Acquiring a diploma in any midwife courses is an achievement that can go a long way in one’s career. Any person who wants to become a midwife must be able to attend school in order to obtain the necessary skills and knowledge that are required in the said profession. It is not enough that one has the passion for life; he/she must also be equipped with the right education.
In general, there are three accredited midwife courses that are being offered in career schools: the certificate course, the bachelor’s degree and the apprenticeship program. Each program is designed for certain qualifications so that there should be no confusion as to what particular course a student should take. The following list discusses the coursework for each of these programs.
Certification Course in Nurse-Midwifery (CNM) – Students who take this program are those registered nurses with existing professional licenses. They have the benefit of taking shorter periods of training being experienced allied health workers. Even those who are fresh graduates of Nursing may also enroll in this course just like in continuing education.
This course generally runs for about one and a half years in a full-time basis. Upon the successful completion of the program, the certification/licensure exams given by a regulating body must be passed.
Bachelor’s Degree in Midwifery – This course is an example of “direct-entry program” in which the students do not necessarily have to become registered nurses or any equivalent health care professionals upon their enrollment. The only prerequisite to this program is a high school diploma.
The bachelor’s degree generally takes a minimum of three years to be completed. Its coursework include major sciences such as anatomy, psychology and microbiology. Practicum is a major part of the coursework and is generally performed under the supervision of a licensed midwife. Additionally, just like the CNMs, graduates of the bachelor degree must sit in for the certification/licensure exams.
Apprenticeship/Assistant Midwife Courses – Originally an informal midwifery education, studying under apprenticeship has now been accredited by several governing bodies around the world. The trainer must be a licensed midwife in order to execute apprentice trainings for interested individuals. Once the necessary skills are learned, the apprentice midwives must also qualify for the skills assessment and certification exams provided by the professional regulating council.
Many career schools today have tapped the Internet as another medium for studying midwife courses. Here, the students are given online modules, which they can study at their own pace. As for the hands-on training, the students are required to show up in their agreed-upon clinical settings that are near their vicinity.