Our midwifery study and training program consists of academic coursework and hands-on clinical experience.

Academic Coursework - Study Group Modules

• 54 topical modules, including 12 foundational modules and 3 final modules;

• Approximately 1890 hours of study;

• Self-paced, independent work;

• Opportunities to form study groups, receive mentorship from a practicing midwife, and participate in virtual instruction sessions.

Clinical Experience - Preceptor Supervised Apprenticeship

• Meets requirements of North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) credential;

• Meets requirements for licensing through the California Midwifery Practice Act;

• Includes beginning, intermediate, and advanced practica.

Correspondence and Distance Education

NMI was founded and operated for 0ver 30 years as a correspondence program. In 2022, NMI began transitioning into a fully distance education program. This change was prompted by feedback from students who wanted more direct instruction, and by a change in the definition of distance education and the distinction between distance and correspondence education made by the USDE in 2020. NMI will be fully transitioned to a Distance Education program by mid 2025.

In general, distance education is characterized by a higher level of direct instruction vs. independent self-study, and a stronger reliance on technology to support instruction. For more information about the Distance Learning program and the curriculum revision currently underway, please go to Curriculum Revision (2025).

Academic Coursework: Study Group Coursework

Study Group Coursework is intended to help students integrate didactic learning with clinical experiences in apprenticeship. The modules address:

• The art and science of midwifery, including but not limited to prenatal, labor and delivery, neonatal  well care and postpartum care; 

• Communication skills;  

• Anatomy and physiology, genetics, obstetrics and gynecology, embryology and fetal development, neonatology, applied microbiology, chemistry, child growth and development, pharmacology, nutrition,  laboratory diagnostic tests and procedures, and physical assessment;  

• Concepts in psychosocial, emotional and cultural aspects of maternal and child care, human sexuality, counseling and teaching, maternal and infant and family bonding process, breastfeeding/chestfeeding,  family planning, principles of preventative health and community health;  

• Aspects of normal pregnancy, labor and delivery, postpartum period, newborn care, family planning  or routine gynecological care in alternative birth centers, homes and hospitals;  

• Midwifery process, including interventive skills in preventative, remedial and supportive midwifery; development of collegial relationships with health care providers from other disciplines; and behavioral  and social sciences;  

• Personal hygiene, client abuse, cultural diversity, racial equity and gender inclusion in health care, and the legal, social and ethical aspects of  midwifery; 

• Midwifery management process. 

Click below to view a Sample Study Group Module

Sample SG Module 1: Third Stage

Clinical Experience: Preceptor-Supervised Apprenticeship

Knowledge and skills gained in the academic portion of the program prepare stu­dents for active participation in the apprenticeship experience.

Students are ultimately responsible for finding a preceptor, which can feel overwhelming at first! While finding a preceptor can be a challenge, it is important for students to learn how to navigate the midwifery community and build relationships with colleagues.

The Apprenticeship Experience

Apprenticeships are generally based in home birth or birth center practices. Students can also expect to attend hospital births in the event of transport, which gives them opportunity to learn about and observe obstetrical standards of practice. Students are required to attend a minimum of two planned hospital births, either as an observer, student assistant under preceptor supervision, or student primary midwife under preceptor supervision. These planned hospital births are not transports, but may follow a prenatal transfer of care. Additionally, during the course of training within a preceptor’s practice, students will likely have opportunity to consult with other health care providers if complications develop in caregiving or questions arise concerning a client's health status. Students may also have opportunity to accompany their precepting midwife to peer review sessions, and so may confer with other midwives in the community on practical and professional issues.

While apprenticeship can be completed in two years, three to four years is more common. Apprentices are usually on call 24/7 and are expected to attend all exams and births for every client in their preceptor's practice. Students occasionally do apprentice in practices with multiple preceptors and practices that allow on- and off-call hours, but this is less common.

Minimum Timeline Requirements

While students are not required to enter the program having already secured an apprenticeship, NMI maintains a minimum timeline for clinical experience requirements: 

• Within 36 months of initial enrollment: student must secure an apprenticeship.

• Within 42 months of initial enrollment: student must begin filing documentation of non-primary experience.

• Within 60 months of initial enrollment: student must begin filing documentation of student-primary care under preceptor supervision.

Current clinical requirements for graduation from National Midwifery Institute’s Certificate Program, and other experience requirements are published in the NMI Student Handbook (see link below). 

International Clinical Experiences

At this time, NMI is not accepting new out-of-country clinical placements (with exceptions - see below). United States residents interested in obtaining clinical training abroad may choose to do so, but the clinical experiences that they attend while abroad will not count toward NMI's clinical experience requirements for student-assistant under preceptor supervision or student-primary under preceptor supervision phases of clinical training. Students applying for advanced placement or transfer students with clinical experience obtained prior to enrollment who do not meet the exceptions below may be able to count out-of-country clinical experiences that they obtained with qualified preceptors prior to January 1, 2015.

• Clinical experiences obtained in Canada and/or the United Kingdom may be able to be counted toward NMI's clinical experience requirements for graduation.

• Applicants who are native or naturalized citizens of countries other than the US, Canada, or the UK, and who secure preceptorships with midwives who are also native or naturalized citizens and are credentialed and legally practicing, may be able to document clinical experiences that will count toward NMI's clinical experience requirements for graduation.

Contact National Midwifery Institute to discuss your specific situation.

To learn more, view the NMI Handbook.