ASM Student:

Q. Where will I find a preceptor? A. Students are required to find their own preceptor(s). Students can begin by looking in their local phone books or may want to check out the list of licensed midwives on the MANA website. The College may also be able to give contact information to high-volume birth centers.

Q. What will it cost me to study with NCM? A. The fees to the College are the application fee, the one-time administrative fee, and annual accreditation fees (free for the first 3 years of study). Students make separate payment agreements with their preceptors.

Q. If I have a College transcript do I still need to send in my high school diploma or equivalent with my application? A. Yes, It is a requirement of the NM Department of Education

Q. Where can I find descriptions of the curriculum? A. National College of Midwifery Student Handbook for the Associate Degree in Midwifery. Individual course descriptions can be downloaded on the ASM page of this website.

Q. Do I need to have an email address? A.Yes, much of my communication with the College will be through email. The College sends out regular updates via email.

Q.If the College is unable to contact me for a period of one year, without prior arrangement, will I will be withdrawn? A. Yes, students and preceptors are required to send in trimesterly evaluations and work completed. Students must notify the college of time they intend to take off from study, and keep updated contact information on file with the College.

Q. Does enrollment by itself guarantee the issuing of a degree? A.No, The Associate of Science in Midwifery Degree will be awarded only when all of the following are completed and documentation of all is on file at the College administration headquarters:

• When skills, clinical and academic course requirements are successfully completed;
• When outside examination is successfully completed;
• When the student has paid all college fees in full

Q. What is the difference between an "Associate of Science in Midwifery Degree" and a "Certificate in Midwifery?" A. The ASM Degree is granted when the student completes all NCM requirements and passes an outside licensing exam (such as a state licensing exam or the NARM exam). If a student chooses not to take an exam, after completion of the coursework, the National College of Midwifery will issue a Certificate of Midwifery.

Q. How long do I have to complete the ASM program? The ASM is a 3-year equivalent program, which can be completed from 1 to 5 years. If a student has not completed the program within 3 years, She/he must submit a plan for completion to NCM signed by my preceptor and her/himself, and will be responsible for annual accreditation fees. The 5-year limit for completion of the degree includes any time taken on inactive status. Annual accreditation fees must be paid even during those years the student is on inactive status.

Q. Who is responsible for organizing and directing a student's studies and all attendant NCM paperwork? A. The student.

Q. When, what, and how do I submit paperwork to the College? A.At the end of each trimester the student and preceptor must submit a progress report consisting of copies of the following (All submissions must be signed and dated by the supervising preceptor):

• Student-Preceptor Evaluation,
• Student Record with new grades,
• Clinical Record Forms,
• and updated MEAC Abbreviated NARM Skills form.

Q. What should I do in the case of any conflict or dispute with my preceptor? A.counseling and/or mediation services are available through the College.

Q. What are the requirements for the academic portion of the ASM program? A. Students must complete all 8 academic modules of the NCM Learning Objectives, including: 12 credit hours in Math and Human Life Science, 14 credit hours in Critical Thinking and Psychosocial Issues, 6 credit hours Antepartum Management, 6 credit hours in Intrapartum Management, 6 credit hours in Postpartum Management, 6 credit hours in Newborn Management, 6 credit hours in Well-Woman Reproductive Health Care, and 25 credit hours in Professional Issues.

Q. Can I get Transfer Credit for the required courses I have completed at other universities or colleges? A. Yes, the student must submit an official sealed transcript showing the course name, grade (C- or higher), and number of credits. When the name of the course does not adequately match an NCM course, then more information will be required, (such as a course description or syllabus).

Q. What are the Clinical requirements of the ASM program? A. The Clinical Experience Requirements adhere to the requirements of the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM). NCM's ASM program includes 30 Well Woman/Family Planning Visits, 20 Initial Prenatal Visits, 55 Prenatal Visits, 20 Labor Assists, 20 Deliveries of Newborn and Placenta as Primary Midwife, 20 Newborn Examinations, 40 Postpartum Exams of Mother and Baby, 10 of the 20 Births as Primary must be in Out of Hospital Setting, and 3 Continuities of Care. Additionally the student must complete the MEAC Abbreviated NARM Skills Form.

Q. How fast can I complete my program? A. At least 1 year. The clinicals must take place over at least 12 months under the direct supervision of an approved, credentialed preceptor/s with whom the student has a student preceptor contract on file with NCM.

Q. Do I have to complete all my clinicals at one site, under a single preceptor? A. Clinicals can take place at a single site or a variety of sites under several preceptors. At least 2 preceptors are necessary to sign off some of the NARM Skills-NARM requires the signatures of 2 preceptors on 4 of the NARM Skills..

Q. How do I keep records of clinical experiences? A. Students must record my clinical experiences on the NCM clinical record sheets, and My presence at supervised clinical experiences must be noted in patient charts by name or initials, subject to audit. The preceptor must personally supervise, evaluate and sign off on all clinical experiences.

Q. What should I do if I am not getting enough clinical experience? A. If I desire more clinical experience I can request the College refer me to a high volume birth clinic.

Q. Does NARM require me to purchase an enrollment packet? A. Yes, upon enrollment with NCM or any other MEAC school, NARM requires me to purchase an application packet including the paperwork I will need to complete prior to taking the NARM exam.

Q. Does the College's Administrative Fee cover my NARM or other licensure exam fees? A. No, the student is responsible for these fees.

Q. Can I deduct the fees I pay the College from my personal income taxes? A. The administrative fee paid to NCM may be deductible on my personal income taxes, but that the fees paid to my preceptor are not deductible.

Q. Is the degree I receive a Nursing degree? A. No. There are different routes of entry to midwifery. The National College of Midwifery trains Direct Entry Midwives not Nurse Midwives.

Q. Who directs me through my program? A. The student receives a recommended course of study, but is not required to follow it. There is no requirement for the order in which the courses are completed, or the amount of time for each course. The entire program must be completed in 1-5 years. The student is the ultimate director of her or his own program.

Q. Does the National College of Midwifery have a job placement program? A. No. it is the student's responsibility to find employment as a midwife.

Q. What are the laws regarding the practice of Midwifery in my state / Country? A. the legal status of midwifery varies from state to state and country to country. It is the student's responsibility to know the laws in the state in which she or he will practice upon completion of the NCM program.

Q. Does earning my ASM guarantee that I will be granted Licensure? A. No, each student must investigate the steps and requirements she/he must take to become a CPM and/or gain licensure.

Q. Will another college or university accept my NCM credits as transfer credits? A. The National College of Midwifery is accredited by a small, private accrediting agency, the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC), recognized by the US Department of Education. Most colleges and universities are accredited directly by the US Department of Education, through one of their five regional agencies. These schools only accept credits from schools with the same type of accreditation. If a student is planning to continue with another college or university, it is her or his responsibility to check with them if they will accept credit from NCM.

Q. Will NCM accept tranfer credits from other universities? A. Yes, students must submit official transcripts for review by NCM.

Q. Does California accept NCM's ASM Degree? A. Yes, students planning to seek licensure in California must complete two additional courses, in Chemistry and Child Development, and additional Learning Objectives in anesthesia/analgesia, suturing and episiotomies.

Preceptor Questions:

Q. What qualifications must a preceptor hold? A.The equivalent or higher academic degree than that sought by the student. NCM considers Midwifery Certification or Licensure equivalent to ASM. Additionally preceptors must be one of the following: Licensed Midwife, Midwife holding College-approved certification by my state midwifery organization, Certified Nurse Midwife, Physician Assistant Midwife, Licensed Physician practicing obstetrics. All preceptors must have had at least one year of on-the-job experience since licensure/certification.

Q. What practice guidelines must my preceptor follow? A. Preceptors are required to practice within the midwifery guidelines of their state midwifery association, or in the absence of state guidelines, they must follow the CPM Guidelines. The student and preceptor must have reviewed and be aware of the supervision requirements of their State's midwifery regulations and of the guidelines of all relevant State midwifery associations. They must have formulated a supervision and back-up plan based on these regulations and guidelines, which will promote the safety of mothers and babies. Preceptors further agree to incorporate the International Confederation of Midwives Core Competencies for Midwifery Preceptors into the teaching process.

Q. How are preceptors supervised? A. Preceptors are evaluated annually based on my trimesterly student-preceptor evaluations, work submitted, and internal incident reports. Preceptors agree to submit student and preceptor evaluations and plans for the upcoming trimester at the end of each trimester, to participate in NCM Supervision of their teaching participate in two-way evaluation sessions.

Q. Do preceptors have to personally supervise their student's clinical requirements? A. Yes. Preceptors must be in direct supervision (be physically present to diagnose, authorize, and approve all work performed ) of all the clinical encounters, births, and NARM skills for which he/she signs-off.

Q. Does the preceptor have to note the student's student's name or allow the student to initial on all client charts for supervised clinical experiences, and to make these charts available for review, in case of audit? A. Yes.

Q. What updated/renewed documents relevant to my status as a preceptor must the preceptor supply to NCM? A.

• Copy of current certification/license
• Copy of most advanced degree
• ASM Contract for each student enrolled in NCM
• 3 References (upon application)
• Curriculum vitae/ Resume
• Floor plan of academic and clinical space to be used, showing fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, and emergency exit plan
• Equipment and restocking checklist for clinical facility
• Safety Form listing standards followed in practice and facility inspections

Q. How often must a precpetor and student meet up to review clinical and academic progress, troubleshoot problem areas, build on areas of strength, and debrief any adverse clinical outcomes? A. weekly or at a regularly scheduled time.

Q. What services does the College offer to students and preceptors involed in a dispute? A. The College provides free counseling and mediation services to students and preceptors. Students and preceptors agree to contact the College administration for mediation services, and agree to encourage their student /preceptor to contact the College administration for additional counseling by College staff. The College will fill out an internal incident report evaluating my handling of the disagreement, and that a copy of this report will be sent to the complainant, while another copy will be placed in the College file.

Q. What are conditions for probation or termination of a preceptor by National College of Midwifery? A.

• Preceptor fails to adhere to the duties set out in the student-preceptor contract
• Preceptor fails to provide student with the required academic or clinical supervision
• Preceptor fails to debrief student to her satisfaction after an adverse clinical outcome, and subsequently fails to engage in mediation by college administration as requested by student

Q. What if the student's or precptor's status changes? A. The student and preceptor agree to report to the College any changes in a student's status, such as completion of clinical and academic requirements, successful completion of NARM or state midwifery certification exams, or withdrawal form the program.

Q. How can a preceptor join Faculty Advisory Board as an advisor to the College? A. All precptors are asked to agree to sit on the Faculty Advisory Board as an advisor to the College, and to sit on review committees for research projects by Bachelor, Master and Doctoral degree candidates of the College.

Q. How can a preceptor or student make recommendations to the College? A. Preceptors are asked to review the College materials for the student and to send the College any recommendations for improvements. Preceptors may provide the College at any time with verbal or written suggestions for improvements to any aspect of the College program or administration. On the end of trimester evaluation form there is space for both the student and preceptor to make comments and suggestions.

Q. Are preceptors allowed to attend College Board meetings? A. Yes.

Q. Are preceptors allowed access to their personal preceptor file maintained by the college? A. Yes.

Q. How are preceptors paid? A. Preceptors may be paid tuition directly by the student according to this mutually agreed upon contract. A copy of this contract will be kept in the student's College files.

Q. When can a preceptor terminate a relationship with a student? A.A preceptor may terminate student-preceptor relationship with any student if a working relationship is not in place or fails to develop, or if the student fails to pay the preceptor according to the Student-Preceptor Contract, and will notify the College in writing of such occurrence.

Q. Are preceptors required to pay tax on their income earned from students in NCM programs? A. Yes, preceptors are required to file with the IRS and my State taxation department on all income earned from students in NCM programs.

Q. How does my Preceptor evaluate my knowledge of the Study Questions? A.You should be able to stand by your answers, and even write the page number and text that you used to answer the question.  This way the precpetor will not even have to look at the answer keys. Rather than having her look up the answers in the book or in our learning objecitves, just have your text on-hand in case you need to look something up. Obviously, if you were able to find the answer and you know where to find it, then it is right. Once you have found answers to all the questions,  you should present your answers to the preceptor, and as you do this, she can elaborate on the issues and how they happen in real life.  If there are some questions that you are unclear on or that you couldn't find an acceptable answer for, then she can help you by telling you where to find it or simply telling you the answer herself.  She should not have to check the answer keys for correctness of your answer.  She knows what is important.  She will probably just be frustrated trying to conform her knowledge to the answer keys. 

The National College of Midwifery is accredited by the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council: P.O. Box 984 La Conner, WA 98257
Phone: 360-466-2080 Fax: 480.907.2936 info@meacschools.org

The National College of Midwifery is licensed as a Postsecondary Institution by the New Mexico Commission on higher Education, 5301 Central NE, Suite 1500, Albuquerque NM 87108. Tel# 505-841-6611.