Midwifery Education Pathways Find your path
What is a Midwife? Midwife = With Woman Midwives are professional experts in normal birth Midwives provide care and support to women through pregnancy, labor, birth, and the postpartum
Education Pathways Overview Nurses Direct Entry Certified Nurse Midwife Certified Certified Midwife Professional Midwife Licensed Midwife Lay Midwife Licensed to practice in all 50 states Licensing varies by state
Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) Educational Requirements Programs in WV Program Length Place of Practice Licensure and Certification
CNMs work primarily in hospital and birth center settings
Direct Entry Midwives (DEMs) Education pathways include self study, apprenticeship, midwifery schools, or university-based programs Work primarily out of the hospital May be certified or licensed by the North American Registry of Midwives, by individual state boards, or may remain uncertified and unlicensed
DEMs work primarily out of the hospital
Certified Midwife (CM) Educational Requirements Programs in WV Program Length Place of Practice Licensure and Certification Bachelor s Degree N/A Typically 18-24 months Primary home births and birth centers Licensed in NY, NJ, RI, and MA, by American College of Nurse Midwives The Certified Midwife (CM) is a new credential from the ACNM that does not require a nursing degree but is otherwise similar to the CNM credential. CM programs are generally available in the university setting
Certified Professional Midwife Educational Requirements Programs in WV Program Length Place of Practice Licensure and Certification (CPM) Bachelor s Degree not required, must pass national certifying exam Sacred Mountain Midwifery School Varies, 3-5 years recommended Primary home births and birth centers Certified nationally by NARM, licensing varies by state, licensing not available in WV Both DEMs and CNMs are eligible to take the CPM exam CPMs must complete educational core content requirements, skills requirements and experiential training including out of hospital births Trained to practice the Midwife Model of Care Midwifery schools are available to provide needed education and skills training
CPM Training Options: 1. NARM Portfolio Evaluation Process (PEP) Phase I: Verification of Experience and Skills I. Fulfill and document the General Education Requirements II. Provide verification from the preceptor(s) that you have achieved proficiency on the required skills and knowledge, and an affidavit asserting you have developed an utilized required forms. III. Provide three professional letters of reference IV. Pass the NARM Skills Assessment Phase II: Written Certification Exam I. Submit the CPM application form and letter of Completion of NARM's PEP program II. Schedule and complete the Written Certifacation Exam After you pass the exam, you will receive your CPM certificate
CPM Training Options: 2. Attend a MEAC Accredited School Attend MEAC School The Midwifery Education Accreditation Council has accredited 10 Midwifery training programs in the country. Program length varies from 1-4 years, with a 2-3 year average length. Pass Written Certification Exam Upon completion of a MEAC program, the NARM Written Certification Exam must be passed.
Licensed Midwife (LM) Educational Requirements Programs in WV Program Length Bachelor s Degree not required Sacred Mountain Midwifery School Varies Educational pathway commonly includes a combination of formal courses, self study, and apprenticeships Place of Practice Primary home births and birth centers Licensure and Certification Licensure varies by state, licensure not available in WV
Other Direct Entry Midwife Educational Requirements Programs in WV Program Length Place of Practice No requirements Sacred Mountain Midwifery School, apprenticeships available Varies Primary home births and birth centers The term Direct Entry Midwife may also include uncertified or unlicensed midwives who are educated through informal routes such as self-study or apprenticeship rather than through a formal program. May also be referred to as traditional midwives, lay midwives, traditional birth attendants, and independent midwives Licensure and Certification Not licensed or certified
Midwifery Programs in WV Marshall University and Shenandoah University partnership for CNM program: o http://www.su.edu/health Sacred Mountain Midwifery School: preparation for CPM exam and direct entry midwifery o www.smmidwifery.com
Sacred Mountain Midwifery School
Women need you! The profession of midwifery is both rewarding and increasingly important: Planned home births enable families to have a safe and natural birthing experience The rate of C-sections in the U.S. has risen to over 33%. However, at home your risk of transferring for a c-section is 3.8% Rates of medical intervention are significantly lower in planned home births than in hospital births
Intervention rates for 5418 planned home births attended by certified professional midwives and hospital births in the United States % Source: Johnson, Kenneth. Betty Anne Davis. Outcomes of planned home births with certified professional midwives: large prospective study in North America. BMJ online. 2005;330:1416 (18 June).
Helpful Resources Midwives Alliance of North America o www.mana.org Midwives Alliance of West Virginia o www.midwivesallianceofwv.com Citizens for Midwifery o http://cfmidwifery.org North American Registry of Midwives o www.narm.org Midwifery Education Accreditation Council o www.meacschools.org WV Friends of Midwives o www.friendsofmidwives.com
References Citizens for Midwifery. Frequently Asked Questsions. http://cfmidwifery.org/midwifery/ faq.aspx. Accessed 27 May 2010. Midwives Alliance of North America. Definitions. http://mana.org/ definitions.html#laymidwife. Accessed 27 May 2010. North American Registry of Midwives. How to Become a NARM Certified Professional Midwife (CPM). http://www.narm.org/htb.htm. Accessed 27 May 2010. Midwifery Education Accreditation Councile. http://meacschools.org/index.php. Mothers Naturally. Home Childbirth Safety.http://www.mothersnaturally.org/ birthathome/safety.php. Accessed 27 May 2010. Johnson, Kenneth. Betty Anne Davis. Outcomes of planned home births with certified professional midwives: large prospective study in North America. BMJ online. 2005;330:1416 (18 June).