Licensed Midwifery: Midwife Assisting

The Licensed Midwifery: Midwife Assisting Certificate of Achievement (16.5 units) prepares students to support Licensed Midwives in out-of-hospital birth settings, including home births and community birth centers. The program provides foundational training in prenatal, intrapartum, postpartum care, basic health assessment, emergency response, charting and documentation, and culturally responsive client support.

This certificate fulfills the requirements to become a certified Midwife Assistant under California law and prepares students for employment in clinical birth support roles. Students gain hands-on experience through supervised practicum courses and a clinical skills intensive. Coursework is aligned with standards recognized by the California Association of Licensed Midwives (CALM) and includes training in communication, ethics, and professional conduct.

The Midwife Assisting certificate also serves as a stackable credential within Cerro Coso’s Licensed Midwifery AS Degree pathway, providing a direct route for students to advance their education and expand their scope of practice in maternal and newborn care.

This program anticipates at least 15 annual completers.

The program goal is occupational.

This certificate prepares students to work as Midwife Assistants under the supervision of a Licensed Midwife, in accordance with California law and standards recognized by the California Association of Licensed Midwives (CALM). The program includes hands-on clinical training, foundational midwifery knowledge, and instruction in birth charting, emergency preparedness, and supportive care skills across the prenatal, birth, and postpartum continuum.

There is no formal state-issued license for Midwife Assistants in California; however, the law permits training organizations to issue certificates of competency. This certificate establishes Cerro Coso as an approved certifying organization and provides students with a recognized, stackable credential for employment in home birth practices and birth centers.

The Midwife Assistant COA also serves as a critical stepping stone into the Licensed Midwifery AS Degree, with aligned coursework that allows students to advance seamlessly into higher levels of training. The program responds to local and statewide demand for trained birth workers, particularly in rural and underserved areas, and contributes to a broader pathway of perinatal workforce development.

Program Learning Outcomes: 

1. Apply appropriate clinical support skills during prenatal, labor, birth, and postpartum care in out-of-hospital birth settings under the supervision of a Licensed Midwife.
2. Perform basic health assessments and accurately document client care, including vital signs, fetal heart tones, intake/output, and observations during labor and birth.
3. Apply emergency preparedness protocols and assist with midwifery procedures using principles of safety, infection control, and legal recordkeeping.
4. Explain the Midwife Assistant’s scope of practice, ethical responsibilities, and role in client-centered care in accordance with California law and midwifery standards.
5. Communicate effectively and respectfully with clients, families, and healthcare providers in culturally diverse community birth environments.

Complete the following courses: 

• MIDW C101 – Midwifery Fundamentals and Skills Laboratory (3)
• MIDW C102 – Introduction to Midwifery: History, Ethics, and Practice (2)
• MIDW C103 – Physical Health Assessment for Licensed Midwifery (1.5)
• MIDW C110 – Midwifery Practicum 1: Observation Phase (1)
• MIDW C120 – Midwifery Practicum 2: Assistant Phase I (3)
• MIDW C130 – Midwifery Practicum 3: Assistant Phase II (3)
• MIDW C140 – Midwifery Practicum 4: Assistant Phase III (3)