ASM-Associate of Science in Midwifery

Become a Direct-Entry Midwife! The ASM Program is the foundation for midwifery skills. It includes care for mother and baby from Well-Woman through Post Partum care. It is divided into clinical and academic components.

The ASM Program at the National College of Midwifery allows students to earn a degree in Direct Entry Midwifery and readies them to sit for state or national licensing/certification. Traditionally, midwifery students learned at the side of an experienced midwife in an apprenticeship. Our goal with the ASM program is to support this apprenticeship model of midwifery education, and be flexible enough to suit most educational settings:

Supplying an accredited comprehensive academic and clinical curriculum to ensure the education of a competent, confident midwife.
Recognizing the specialized and distinct experience each preceptor brings to the education.
Allowing for flexibility in the myriad of settings in which an apprenticeship takes place and for the individual needs of each student and preceptor.
Students are required to contract with thier own preceptor/s.
Students and Preceptors are free to study at their own pace and to organize course content to meet preferences and increase convenience and satisfaction.

ASM PROGRAM OVERVIEW:
Please see the NCM Handbook / Catalog for more details on program rules and requirements
Please see the NCM Orientation for explanation of program structure
Please see the COURSE MATERIALS on the menu on the left of this page

Student and Preceptor Enrollment:
Please see the Enrollment section of the NCM Handbook / Catalog.

In order for NCM to accept work done towards completion of any NCM program all of the following must be true when the work was done:
1. The student must be a Current Student with NCM.
2. The preceptor must be a Current Preceptor for NCM.
3. The student and preceptor must have a current approved and complete Contract between Student, Preceptor and the National College of Midwifery on file with NCM.
4. The student and preceptor must each have received notification from NCM acknowledging their relationship.

Credits:
107.75 (111.75 for California Requirements : To satisfy the standards of the California Medical Board there are a few additions to the regular coursework. http://www.medbd.ca.gov/ )

Timeframe:
The ASM is a three-year equivalent program, which can be completed from 1 to 5 years.
Please review the Sample Course of Study

Prerequisites:
High School Diploma or GED.

Academic Requirements:
Please see the NCM Handbook / Catalog (link above) for a list of all course requirements and for course descriptions

80 Academic Credits (84 for California Students)

Math & Human Life Science (12 credit hours):
BIO155G -Anatomy and Physiology	4
BIO120-Fetal Development	1
SOC102-Genetic Screening	1
HON205G-Applied Microbiology	3
MATH112G-Fundamental Math	3
California Students (must complete an additional 4 credits):
MOD1-SCI102G-Chemistry	3
MOD2-SOC104-Child Growth & Development	1
Critical Thinking & Psychosocial Issues (14 credit hours):
PSY224-Communication & Counseling	1
HON248G-Cultural Issues	3
HON223G-Evolution of Human Sexuality	3
MW350-Perinatal Ed Including Lactation	3
ENG200G-Analytical Writing	4
MW 300 Antepartum Management (6 credit hours):
MW300-AP Basic Skills	1
MW300-AP Risk Screening	0.5
MW300-AP Physical Assessment	0.5
MW300-AP Provision of Care	1
MW300-AP Complications	0.5
MW300-AP Pharmacology	1
MW300-AP Nutrition	0.5
MW300-AP Diagnostic Lab Tests & Procedures	0.5
MW300-AP Observation & Charting	0.5
MW300-AP- CPR	0
MW 320 Intrapartum Management (6 credit hours):
MW320-IP Basic Skills	1
MW320-IP Risk Screening	1
MW320-IP Physical Assessment	0.5
MW320-IP Provision of Care	1
MW320-IP Complications	1
MW320-IP Pharmacology	0.5
MW320-IP Diagnostic Lab Tests & Procedures	0.5
MW320-IP Observation & Charting	0.5
MW320-IP IV THERAPY	0

MW 340 Postpartum Management (6 credit hours):
MW340-PP Basic Skills	1
MW340-PP Risk Screening	1
MW340-PP Physical Assessment	0.5
MW340-PP Provision of Care	1
MW340-PP Complications	1
MW340-PP Pharmacology	0.5
MW340-PP Diagnostic Lab Tests & Procedures	0.5
MW340-PP Observation & Charting	0.5
MW 360 Newborn Management (6 credit hours):
MW360-NB Basic Skills	1
MW360-NB Risk Screening	1
MW360-NB Physical Assessment	1
MW360-NB Complications	1
MW360-NB Provision of Care	0.5
MW360-NB Pharmacology	0.5
MW360-NB Diagnostic Lab Tests & Procedures	0.5
MW360-NB Observation & Charting	0.5
MW360-NB NRP -Neonatal Resuscitation	0
MW 380 Well-Woman Reproductive Health Care (6 credit hours):
MW380-WW Risk Screening	0.5
MW380-WWPhysical Assessment	1
MW380-WWProvision of Care	1
MW380-WW Diagnostic Lab Tests & Procedures	1
MW380-WW Family Planning	1
MW380-WW Pharmacology	1
MW380-WW Observation & Charting	0.5
Professional Issues (24 credit hours):
HON222G-History of Midwifery	3
HON225G-Ethics	2
HON390G-Laws/Regulations	3
MW250-Protocols	1
HON393G-Community Health	3
MW350-Out of Hospital Birth	3
ENG202G-Bus. & Prof. Communications	3
HON211G-Statistics	3
HON220G-Midwifery Literature & Art	3

The following items completed during the HON390G-Laws & Regulations and MW250-Protocols Courses must be submitted electronically on disc to the College:

Informed Consent Form
Emergency Transfer Plan Form
Practice Guidelines

Clinical Requirements:

A minimum of 12 months of clinical experience under the supervision of the student's official NCM preceptor(s) at a single site or a variety of sites.
All clinical activities must be directly supervised by the student's official NCM preceptor(s) and must be completed to the level of mastery
The following requirements by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM)

30 Well Woman / Family Planning

20 Initial Visits/Initial Prenatals

55 Prenatals

20 Labor Assists

20 Delivery Newborn & Placenta as Primary

20 Newborn Exams

40 Postpartum Mother & Baby Exams

3 NARM Continuities of Care (3 of the 20 Delivery Newborn & Placenta as Primary must be for women for whom the student has provided primary care during a minimum of four (4) prenatal visits, birth, one (1) newborn exam, and one (1) postpartum exam)

10 NARM Out of Hospital Births (10 of the 20 Delivery Newborn & Placenta as Primary must be in homes or other out of hospital settings)

MEAC Abbreviated NARM Skills (151 Clinical Skills practiced and completed to mastery throughout both academic and clinical training)

Fees:
Application Fee: $100 (non-refundable)
Administrative Fee: $4,900
Preceptor Tuition: This is not paid to the College. Students hire their preceptors and are responsible for paying their preceptor directly. The College recommends $500 a month.   It is possible to negotiate another arrangement with your preceptor.
Books: Students are responsible for purchasing their own books.   The College provides a recommended reading list.   Many students are able to find the books used at a discounted price, or can borrow from their preceptors. Click Here for the NCM Booklist
General Education Requirements: NCM highly recommend that students complete these courses prior to enrollment but it is not required. General education courses for 3 credits of Math and 4 credits of English are not offered through NCM.   Students may take the courses at an accredited college or university, or online source.
California ASM students must complete an additional 3 credits of Chemistry and 1 credit of Early Childhood Development.
Required Outside Examination for ASM Degree, such as the NARM or ACNM Exam: Exam and certification fees are paid by the student. Please check directly with these organizations for their current costs.Click Here to see NARM Requirements for MEAC Graduates (NARM Website)
Accreditation Fees: Students have 5 years to complete their program. The National College of Midwifery pays an annual accreditation fee for each student.    Most students complete their program within 3 years so NCM covers these fees.   If the student has not completed her/his program within 3 years, they will be responsible for the annual fee beyond 3 years.

Outside Examination:
Passing an outside examination is a requirement for the issuance of The Associate of Science in Midwifery (ASM) degree. The candidate must submit evidence of successful completion of a state midwifery licensing examination, a state midwifery association examination, or a national midwifery examination. The student is responsible for all expenses, requirements and prerequisites for taking outside exams.

Graduation:
Associate of Science in Midwifery Degree Awarded:

When prerequisites are met
When skills, clinical and academic course requirements are successfully completed
When outside examination is successfully completed
All outstanding fees to The National College of Midwifery are paid
All library books and videos are returned
When the College has documentation of the above

Certificate in Midwifery Awarded:
When the student completes all requirements but does not take or fails the outside examination.

Midwifery Licensure/Certification Post Graduation:
Graduation does not guarantee midwifery licensure. It is each student's responsibility to keep current with the laws of the state or country in which they are studying and to fulfill the licensure requirements in the jurisdiction in which they plan to apply for licensure and practice. The National College of Midwifery does NOT provide job placement.

NATIONAL COLLEGE OF MIDWIFERY

Please be sure to refresh these pages in your browser to get the most updated materials & forms

MENU

ASM-Associate of Science in Midwifery