) Whether you pass or fail the exam, we cannot provide you with the questions you answered incorrectly.