OUR NEXT COHORT: CCSM Class of 2030 opens January 2027

A Note on State Eligibility
Florida, Rhode Island, and California residents are welcomed into the January 2027 cohort as established, approved states with no additional state-eligibility review needed. If you live elsewhere, we still want to hear from you: CCSM enrolls distance learners in a number of other states, and each applicant outside our three core states is assessed individually against that state’s current midwifery education and licensure requirements.
Midwifery regulation varies widely from state to state, and is actively under review in several places right now. Come to your admissions call ready to talk through your state’s current requirements and any restrictions on out-of-state or distance midwifery education. Our Admissions team will work with you to confirm CCSM’s program can be lawfully delivered where you live before you enroll.
About CCSM’s Next Cohort
Commonsense Childbirth School of Midwifery’s Hybrid 3-Year Direct-Entry Midwifery Program is enrolling now for its next cohort, which starts January 2027. We welcome students who are residents of Florida, Rhode Island, and California, as well as distance learners in several other approved states.
Wherever you live, you’ll follow the same MEAC-accredited curriculum, the same clinical rigor, and the same commitment to community-rooted, safe, sensitive, and respectful maternity care.
All learners participate through live, instructor-led distance education – every class is taught live on Friday, not pre-recorded, and with access to staff, teachers and classmates throughout the week.
The academic program is delivered by our experienced faculty the same way everywhere: a full day of online classes on Fridays, with in-person, hands-on skills weeks three times a year for clinical lab test-outs. All other clinical training happens locally, in your own community, with preceptors our Clinical Department helps you identify and connect with, building a sustainable match and a safe learning environment for your hands-on education.
Questions? Email admissions@commonsensemidwifery.org
Steps to Apply…
1. Schedule a 15 minute Admissions Call
2. Submit Completed Application and Fee
(Application fee is $75 and is non-refundable)
3. Admissions Interview for completed applications only
4. Completion of Clinical Externship Attestation
5. Submission of a completed Technical Performance Standards Evaluation and Physical Exam by a Primary Care Provider
6. Selective Admissions Decisions based on all previous steps
8. Decision Letter emailed from Admissions Department and Enrollment
Prerequisites
The prerequisites for the 3-Year Direct-Entry Midwifery program include:
- 1 College-Level Math Course (at least 3 credits)
- 1 College-Level English Course (at least 3 credits)
- College-Level Anatomy & Physiology 1 & 2
- 1 College-Level Chemistry (at least 3 credits) required for California residents only
- Doula Training
- Lactation Education Training (at least 6 hours)
- Childbirth Education Training
- Completion of a 4-hour HIV/AIDS Course
- CPR Certification & “Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers” (in-person course)
- Blood Borne Pathogens Certification
- Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) training [may begin after enrollment and be completed by end of Year 1]
Questions? Email admissions@commonsensemidwifery.org
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Please find some answers to some of our commonly asked questions.
What is a CPM?
A Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) is a professional, credentialed midwife who is specially trained to provide maternity care in out-of-hospital settings, such as homes or birth centers.
A CPM is trained in normal pregnancy, labor, birth, postpartum care, and newborn care.
They specialize in community birth, not hospital-based practice.
They are certified through the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) after completing specific education, clinical training, and passing a national exam.
Where CPMs Can Practice:
- Homes and birth centers are their primary setting.
- They generally do not have hospital privileges, though laws vary by U.S. state.
- CPM licensure/legal status differs by location—some states license them, some regulate them differently, and some don’t license them at all.
CPM training includes:
- Apprenticeships with experienced midwives
- Accredited midwifery programs (MEAC-accredited schools)
- Required clinical experiences (prenatal visits, births, postpartum care)
- Passing the NARM exam
What Services CPMs Provide
- Prenatal care
- Labor and birth support (in out-of-hospital settings)
- Postpartum care for parent and baby
- Newborn exams and breastfeeding support
- Education on nutrition, pregnancy health, and informed decision-making
How CPMs Differ from Other Midwives
- CNM (Certified Nurse-Midwife): A registered nurse with a master’s degree; can work in hospitals, birth centers, or home; licensed in all U.S. states.
- CM (Certified Midwife): Similar education level to CNM but not a nurse; fewer states license them.
- CPM: Only out-of-hospital births; not required to have a nursing degree.
What is the Direct Entry Midwifery Program?
The Hybrid Direct-Entry Midwifery program is designed to meet the educational needs of aspiring midwives across the United States, with no prior midwifery, nursing, or medical training. The Hybrid program is MEAC accredited and adapted to be hosted primarily online, with clinical preceptorships in your local area. We are currently approved by the Medical Board of California and licensed by the BPPE in California. We are approved by the Council of Licensed Midwifery and licensed by the Department of Education CIE in Florida.
What does the admissions process look like?
Steps to Apply…
1. Schedule an Admissions Call
2. Submit Completed Application and Fee
(Application fee is $75 and is non-refundable)
3. Admissions Interview for completed applications only
4. Completion of Clinical Externship Attestation
5. Submission of a completed Technical Performance Standards Evaluation and Physical Exam by a Primary Care Provider
6. Selective Admissions Decisions based on all previous steps
8. Decision Letter emailed from Admissions Department and Enrollment
How much does your program cost?
Our 3-Year Direct-Entry Program’s tuition is $350 per credit for our 90 credit program. Additional administrative fees, skills lab fees, and technology fees, books and equipment bring the total to an estimated $40,000. We offer payment plans to help spread the cost of education, as well as scholarship opportunities to our students.
Do you offer scholarships?
Scholarship opportunities vary based on CCSM donors and funders for the year. If opportunities are available students must meet all eligibility requirements to apply. Please email admissions@commonsensemidwifery.org to learn more about our scholarship opportunities.
Do you accept FASFA or GI Bills?
We do not currently accept FAFSA, Title IV or GI Bill funds at this time. To stay up to date on our financial aid options, feel free to inquire to admissions@commonsensemidwifery.org.
What prerequisites need to be completed to apply?
Below is a list of the required prerequisites. While we do not require that our prerequisites be completed at the linked institutes, these are just some suggestions where you can meet our prerequisites:
- Doula Certification – Cornerstone Doula Trainings
- Lactation Educator Training
- College-level Math Course – StraighterLine.com or Sophia Learning
- College-level English Course – StraighterLine.com or Sophia Learning
- College-level Anatomy & Physiology 1 and 2 Courses – Straighter Line or Sophia Learning
- College-level Chemistry- Straighter Line or Sophia Learning
- HIV/AIDS 4-hour Course – KIBI
- CPR Certification – American Red Cross
- NRP Certification – Birth Emergency Skills Training
If you have any questions about whether or not your previous experience will meet our prerequisites, feel free to email at admissions@commonsensemidwifery.org!
How does the Transcript Evaluation work?
If you are applying to our school and are interested in determining if some of your previous education could be applied as for credit, all you need to do is complete this Transcript Evaluation Request Form and pay the applicable transcript evaluation fee. You will need to gather a copy of your course catalog(s), as well as have an official transcript.
Please note, transcript evaluations are not required for our college-level prerequisites, just your official transcript(s) submitted with your application.
Do you assist with preceptor securement?
How Preceptor Placement Works
CCSM’s Clinical Department leads the process of matching students with preceptors. Rather than students identifying and presenting their own preceptors, our Clinical Team recruits, vets, and onboards preceptors directly into the program, including through our Preceptor Pilot Program, which prepares and supports preceptors specifically to precept for CCSM and to teach within the philosophy of the school.
Once enrolled, students meet with a member of the Clinical Team to discuss their specific location and clinical needs. Placement is determined by the Clinical Team based on where a student lives in relation to our onboarded preceptors, and in some cases may require a student to travel in order to access an available clinical site.
If at any time a student’s clinical placement changes, the student is responsible for notifying their assigned Clinical Coordinator before the change takes effect, and for remaining in good clinical standing throughout the transition.
What are the Clinical Requirements for completion of the program?
Clinical Number Requirements:
Our clinical experience requirements exceed those required by NARM and MEAC, and include:
Participation in 75 births at varying management levels including a minimum:
5 Planned Home Births
2 Planned Hospital Births
50 Prenatal Exams
50 Newborn Exams
50 Postpartum Exams
5 Well Woman GYN Exams
5 Continuity of Care Cases
1350 clinical hours
What is the structure of the program?
Online classes one day a week, on Friday’s via Zoom.
Once per semester (Spring, Summer & Fall) mandatory, in-person hands-on skills week event for clinical lab test outs in either California or Florida.
How much time is required to attend this program?
Our program is two-fold: academic and clinical.
The academics will require 10-20 hours per week for course work, home work, and studying. The clinical will require for students to establish a schedule with their preceptor to attend their clinical site weekly to meet their clinical requirements (# of clinical hours and # of prenatal visits, newborn visits, postpartum visits, etc.). Student midwives are also expected to be on-call with their preceptor midwife throughout the duration of the program to meet their required # of births for completion.
What software is used throughout the program?
Our program uses the following software:
Google Suite: student GMail accounts and Google Drive access
Zoom: to attend live classes and meetings.
Populi: student online information system for admissions, billing and tuition.
Canvas LMS: attendance tracking, grade reporting, and delivery of academic courses
Typhon: Student tracking for clinical experience
Learn Through Community
Build your future in midwifery through meaningful relationships with experienced practitioners, dedicated educators, and the communities you will serve. Our program encourages thoughtful learning, critical thinking skills, practical confidence, and a deeper understanding of respectful, person centered care.
Preceptors
CCSM is currently looking for preceptor and clinical sites to support our students.
If you are interested in becoming a CCSM Preceptor please fill out the interest form below.

Why Choose Commonsense Childbirth School of Midwifery?
Dedication to Diversity
CCSM believes that exposure to diversity will best prepare our students to serve all birthing people and families. Because of our strong commitment to equity and social justice, the school promotes non-discrimination in all its facets.
Unrivaled Educational Philosophy
We are dedicated to educating student midwives in the ancient art and modern science of midwifery practice. We believe that any student wanting to reach their goal will be able to benefit from the education CCSM offers.
Over 40 Years Experience
Commonsense Childbirth School of Midwifery founder Jennie Joseph brings over 40 years experience with the results to match.
