Overview
Physician assistants and midwives provide primary health care and treatment in conjunction with physicians and in collaboration with other health professionals. Physician assistants provide a range of health services to patients delivering preventive and continuous care toward the management of patients' health. Midwives provide full-course care to women and their babies during the pre- and post-natal period. This unit group also includes professionals, such as genetic counsellors, orthoptists and pathologists’ assistants, who work in collaboration with primary health occupations. Genetic counsellors assess individual or family risk of genetic conditions, and provide information to individuals, families and healthcare providers to promote informed choice. Orthoptists diagnose and treat binocular disorders. Pathologists’ assistants assist at autopsies and examinations of surgical specimens, or perform autopsies under a pathologist’s supervision. Physician assistants usually work under physicians in private practice, including group or team practices, hospitals and clinics. Midwives are employed in hospitals, clinics, birthing centres or in private practice. Genetic counsellors usually work in private practice, hospitals, clinics and research institutes. Orthoptists work under an ophthalmologist, particularly in private practices or clinics. Pathologists’ assistants are usually employed in hospitals and universities.
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Midwives
Provide primary, full-course, care to women and their babies during pregnancy, such as physical examinations, screening and diagnostic tests to monitor the health of mother and baby and make referrals to medical specialists as required
Manage labour and spontaneous normal deliveries
Care for, assess and monitor the health of newborns and refer infants to appropriate medical services as required
Provide advice and guidance regarding care for newborns and young infants.
Employment prospects
Annual salary
$100,476
$144,330
$182,862
Usual Hours Worked Weekly: 62.63
Job openings
Use this interactive map to explore job openings in different regions across B.C.
Strong job outlook
British Columbia
72expected job openings (5-year forecast)
Education and training
Employment requirements
Midwives
Midwives require completion of an undergraduate university degree program in midwifery or its equivalent and a period of supervised practical training.
Registration with a regulatory body is required for midwives in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
Additional information
There is no mobility between these occupations without further training.
Certification requirements
Mandatory: You need the following certification to practice as Midwives in B.C.
- BCCNM Registration - Midwife
BCCNM Registration - Midwife
Confirm with the certifying body that your intended program qualifies you for this certification.
To practice as a midwife in B.C., you must register with the B.C. College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM). Eligibility is achieved by completing a midwifery program at a qualified B.C. institution.
Post-secondary programs in B.C.
Explore programs related to this career offered at post-secondary institutions in B.C.