HYBRID DIRECT-ENTRY MIDWIFERY PROGRAM
Hybrid Direct-Entry Midwifery Program
Become a Midwife in the United States
The Hybrid Direct-Entry Midwifery program is adapted to suit the needs of aspiring midwives across the United States*. Our hybrid students will attend their academic courses virtually, with clinical lab courses on campus during once-a-semester workshops, and participate in a clinical externship in their local community.
The Midwifery Core Curriculum consists of 90 credits over three years. This program provides students with the academic and clinical learning experiences required to be eligible to sit for the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) exam. Interested students are encouraged to research the laws and rules in their state to determine if Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) are eligible to practice and if our program meets their state’s requirements. To find out more information about your state’s midwifery regulations, check out MANA’s state by state breakdown.
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
- 5 Suturing Patients
- 1350 clinical hours
Each person’s birth experience is different and unique. Knowing this, the exact number of hours required to attend the mandated number of birth experiences will vary. However, students will spend at least 1350 clock hours in the clinical setting. Students must understand that the time spent at a birth may be in addition to the externship hours listed in the curriculum.
(Our Direct-entry Midwifery Program is accredited by MEAC)
Admission & Application
Step 1: Read the Application Guidelines
Prior to submitting your application, please review our website to ensure you have everything you need, including all prerequisites.
Step 2: Apply
Submit your application along with all requested information. The application process can be extensive, so be sure to give yourself plenty of time to work through the application form.
Step 3: Interview
After reviewing your application, the CCSM team will reach out to schedule an interview.
Step 4: Outcome
The CCSM team will deliberate and reach out with a decision. If accepted, we will advise you on the next steps to start your midwifery journey with us! CCSM reserves the right to accept or deny any student’s enrollment at its sole discretion during the admissions process.
Start your Midwifery Journey
Click here to find out more information about our next admissions window:
*Tentatively 2026*
Prerequisites
The prerequisites for the Hybrid 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)
- Doula Training
- Lactation Education Training (at least 6 hours)
- Completion of a 4-hour HIV/AIDS Course
- CPR Certification & “Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers” (in-person course)
- Blood Borne Pathogens Certification
- NRP [completed by end of Year 1]
You must be a minimum of 18 years old to participate in this program.
At CCSM, we believe in access to midwifery education for every aspiring midwife. If our prerequisites cause a barrier for you, please contact us about how we can assist you.
CCSM Student Preceptor Requirement
The student is responsible for finding a preceptor throughout their time at CCSM. Prior to enrollment, students will have a conversation with a member of the Clinical Department staff to discuss preceptors in their area or if the student requires relocation to be able to find available clinical sites. If at any time, for any reason the student leaves a clinical site or changes preceptors, the student is responsible for communicating this with their Clinical Mentor Coordinator (CMC) prior to the change and ensuring they remain in good clinical standing throughout the transition. Students are responsible for providing potential preceptors with the Preceptor Application available on the CCSM website.
Curious to learn more about life as a CCSM student midwife?
At CCSM, our Direct-Entry Programs are divided into semesters, meaning there are two 17-18 week academic sessions in each calendar year, with an academic summer break in between each semester. Semesters begin in August and January, with classes held virtually each Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM and skills labs once each semester at our Winter Garden campus. Your clinical externships will take place in your local area and during the remaining days of the week, depending on the schedule you and your preceptor establish.
Our core competencies identify the essential knowledge base required of an entry-level midwife. We created our curriculum to meet all the academic and clinical requirements specified in Florida Statute 467 the Midwifery Practice Act, to prepare you for job opportunities. If you are eager to learn more, we encourage you to read through our student handbook and course catalog.
Student Handbook
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Please find some answers to some of our commonly asked questions.
How much does your program cost?
Our Direct-Entry Program’s tuition is $350 per credit. Including administrative fees, skills fees, and technology fees the total estimates to $40,000. We offer payment plans to help spread the cost of education, as well as scholarship opportunities to our students. Click here to learn more about financing the midwifery school.
Does you offer scholarships?
Scholarship opportunities vary based on CCSM donors and funders for the year. If opportunities are available students must be meet all eligibility requirements to apply. Please Click here to learn more about our scholarship opportunities.
Do you accept FASFA or GI Bills?
We do not currently accept FAFSA or FL Prepaid at this time. We are currently in the process to be approved for Title IV Funding to provide this as an option for our students. CCSM is currently in the process of applying to accept GI Bills. To stay up to date on our financial aid options, feel free to inquire to stay informed.
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 preceptorships in your local area. We are currently accredited by the Medical Board of California and BPPE to support the California Satellite.
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.
Does you assist with preceptor securement?
CCSM prides itself on student-led preceptor relationships. With the California Satellite inaugrual cohort, the clinical department has been able to gather information for tentative preceptors throughout California. Although we cannot guarantee placement with an onboarded preceptor, we are available to assist students. Our preceptors practice in a variety of settings, which allow students to explore the type of midwifery practice they would like to establish upon graduation.
What does the admissions process look like?
1. Submit Completed Application
2. Admissions Interview (for completed applications ONLY)
3. Acknowledgement Check of Governing Documents (Questionnaire of Catalog & Student Handbook)
4. Completion of Clinical Externship Attestation
5. Submission of a completed Technical Performance Standards Evaluation and Physical Exam by a Primary Care Provider
6. Preceptor Securement with Clinical Department
7. Selective Admissions Decisions based on all previous steps
8. Decision Letter emailed from Admissions Department
What is the structure of the program?
Online classes one day a week (for California Satellite half-day classes two days a week) via Zoom.
Twice per year (Spring & Fall) mandatory, in-person hands-on skills week event for clinical lab test out (California Satellite skills event will take place in Los Angeles).
What software is used throughout the program?
Our program uses the following software:
Google Suite: student GMail accounts and Google Drive access
Zoom: student accounts to attend classes
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
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 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
5 Suturing Patients
1350 clinical hours
Breakdown of 75 Births:
Year 1, Semester (Fall) = 125 hours & (8) Observe Births
Y1:S2 (Spring) = 175 hrs & (12) Observe/Assist
Y1:S3 (Summer) = 60 hrs & (5) Observe/Assist
Y2:S1 (Fall) =190 hrs & (10) Assist
Y2:S2 (Spring) = 200 hrs & (10) Assist
Y2:S3 (Summer) = 60 hrs & (5) Assist/Manage
Y3:S1 (Fall) = 270 hrs & (10) Births – Assist/Manage
Y3:S1 (Spring) = 200 hrs &(10) Births (managed)
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.
ABOUT CCSM
Commonsense Childbirth School of Midwifery (CCSM) was developed around principles that have driven midwifery practice worldwide: trust, respect, and necessity. However, in the United States, midwives are faced with the challenge of not being seen as the optimum choice in providing maternity care.
CCSM is committed to fostering a community of diverse midwives to combat this false narrative and help all folks take back having “their birth their way.”
VISION STATEMENT
We envision a maternity care climate saturated with culturally sensitive and racially congruent care that results in equitable and superior outcomes in maternal and infant health for all populations.
We seek to reach as many individuals as we can because there is no time to lose. We are in the business of saving lives. In order to achieve our vision, we seek to open a pathway for midwives of color to again become autonomous community providers, to address and redress the historical, structural, and institutional inequities that continue to decimate Black and indigenous people, and to restore trusted birth workers to the heart of their communities once again.
Data supports the safety and efficacy of the midwifery model of care. America needs an urgent change in its maternity healthcare delivery system in order to address challenges of rising medical interventions, cesarean sections and healthcare costs, and high infant and maternal mortality rates. CCSM stands for that change – ‘getting to the heart of the matter’ one birthing person, one baby, one family at a time.
Thank you for joining us, and welcome!
Jennie Joseph LM, CPM, Founder
LOCATION & FACILITIES
The Commonsense Childbirth School of Midwifery (CCSM) is located near downtown Winter Garden:
213 S. Dillard Street
Suite 340 of the Winter Garden Executive Center
Winter Garden, Florida 34787
The school is approximately 800 square feet of space consisting of a library, a classroom, office, kitchen, and eating area.
CCSM is located inside ‘The Birth Place’ Birth Center which has two birth suites, four exams rooms, nurse and provider support areas, and family waiting areas. Sharing our school with The Birth Place space means that students will quickly become familiar with the different facets of midwifery so as to optimize learning opportunities.
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.
MEAC Accredited
Our hybrid Direct-Entry Midwifery program at Commonsense Childbirth School of Midwifery was granted accreditation by the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC) on July 8, 2020. Our Licensure by Endorsement program is not accredited by MEAC.
Over 40 Years Experience
Commonsense Childbirth School of Midwifery founder Jennie Joseph brings over 40 years experience with the results to match.