Midwifery Education Program

Associate of Applied Science in Midwifery – Students will be awarded an Associate of Applied Science in Midwifery when they have completed Terms 1 through 6.

Competency-based Education Program – The CTM Midwifery Program is a competency-based, direct assessment education program developed from the core competencies for entry into the practice of midwives. Competency is measured through multiple assessment tools to ensure proficiency by the student

Community-based Education – Education occurs primarily in the community where the student resides. The program pace is tailored for self-motivated, adult learners.

Student Liaison – Each student is assigned a Student Liaison who will assist with monitoring progress and be available for consultations through the three-year program.

Portfolio Evaluation Process – CTM utilizes a Portfolio Evaluation Process to verify a student’s knowledge, skills, ability and clinical experience.

Orientation – Orientation is incorporated into the Term 1 In-Residence week that marks the beginning of the CTM Midwifery Program. Students meet their Student Liaison, receive an outline of required knowledge, skills, abilities and attitude, attend the first standardization workshops, and meet the other students in their class.

In-Residence Weeks – Each Term, students must attend an In-Resident Week at the CTM Campus located in Summertown, TN, where they will participate in standardization workshops, face-to-face meetings with their Student Liaison, take the Term Written Examination, receive a general assessment of their progress and have an opportunity to meet other students.

Length of Program – The CTM Midwifery Program is a 36 month or three-year Midwifery Program equaling at least 2010 hours of knowledge, skills, abilities and attitudes (equivalent to 92 credit hours), plus the required Prerequisites. The program is divided into six Terms or two Terms per year. Each Term is at least 20 weeks in length. Students must successfully complete Term 1 through Term 6 to graduate.

Rolling basis admission – Students are admitted throughout the year with the initial Term beginning with attendance at Orientation week.

Key aspects of the program include:

Program is based on the knowledge, skills, abilities and attitudes set by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) and the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM).
Program pace is individualized and tailored for self-motivated, adult learners.
Preceptors are selected by the student and located in the community where the student resides.
In-Resident weeks offer an opportunity for students to form bonds with other students.
Multiple direct assessments include standardization workshops, term written examinations, face-to-face meetings with a Student Liaison and a portfolio evaluation of clinical experience.
Student Liaisons will monitor progress and be available for individual student and preceptor consultations throughout the three-year program.
Consistent standards and guidelines are achieved through the standardization workshops which occur during the In-Resident Weeks.
Portfolio Evaluation Process to verify a student’s knowledge, skills, abilities and clinical experience.
All students must complete a research project and presentation prior to graduation.
Prepare students to take the NARM Written Examination.
Prepare students for legal recognition in the state of Tennessee as CPM-TNs

CTM Endorses the ICM Global Standards for Midwifery Education

The College of Traditional Midwifery endorses the International Confederation of Midwives’ (ICM) Definition of a Midwife which recognizes the midwife as a responsible and accountable professional who works in partnership with women to give the necessary support, care and advice during pregnancy, labor and the postpartum period, to conduct births on the midwife’s own responsibility, and to provide care for the newborn and infant. This care includes preventative measures, the promotion of normal physiologic labor and birth, the detection of complications, the accessing of medical care or other appropriate assistance and the carrying out of emergency measures.

The midwife has an important task in health counseling and education, not only for the woman, but also within the family and the community. This work should involve antenatal education and preparation for parenthood and may extend to women’s health, sexual or reproductive health and child care. A midwife’s role as advocate for evidence-based midwifery practices can also be valuable in advancing public health policy regarding women’s health and maternal and child health care. A midwife may practice in any setting including the home, community, hospitals, clinics and health units.

CTM Graduates Meet the ICM Definition of a Midwife

A midwife is a person who has successfully completed a midwifery education program that is recognized in the country where it is located and that is based on the ICM Essential Competencies for Basic Midwifery Practice and the framework of the ICM Global Standards for Midwifery Education; who has acquired the requisite qualifications to be registered and/or legally licensed to practice midwifery and use the title ‘midwife’; and who demonstrates competency in the practice of midwifery