Become a Member

Full members have the highest level of rights and obligations.

Full membership will be considered by the ICM Board when the association meets all 9 criteria for membership, described later in this document.

There are two sub-categories of full membership:

• Individual Member Association: Consists of a single midwives’ association or a midwifery section within a multi-professional association that meets the 9 criteria for membership.
• Collective Midwives’ Association: Consists of a group of midwives from geographically aligned small countries or entities (e.g. islands) that collectively meet the 9 criteria for membership.

Associate members have restricted rights and obligations.*

Associate membership will be considered by the ICM Board when the association meets some of the 9 criteria for membership. There is no direct application to the category, and qualification is determined by the ICM Board.

Midwives’ associations in this category are moving towards achieving full membership status.

*Restricted Rights of Affiliate and Associate Members

Affiliate and associate members: 

• Must pay annual membership fees 
• May attend ICM Council Meetings (as observers) 
• At ICM’s discretion, may engage or participate in ICM projects and activities 

Affiliate and associate members DO NOT: 

• Speak to issues at ICM Council Meetings 
• Submit motions, discussion points or position statements for Council Meetings 
• Vote at Council or Regional Meetings 
• Submit nominations for Board Member positions 

In order to apply for full ICM membership, your association must meet the following 9 criteria for full membership. The ICM Board may consider organisations that meet only some of the criteria for affiliate or associate membership. 

1. Be an association of midwives, or a multi-professional association comprised of midwives, nurses and other health professionals. In the case of a multi-professional association, there must be a midwifery association or section within the association, with its own chairperson (a midwife, elected by the members of the midwives’ section). Meetings for the midwifery section must be held separately from those of the other professions (Article 3(ii) of the ICM Constitution). The association or midwifery section must primarily consist of midwives. 
2. Have a constitution or governance processes that demonstrate that the single purpose of the midwives’ association or of the midwives’ section of a multi-professional organisation is to conduct the affairs of midwifery and meets the requirements of Article 4(ii) of the ICM Constitution. Meetings must be held at least annually. In the case of a midwives’ section in a multi-professional association, the constitution or governance processes must allow the midwives’ section to make autonomous decisions. Only the midwives’ section may apply for ICM membership, send delegates to ICM Council Meetings and / or apply to co-host regional conferences or the ICM Triennial Congress. 
3. Be located in a country (or countries) that registers midwives and/or legally licenses midwives to practice. 
4. Be located in a country (or countries) that has a pre-service midwifery education programme(s).
5. Be located in a country (or countries) where the ICM Definition of a Midwife and the ICM Essential Competencies are integrated into midwifery education and regulation OR where the midwives’ association is advocating and working towards this integration (see criterion f). 
6. Commit, as an association, to abide by ICM’s Core Documents and implement practices based on respect, trust, dignity and human rights. 
7. Commit, as an association, to promote the country or regional-level acceptance and implementation of ICM’s Definition of a Midwife, Essential Competencies for Midwifery Practice, Global Standards for Midwifery Education, Global Standards for Midwifery Regulation and other ICM Core Documents as may be adopted. 
8. If the association is in a country where there are other midwives’ associations, collaborate to amalgamate into one association. If this is not feasible, the association will work collaboratively with other in-country midwifery association(s) on national strategies to strengthen midwifery including speaking with one voice to policymakers, politicians and government officials. 
9. Be able to pay required membership fees. 

The ICM Board will consider granting associate membership if an application by an association does not demonstrate that the association meets the criteria for full membership.

In order to be considered for ICM affiliate membership: 

• You must be able to pay the membership fees. 
• Regional midwives’ associations must provide an explanation of their governance processes that demonstrate that the association’s single purpose is to conduct the affairs of midwifery and meets the requirements of Article 4(ii) of the ICM Constitution. This could take the form of a constitution. 
• Midwifery regulatory bodies must provide a copy of the Act of Parliament or a legal document that authorizes the body to regulate the midwifery profession. 

The ICM Membership Application form completed and signed (compulsory)

The applying association’s constitution (compulsory)

The association’s governance structure e.g. organigram (compulsory)

The association’s financial report and / or any other document providing information about the association’s revenue including funding and membership fee income for the last year (compulsory)

A formal letter from the president of the association to confirm that all membership criteria have been met (compulsory) (see template)

Provide evidence that:

• midwives are registered and / or legally licenced to practice in the country / region the association is based in (compulsory)
• the ICM Definition of a Midwife and the ICM Essential Competencies are integrated into national midwifery education and regulation OR that the midwives’ association is advocating and working towards their integration (compulsory)

This evidence can be in the form of:

• A letter from the national midwifery regulatory authority or Ministry of Health
• A link to official / government website.

A letter of commitment from the association where the association commits to abide by ICM’s Core

Documents and to nationally promote the acceptance and implementation of ICM’s Definition of a Midwife, Essential Competencies for Midwifery Practice, Global Standards for Midwifery Education, Global Standards for Midwifery Regulation and other ICM Core Documents as may be adopted (compulsory)

The association’s annual work / business plan for the current year (recommended)

The association’s annual report for the last available year (recommended)

A formal letter from the chairperson of the midwives’ section (where appropriate) to confirm that the association meets Criteria 1 and 2 (above) (compulsory) 

Minutes of annual meetings of the midwives’ section for the last available year (compulsory) 

A Letter of Commitment from all national midwifery associations outlining your commitment to working collaboratively on national strategies to strengthen midwifery including speaking with one voice to policymakers, politicians and government officials. Such a commitment is expected of all members and reflects ICM’s Philosophy and Model of Practice, Code of Ethics and Bill of Rights for Women and Midwives – all of which are based on respect, trust, dignity and human rights (compulsory) 

In lieu of a Letter of Commitment, evidence that discussion toward a collaboration is underway between the association applying and other ICM member association(s) from the same country e.g. email or letter (compulsory) 

Explanation from the applicant about rationale for having more than one midwives’ association(s) nationally and why more than one association is required (compulsory). Please provide your answer in the Application Form.

The ICM Membership Application form completed and signed (compulsory)

The association’s constitution (compulsory)

The association’s governance structure e.g. organigram (compulsory)

A Letter of Commitment from the association to abide by ICM’s Core Documents and to promote the national acceptance and implementation of ICM’s Definition of a Midwife, Essential Competencies for Midwifery Practice, Global Standards for Midwifery Education, Global Standards for Midwifery Regulation and other ICM Core Documents as may be adopted (compulsory)

A letter explaining its intention to terminate ICM membership.

A Letter of Commitment from both / all associations and the midwives’ section expressing a commitment to working collaboratively on national strategies to strengthen midwifery including speaking with one voice to policymakers, politicians and government officials. Such a commitment is expected of all members and reflects ICM’s Philosophy and Model of Practice, ICM’s Code of Ethics and ICM’s Bill of Rights for Women and Midwives – all of which are based on respect, trust, dignity and human rights (compulsory) In lieu of a Letter of Commitment, evidence that discussion towards collaboration between the new association and the midwives’ section and all other ICM member association(s) from the same country e.g. email or letter (compulsory) 

Explanation from the applicant about rationale for having more than one midwives’ association(s) nationally and why more than one association is required (compulsory). Please provide your answer in the Application form.