(1) If the department receives a complete application and payment of the fee prescribed in section 16326, the board shall grant a license under this part to the applicant if the applicant meets all of the following:

    (a) Except as provided in subsection (2), he or she has completed an educational program or pathway accredited by the Midwifery Education and Accreditation Council or another accrediting organization approved by the board.

    (b) He or she holds the credential of certified professional midwife from the North American Registry of Midwives or holds an equivalent credential from another midwifery credentialing program that is approved by the board under section 16148 and accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies or another accrediting organization approved by the board.

    (c) He or she successfully passes an examination approved by the department, in consultation with the board. If the education program described in subdivision (a) includes an examination that meets the requirements of section 16178(1), the board may accept passing of that examination as meeting the requirements of this subdivision.

    (2) An applicant who holds the credential described in subsection (1)(b) before January 1, 2020, and has not completed the educational program or pathway described in subsection (1)(a), meets the requirement of subsection (1)(a) if he or she provides evidence that he or she holds a midwifery bridge certificate awarded by the North American Registry of Midwives, or an equivalent credential from another midwifery credentialing program that is approved by the board under section 16148 and accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies or another accrediting organization approved by the board.