Become a Midwife! The ASM Program at the National College of Midwifery allows students to earn a degree in Direct Entry Midwifery and readies them to sit for state or national licensing/certification. Traditionally midwifery students learned at the side of an experienced midwife in an apprenticeship. Our goal with the ASM program is to support this apprenticeship model of midwifery education, and be flexible enough to suit most eduactional settings:

• Allowing for flexibility in the myriad of settings in which an apprenticeship takes place and for the individual needs of each student and preceptor.
• Recognizing the specialized and distinct experience each preceptor brings to the education.
• Supplying an accredited comprehensive academic and clinincal curriculum to ensure the eduaction of a competent, confident midwife.

California Requirements : To satisfy the standards of the California Medical Board there are a few additions to the regular coursework. http://www.medbd.ca.gov/

ASM PROGRAM OVERVIEW

• Introduction to the National College of Midwifery
• Introduction to the National College of Midwifery for California Residents
• NCM Student Handbook and Catalog 2007-2008
• ASM Course Descriptions
• ASM Credits List
• Sample Course of Study
• NARM Requirements for MEAC Graduates (NARM Website)

The ASM Program is the foundation for midwifery skills. It includes care for mother and baby from Well-Woman through Post Partum care. It is divided into clinical and academic components. The ASM is a three-year equivalent, which can be completed from 1 to 5 years.

• Students are required to contract with thier own preceptor/s.
• Students and Preceptors are free to study at their own pace and to organize course content to meet preferences and increase convenience and satisfaction.
• In order to receive transfer credit for courses completed at another accredited school, college, or university, please have an official transcript sent to NCM for review.

Outside Examination:

The Associate Degree of Science in Midwifery is issued when in addition to all the above, the candidate submits evidence of successful completion of a state midwifery licensing examination, a state midwifery association examination, or a national midwifery examination. In order to take the national certification exam administered by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM), she must obtain a letter of permission from the College. To obtain this letter, the student must have completed all clinical requirements, have had all NARM skills signed off, must be within 6 months of completing all NCM coursework, and must provide to the College a copy of her sample Practice Guidelines, her Emergency Care Plan, and her Informed Consent Form. The student should also send to NARM a form letter (provided by the College) allowing NARM to release her exam results to the College, so that her degree may be issued without delay.

Associate of Science in Midwifery Degree Awarded:

•  When prerequisites are met

•  When skills, clinical and academic course requirements are successfully completed

•  When outside examination is successfully completed

•  When the College has documentation of the above

Certificate in Midwifery Awarded:

When the student completes all requirements but does not take or fails the outside examination.

Prerequisites for Students and Preceptors:

Student Prerequisites: High School Diploma or GED & an agreement with a preceptor. No Prior Midwifery Experience Necessary.

Preceptor Prerequisites -Any of the following can be an ASM preceptor:

• Licensed Midwives-Must have high school diploma or equivalent, Must have license issued by the jurisdiction in which the midwifery practice is located, & Must have had one year of experience since licensing
• Certified Midwives-Must have a high school diploma or the equivalent, Must have a certification from a College approved state or national midwifery organization, & Must have had one year of experience since certification
• Certified Nurse Midwives-Must have had one year of experience since certification
• Physician Assistant Midwives-Must have had one year of experience since licensing
• Licensed Physicians practicing obstetrics-Must have had one year of experience since licensing

The preceptor must hold at least the academic credential sought by the midwifery student. In addition, in accordance with the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council Standards, the Associate Degree student must have one (or more) preceptor(s) registered with the College who must be able to provide the student with the opportunity to obtain the clinical skills and experiences required for attainment of the Certified Professional Midwifery credential available from the North American Registry of Midwives, including the supervision in homes or other out-of-hospital settings.

The National College of Midwifery is accredited by the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council: P.O. Box 984 La Conner, WA 98257
Phone: 360-466-2080 Fax: 480.907.2936 info@meacschools.org

The National College of Midwifery is licensed as a Postsecondary Institution by the New Mexico Commission on higher Education, 5301 Central NE, Suite 1500, Albuquerque NM 87108. Tel# 505-841-6611.