Approval of midwifery programs

(1) The department must approve an accredited or state-licensed public or private institution seeking to provide midwifery education and training as an approved midwifery program in this state if the institution meets all of the following criteria: (a) Submits an application for approval on a form approved by the department. (b) Demonstrates to the department’s satisfaction that the proposed midwifery program complies with s. 467.009 and the rules adopted thereunder. (c) For a private institution, demonstrates its accreditation by a member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or an accrediting agency approved by the United States Department of Education as an institutional accrediting agency for direct-entry midwifery education programs and its licensing or provisional licensing by the Commission for Independent Education. (2) The department shall, at least once every 3 years, certify whether each approved midwifery program is currently compliant, and has maintained compliance, with the requirements of s. 467.009 and the rules adopted thereunder. (3) If the department finds that an approved midwifery program is not in compliance with the requirements of s. 467.009 or the rules adopted thereunder, or has lost its accreditation status, the department must provide its finding to the program in writing and may place the program on probationary status for a specified period of time, which may not exceed 3 years. (4) If a program on probationary status does not come into compliance with the requirements of s. 467.009 or the rules adopted thereunder, or regain its accreditation status, as applicable, within the period specified by the department, the department may rescind the program’s approval. (5) A program that has its approval rescinded has the right to reapply for approval. (6) The department may grant provisional approval of a new program seeking accreditation status, for a period not to exceed 5 years, provided that all other requirements of this section are met. (7) The department may rescind provisional approval of a program that fails to meet the requirements of s. 467.009, this section, or the rules adopted thereunder, in accordance with procedures provided in subsections (3) and (4).