Student midwife measuring fundal height.

The Student Midwife Track is for those pursuing certification as a Certified Professional Midwife through the North American Registry of Midwives Portfolio Evaluation Process (PEP). During the PEP process, students obtain their knowledge, skills and experience through classes like these or self-study, coupled with apprenticeship with a NARM Qualified Preceptor (QP). All the midwives in our school are QPs. Some of our students get clinicals with us, and some fine a QP midwife outside our school. We encourage students to find a QP who lives near the student.

We have arranged our classes to follow roughly a six-semester plan, though students can pick and choose their classes or follow our plan to receive a graduate certificate from our school. Remember, NARM requires the clinical portion of CPM training last a minimum of two years and no longer than ten years. Most of our students will get through this plan in four to seven years.

At Holistic Birth Institute, we assist our students in filling out forms to submit to NARM in the PEP process. We all went through the PEP process, and though the process changes through the years, it still retains the strong foundation of knowledge, skills and experience requirements for becoming a Certified Professional Midwife.

Our plan is taylor-made for PEP Students! Our graduates submit official paperwork to NARM and then sit for the NARM Exam, which is the national board exam for Certified Professional Midwives. If the applicant passes the exam, NARM is the one who grants them the accomplishment of becoming a Certified Professional Midwife. Please read all about it on the narm website.

To see the course descriptions and pricing, please visit Holistic Birth Institute and click on any course. There are discount bundles available, some with payment plans.

Here is the plan of study we recommend, but remember it is flexible. You can follow the recommended timing or go slower or faster. Core classes are sequential and must be taken in order (exceptions made in rare cases). Non-core classes can be taken out-of-order, whatever works for you! We offer core classes twice a year, starting in January and September. Registration for these classes will open one month before the first lesson.

We do skills check-offs at the in-person skills days and test days. If you need private skills check-off, we can schedule a check-off for you. We charge $20 per hour per QP to meet with you and check skills. You will have to demonstrate skills to the QP satisfaction to get checked off. Paying the fee does not guarantee you will be checked off. Come prepared!