How to Study to Become a Midwife
Midwives provide health services to women before, during and after pregnancy. Two professional organizations set standards for the practice of midwifery. The North American Registry of Midwives recognizes the Certified Professional Midwife, or CPM, designation. The American College of Nurse Midwives is the professional organization for Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs) and Certified Midwives (CMs). CPMs and CMs both are direct-entry midwives -- they enter the profession without having had previous health care experience. However, CMs must attend a post-baccalaureate program resulting in at least a master's degree, while CPMs may, in some states, forgo academic course work entirely and follow a self-study regimen combined with an apprenticeship. There is a course of study in becoming a CPM.
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Instructions
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Contact your department of state to find out what your state's licensing requirements are for the practice of midwifery.
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Enroll in an academic program accredited by the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council, the primary accrediting body for CPM education and the one to whose standards schools must adhere to qualify in offering federal financial aid programs.
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Obtain a copy of the North American Registry of Midwives written test specifications from your school. Use it as a study guide.
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Prepare a flash card for every important fact you learn in the classroom and while studying. Write a question pertaining to the fact on one side of a 3-by-5 index card with the answer on the other side.
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Talk to local midwives to find one with whom you can apprentice, particularly if you're in a self-study or distance-education program.
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Subscribe to a professional midwifery publication like "Midwifery Today."
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Participate in professional midwife chats and online forums. Join professional midwife organizations in your local area. Join related organizations, such as La Leche League.
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Attend midwifery conferences. Participate in as many workshops as possible.
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Study for the exam each day by reviewing all your flash cards once and setting aside those you've not mastered. Repeat with the cards you get wrong until you've answered each card correctly. You're ready for your exam when you answer all or nearly all the cards correctly on the first try.
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Tips & Warnings
Plan to spend three years taking courses and apprenticing before qualifying to practice independently.
Some states require that midwives attend dozens of births before they can practice on their own. You may need to apprentice with more than one midwife to gain practical experience within a reasonable period of time.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit baby image by Yvonne Bogdanski from Fotolia.com
