Students applying for admission to NMI must have earned a High School Diploma (its equivalent or above) and obtained a Foundational Understanding of Midwifery.

High School Diploma, Equivalent, or Above

Documentation for High School Diploma or Equivalent

Students applying for admission to NMI must have earned a high school diploma, its equivalent, or have a higher education diploma to be eligible for admission into the NMI Certificate Program. 

Applicants must verify completion of high school or its equivalent by submitting one of the following to the NMI office:

  • A High School diploma or transcript showing high school graduation. In place of a diploma or transcript, a letter from a school official on school letterhead stationary indicating high school graduation and date is acceptable as proof of high school completion.

  • If you earned a GED (General Education Diploma) contact the state in which you successfully passed the GED and request a transcript or verification of your GED.

Documentation of College Degree

Applicants who have earned a college degree can apply with submission of an official college transcript. To be acceptable, college degrees must have been received from accredited schools or from schools that meet accreditation standards. You may wish to check the U.S. Department of Education’s database of accredited institutions and programs.

Foreign and Non-Accredited Schools

Applicants who completed their education outside of the United States whose transcripts are in a language other than English should apply, for a fee, to a private education evaluation organization recognized by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) for a statement of degree equivalency.

The following is a list of private organizations prepared by NACES that evaluate foreign educational credits for employment and other purposes. All charge a fee based on the extent of the education to be evaluated. The list is provided for general information and may not be all-inclusive. NMI does not endorse any particular service.

Foundational Understanding of Midwifery

Students can demonstrate a foundational understanding of Midwifery in one of the following ways:

  1. Completion of Heart & Hands Beginner and Advanced Intensives;

  2. An alternative approved course (see below); OR

  3. Evidence documenting understanding of objectives through an “Objectives Based Alternative Pathway Review” (OBAP).

This requirement is WAIVED for all Transfer Students who have completed at least one trimester, one semester, or two quarters at a MEAC accredited school.

Heart & Hands Beginner and Advanced Intensives

Preferred prerequisite. Students must submit a certificate of completion demonstrating that they have successfully completed Heart & Hands Beginner and Advanced. Cost of this program is the responsibility of the student, is to be paid directly to Heart & Hands, and is separate from tuition for NMI’s Midwifery Certificate Program. 

For more information about this program, please visit the Heart & Hands website.

"I loved Heart and Hands. It’s why I chose NMI as a school. I learned a lot from Elizabeth Davis and thought it was a very good midwifery primer. What an excellent teacher. There were some moments in that class that I’ll never forget." ~ an NMI student

Alternative Approved Courses

Students must submit a certificate of completion demonstrating that they have successfully completed one of the courses listed below. Cost of these programs is the responsibility of the student, is to be paid directly to the chosen organization, and is separate from tuition for NMI’s Midwifery Certificate Program. 

For more information about this program, please visit the follwoing websites:

Objectives Based Alternative Pathway (OBAP)

NMI is dedicated to the accessibility of midwifery education and does not intend for prerequisite requirements to serve as an unreasonable barrier to student enrollment. NMI recognizes that there are many ways of learning and knowing, and values the experience and other forms of training prospective students may have. 

NMI Application guide

Students selecting the OBAP method must describe or list the midwifery related training, instruction, self-study, coursework, life experience, certification, licensure, or other means by which they’ve gained a survey level understanding of the following objectives from a midwifery perspective.

  • Sexual Health and Well Person Care

  • Pregnancy and Prenatal Care

  • Labor

  • Birth and Immediate Postpartum

View NMI’s Application Guide for sample responses and additional instructions to guide your application.

To learn more, view the NMI Handbook.