How to Become a Midwife Apprentice

If you love babies and helping people but are not interested in becoming an OB/GYN, you may be interested in becoming a midwife or a midwife's apprentice. The process of becoming an apprentice to a midwife can take up to two years in some cases, and there are a variety of options an interested candidate can pursue on the path to her new career.

Instructions

1. Enroll in online courses. Programs like the University of Cincinnati's Master of Science in Nursing offer a specialty in nurse midwifery, and may be ideally suited for you. If you enjoy one course, you can either continue with your degree online or enroll in a traditional school program.

2. Attend roughly 20 births to be certified with the North American Registry of Midwives.

3. Speak with a doctor or hospital administrator in your area to connect with a midwife looking for an apprentice.

4. Attend the births of close friends or family members whenever possible. You can count these hours towards your total birth hours.

5. If you live in North America, considering joining MANA (The Midwives Alliance of North America), which is an organization dedicated to supporting midwives.

References

• Midwifery Today
• NARM.org: North American Registry of Midwives Position Statement: Educational Requirements to Become a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM)
• Association of Midwifery Educators

Resources

• MANA
• Nursing Degree at the University of Cincinnati