Midwifery Program 2023 – The Midwifery Institute

The Midwifery Institute's Midwifery Diploma Program

The Midwifery Institute is proud to announce the release of the Diploma in Midwifery, For Fall 2023. We are accepting applications UNTIL MAY 15

This 8 session program for DIRECT ENTRY MIDWIVES encompasses both online coursework and an extensive clinical apprenticeship. It is an exceptionally in-depth and rigorous course of study that exceeds the NARM CPM requirements for certification and enables students to sit the NARM exam (if they choose to do so) after completing the PEP process. There are certainly easier programs out there, but few will compare.

You must complete the entire course, including the apprenticeship, and meet the skills and experience requirements to graduate. Our curriculum has been developed to exceed standards set by the ICM (International Confederation of Midwives) and MEAC (Midwifery Education Accreditation Council).

This is not a Nurse-Midwife Program.

Program Format

Our Course consists of 8 Sessions. Students may choose to attend between 1-3 sessions per year, each session containing 16 Units. Apprenticeship is not included in these time estimates.

Cohort A will be enrolled full-time year round, with 3 sessions per year, 16 weeks per session. 2.5 years of classroom work total.
Cohort B will be enrolled full-time on a school year schedule, with a summer break, 16 weeks per session, 4 years of classroom work total.
Cohort C will have 32 weeks to complete each session, with summer breaks.8 years of classroom work total.

Admissions Requirements

Submit your application and required application Fee
A Minimum of one year working in a birth profession including as a Doula, Monitrice, or Apprentice with attendance of at least 5 births, Or complete our Doula certification course.
Highschool Diploma or GED
Admissions Essay
Interview with The Executive Director

After Acceptance

Pay the Tuition Deposit
Provide Documentation of prior education and training
Complete necessary prerequisites.

Graduation Requirements

Complete each session with an average grade of 80% or higher.
Pass the final exam with a grade of 85% or higher.
Fulfill the minimum number of clinical hours per semester.
Provide details from your clinical experiences to include:
A minimum of 75 births with an increasing level of responsibility.
- At most 35 as an assistant
- At minimum 40 as the primary under supervision.
A minimum of 225 prenatal visits.
- At most 75 as an assistant
- At least 150 as the primary under supervision.
A minimum of 150 postpartum visits
- At most 50 as an assistant
- At least 100 as the primary under supervision.
65 Newborn exams
- At most 20 as an assistant
- At least 45 as the primary under supervision.
Of the 75 births 50 will show continuity of care with the student providing at least 3 prenatal and 2 postpartum visits.
All the births will be planned out of hospital either at the client’s home or a free-standing birth center.
No more than 10 may be transports before or during birth.

Tuition and Fees

Our tuition is dependent on the student and their preferred method and timeline of payment. Books, materials and apprenticeship fees are separate and not controlled by the Midwifery Institute.

Tuition Options:

Program Paid-in-Full: $14,000
By Session: $2,000 (total cost $16,000)
We also offer weekly, biweekly and monthly payment plans tailored to the individual student. payment plans are subject to additional fees and costs.

Estimated Cost of Books & Materials: $1,100

All Required books & Materials can be found in The Midwifery Institute’s store for purchase from Amazon.com

Scholarships

The Midwifery Institute is proud to offer a variety of scholarships for aspiring midwives, available to Accepted students. The application for each scholarship is the same, and available at the button labeled scholarship below. Scholarship applications will not be processed if we have not yet received an admissions application. An Essay on how you will use your education to serve at-risk populations is required and the single most important factor used in award determinations. No student will receive more than one scholarship.

Onnie Lee Logan Memorial Scholarship: To increase Representation among midwives of color, this scholarship covers up to 50% of the cost of tuition. 2 Awards per cohort.
Kathleen Morton Memorial Scholarship: To increase access in rural communities, this scholarship covers up to 50% of the cost of tuition. 2 awards available per cohort.
Florence Scholarship: To increase access to out-of-hospital birth to LGBTQIA+ populations. This scholarship covers up to 50% of the cost of tuition.

Financial Aid

Students may be eligible for some private student loans to cover the cost of their attendance. We do not accept federal financial aid at this time.

Students may also CHAT WITH US regarding additional funds through the Birth Worker’s Access Fund 501(c)3

Apprenticeship

Students will be required to apprentice with an experienced midwife on their chosen track- Traditional, Direct Entry, Certified Professional Midwife – before graduating. Students may begin or complete their apprenticeship requirements At any time before, during, or after their attendance of Midwifery Program classes. Students will be asked to register their preceptor with The Midwifery Institute.

Because Apprenticeships occur locally, we are unable to match Apprentices to Preceptors. Students will need to do their own research and find a preceptor local to their community, at the track of practice they wish to pursue.

Accreditation

The Midwifery Institute’s Midwifery Education Program is not accredited with MEAC, nor do we plan to pursue MEAC accreditation in the future.

We believe wholeheartedly in traditional and direct-entry midwifery by way of apprenticeship.

We do not believe any aspiring midwife should be forced to discount any part of her existing education in order to pursue more- MEAC. Our program exists to ensure a well-rounded education for traditional, direct-entry and PEP candidate midwives, without the need to start over (as they would be required to do with a MEAC accredited institution) , or attend in person classes for introduction to skills best learned through practice in the apprenticeship model.

After Graduation

Upon the completion of all graduation requirements, graduates receive a certificate, transcript and letter of recommendation from The Midwifery Institute regarding the student’s fitness as a midwife, and enabling the student to sit the CPM examination if desired.

Is this valid in my State or Territory?

This program is NOT offered to Canadian or international students at this time.

Students from Alabama, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, and South Dakota are NOT eligible to sit the CPM exam in their home state after the completion of this program as these states’ laws DO NOT allow for the Portfolio evaluation process. In these states, The Midwife is required to be licensed in another state prior to the midwife meeting the state requirements by obtaining the Midwifery Bridge Certificate through NARM. This is NOT a process we assist with.

Is this Program asynchronous?

Our Midwifery Program is Semi-Asynchronous. Your Cohort determines the number of courses you will be expected to complete each year, and the amount of time you will have to do so. Otherwise, students will be required to attend live sessions via ZOOM weekly to monthly. Students may complete the courses in their specific session in any order, or at any pace they desire, as long as all assignments are submitted by the final deadline- 16 or 32 weeks after the start of the session. Grading is completed weekly by our course facilitators and staff.

Payment Plans

Payment plans vary depending the length of the payment plan. The longer the plan and the less often the Midwifery Institute receives payment from the student, the higher the associated fees. Payment plans REQUIRE a $200 deposit at least 30 days prior to the start of classes, which is not factored into the total costs listed below. These examples DO NOT take scholarship funds or books and supplies into account. We do not preview payment plans for scholarships prior to awarding said scholarships.

Weekly Plans:

26 Weekly Payments of $569 (total cost: $14,994)
52 Weekly Payments of $293 ($15, 236)
78 Weekly Payments of $199 ($15,522)
104 Weekly Payments of $152 ($15,808)
130 Weekly Payments of $125 ($16,250)
156 Weekly Payments of $106 ($16,536)
182 Weekly Payments of $94 ($17,108)
208 Weekly Payments of $83 ($17, 264)

Biweekly

13 Biweekly Payments of $1,173 ($15,249)
26 Biweekly Payments of $598 ($15,548)
39 Biweekly Payments of $406 ($15,834)
52 Biweekly Payments of $313 ($16,276)
65 Biweekly payments of $255 ($16,575)
78 Biweekly Payments of $218 ($17,004)
91 Biweekly Payments of $190 ($17,290)
104 Biweekly Payments of $171 ($17,784)

Monthly