Licensed Midwifery

The Licensed Midwifery Associate in Science Degree (84 units total, 60 units in the major) is designed to prepare students for entry into the profession of Licensed Midwife in California and to meet the educational requirements for the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) exam. Upon successful completion of the program, students demonstrate mastery of antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum, newborn, and well-person care, clinical decision-making, documentation, culturally responsive communication, and ethical midwifery practice in out-of-hospital settings. These skills can be applied to careers in home birth midwifery practices, community birth centers, perinatal education, reproductive health, and advocacy roles supporting maternal and infant health.

Courses required for the major at Cerro Coso Community College may not be the same as those required for the major at a four-year school. Students who plan to transfer should consult a counselor or advisor and http://www.assist.org to identify the courses needed for the major at the transfer school and to develop an education plan.

Students must complete a minimum of 60 units, including the courses listed in the major and general education requirements, with an overall GPA of 2.0 or better, and a grade of “A,” “B,” or “C,” (or "P" if the class is taken on a pass-no pass basis) in all courses for the major. A minimum of 12 units must be completed at Cerro Coso Community College. Completion of the Cerro Coso local general education pattern does not prepare students for transfer.

Students should consult with a counselor or educational advisor regarding general education options.

The Licensed Midwifery AS Degree has been developed in response to strong community demand and statewide workforce need. Preliminary interest in the program has been high, with multiple stakeholder organizations reporting a backlog of prospective students unable to access midwifery education due to geographic, financial, or institutional barriers. The California Association of Licensed Midwives (CALM) and Californians for the Advancement of Midwifery (CAM) have confirmed substantial unmet demand, particularly among students from rural and underrepresented backgrounds.

In Fall 2023, Cerro Coso Community College conducted informal interest gathering through its Allied Health department and CAM's mailing list, which reached over 200 individuals. Of those expressing interest, more than 60 individuals indicated they would be prepared to enroll within the first year of program launch if accepted. Additional interest has come from students already enrolled at Cerro Coso completing Anatomy, Physiology, and other science prerequisites aligned with healthcare pathways.

Given the program’s sequencing and clinical site availability, initial enrollment is planned for 15 students in Year 1, increasing to 20–25 students annually as the program scales. Completer estimates reflect progression through both general education and the midwifery core over 6 terms. Based on program design and typical attrition rates for high-unit allied health programs, the following projections are anticipated:

Academic Year New Students Enrolled Annual Completers

• 2026–2027 New students enrolled: 15/annual completers: 0–5
• 2027–2028 New students enrolled: 20/annual completers: 10–15
• 2028–2029 New students enrolled: 25/annual completers: 15–20

These projections reflect the capacity of the distributed clinical model, with students placed under licensed preceptors across the region. As clinical partnerships expand, the program expects to stabilize at an annual completion range of 15–20 graduates, meeting a significant gap in midwifery educationvaccess and workforce supply in California.

This program goal is occupational. The program meets the California Medical Board’s education requirements for Licensed Midwives and prepares students for the national NARM exam. There is currently no public college-based midwifery program in the state. Cerro Coso’s large, rural service area lacks access to maternal health providers, and local students face significant barriers to training due to distance and cost.

This program creates a pathway for students to complete midwifery education close to home, using a distributed clinical model. It aligns with MEAC and NARM standards and responds to regional and statewide demand for Licensed Midwives, with support from CALM and CAM. Embedded Doula and Midwife Assistant training adds stackable value and early job readiness.

Program Learning Outcomes:

1. Integrate principles of midwifery care across the antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum, newborn, and well-person care continuum using current clinical guidelines.
2. Communicate using culturally responsive, trauma-informed communication with clients, families, and healthcare teams in community-based birth settings.
3. Apply evidence-based clinical decision-making in managing normal physiological birth, identifying deviations, and initiating consultation or referral.
4. Perform essential midwifery procedures and documentation consistent with MEAC/NARM standards, including continuity of care tracking and legal recordkeeping.
5. Uphold ethical, legal, and professional standards within the Licensed Midwife scope of practice in California.

Program Prerequisites:
Students must complete all of the following prerequisite courses prior to entry into the Licensed Midwifery program:

• ENGL C1000 – Academic Reading and Writing (4)
• PSYC C1000 – Introduction to Psychology (3)
• or PSYC C1000H - Introduction to Psychology Honors (4)
• BIOL C251 – Human Anatomy (4)
• BIOL C255 – Human Physiology (4)
• BIOL C262 – General Microbiology (5)
• CHEM C101 – Introduction to Chemistry (4) or CHEM C111 - General Chemistry I (5)