The road to Midwifery being designated as a Health Discipline began in 1982, when the Alberta Council and Register of Domiciliary Midwives Association (ACRDMA) applied to the Health Disciplines Board for designation of domiciliary midwifery under the Health Disciplines Act. The request was declined on this occasion and in 1986 the ACRDMA and the Western Nurse-Midwives Association merged to form the Alberta Association of Midwives (AAM). In 1989 the AAM applied to the Health Disciplines Board for designation of the discipline of Midwifery. The Board completed its review into midwifery in 1991 and several issues were raised which required further study before a final decision could be reached. The Government established the Midwifery Services Review Committee to examine these issues and in 1992 Midwifery was finally designated as a Health Discipline under the Health Disciplines Act.
In 1993 the Midwifery Regulation Advisory Committee was established to review the recommendations for Midwifery Qualification, Education and Assessment standards required for midwives to practice in Alberta. This review was completed in 1995 and an Assessment Subcommittee was appointed to implement the process for assessment of individuals interested in becoming registered as midwives.
In 1997 The Midwifery Health Discipline Committee (MHDC) was appointed and became the governing body for midwives. The MHDC is responsible for reviewing the applications and the results of the Assessment Process for all midwives who apply for registration in Alberta.
Since July 17, 1998, midwives have been registered and licensed to practice in Alberta. Currently, registration is issued under the authority of the Midwifery Health Disciplines Committee of Alberta Health and Wellness. Midwives must meet the requirements for registration annually.
Until April 2009, clients had to pay privately for midwifery care, which was typically between $3000-$3500. In October of 2008 the Minister of Health Ron Liepert announced that midwifery care would become a publically funded service. As April 1, 2009, Alberta Health Services directly pays each midwifery practice for the courses of care they provide. Each Midwife is allowed a maximum of 40 courses of care a year (clients).