The Midwife Program

Become a God-Fearing Professional Midwife With GEM's Self-Paced Home Midwifery Academy Program for Women Wanting to Serve Families Through Childbirth Around the World

GEM Midwife Academy

GEM Midwife Program is designed for those ready to take the next step into out-of-hospital, home birth midwifery. This self-paced program provides a clear path—offering structured curriculum and personalized coaching & mentorship from experienced midwives.

You’ll receive guidance on how to pursue midwifery certification, how to complete required paperwork, and find midwifery apprenticeships in your community. Whether you’re just beginning or already on the path, this academy equips you with the knowledge, tools, and support to walk confidently into your midwifery calling.

Story from the Founder

Hi! My name is Jana and I started my own education journey into home birth midwifery in 2012.  I first began doula-ing friends and then working as a professional doula until I started formal midwifery studies in 2015. As I walked into midwifery education, I found it challenging to figure out how the whole process worked with study and apprenticeship and certification paperwork and testing. 

It was difficult to find schools that were accessible or affordable and with values that aligned with my own! I ended up starting at one school that I then felt a moral obligation to quit, losing thousands of dollars, and then the next school I joined phased out their program the year after I started. And all through my apprenticeship experiences, I had to figure a lot out on my own and was thankful to sometimes glean important corrections and directions from other students I encountered along the way to not make the same set-back mistakes they did!

So, through my own experiences, I realized how nice it would have been to have an affordable curriculum with a coach-mentor along the way to guide me through the didactic, apprenticeship, and certification processes! ALSO, I would have loved to get to know other students who were on a simultaneous journey for peer support and friendship. 

All to say, in 2021, I created the GEM Midwifery Program to help others like me through the out-of-hospital midwifery training process. My goal is to de-mystify the process so you know exactly what you need to do and how to do it, as well as provide an excellent curriculum to work through, and help you connect to peers and coach you through the whole learning journey.

What makes the GEM Midwiery Academy unique is the flexibility, affordability, and Christian values. My desire is to make God-fearing midwives who will serve all around the world! Students do not need to be Christian to join, but all students need to be willing to receive instruction from a Christian perspective and understand that class calls may organically include prayer and discussions of bible scripture and spiritual things.

The GEM Midwife Academy is an all-in-one affordable ($100) monthly subscription membership model giving you access to the online curriculum, class calls, text group, research resources, coaching-mentorship with Jana, and peer connection you need to become a confident, capable, God-fearing professional midwife at your own pace (within 2 years minimum to 10 years maximum limit).

How Does It work?

The GEM Midwifery Program is....

Flexible:

Self-paced, completed on your time schedule, and can be started at any time of the year

Affordable:

$100/month membership with optional separately paid live skill workshops at 1/2 price to members

Achievable:

Broken down into do-able pieces with incentives and deadlines for motivation and completion

Sustainable:

Encourages a midwifery lifestyle that is protective to self and family so it can be healthy & last

Reproducible:

Provides ways and tools for midwives to train more midwives wherever they go in the world

God-Fearing:

Supports midwives to grow spiritually & authentically integrate their faith into their care of women and their families

What's Included?

  • Self-paced 2-Year Curriculum
  • Online Accessible Platform
  • Student Connection Text Group
  • Bi-weekly Class Video Calls
  • One-on-One Check Ins
  • Apprenticeship Connections & Coaching
  • Christian Values & Spiritual Development
  • Research Resources 
  • NARM Paperwork Guidance
  • Completion Rewards

Our Curriculum

(Two Years Worth of Content)

What Our Students Are Saying:

It has been a great program, I have enjoyed how affordable the program is and that I am able to work at my own pace. I have been learning because each question makes you dig deeper into what you are learning, like going on a rabbit trail which is amazing because then you learn more than just the question.

I highly recommend GEM Academy, the students are wonderful, the midwife is incredibly knowledgeable in everything birth, and if she doesn’t know she finds out. Very affordable and easy instructions. The midwife who started this is in the business of training women to become wonderful midwives. This is her passion so she pours into her students.

Jennifer

The format of this course is very different than most, and I wasn’t totally sure what I thought about it at first. But I really, really like it. I like that we have to go out and find the information ourselves rather than just watching something that tells us the answers. It makes the information stick so much better when we have to go and find it ourselves, especially from multiple sources. I also really like the weekly meetings with the ability to ask questions, hear stories, and get to know our fellow students.

I would mention that this program is suited for people who want to keep things simple and not fancy or high-tech. Some people want huge productions and videos and all that, but I love how simple and down-to-earth this program is, and I especially love how affordable it is! I also love that it’s a Christian program.

Laurel

It took me a couple of years of looking around at different programs, but once I found GEM Academy I knew it was the school for me! I love that it's self-paced, and that works well with my lifestyle. I also love that this program is Christian-based! I've been learning new things every day! This has made me a more knowledgeable doula and I'm very excited for this midwifery journey!

If you're being called to be a midwife, answer the call! Let Jana be your guide on this midwifery journey! It's very affordable, and self-paced so it works with most schedules! I'm a mom of two with one on the way, a business owner, and a birth doula, and I can carve out a bit of time each day to study and progress on my midwife journey! You can do it too!

Raquel

Steps To Follow

1

KNOW THE PROCESS

Understand "How to Become a Midwife" in your State & Country - Learn the Midwifery Certification Process for out-of-hospital Midwifery and other midwifery pathways

2

COMPLETE PRE-REQS

Become a Doula & Take the Pre-requisite GEM Intro to Miwdifery Course online. This ensures you have the knowledge base to get started and that this is truly what you want to do! 

3

FILL OUT APPLICATION

Apply & Interview for GEM Midwife Academy. You will have a brief one-on-one interview with GEM Academy Leadership to ensure that this path is the best fit for your midwifery journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get accepted into GEM Academy?There are prerequisites in order to be accepted into the program: you must have completed a doula training program (either from GEM or from another organization), and you must also take GEM's Intro to Midwifery Course as a prerequisite to joining the academy. Then you fill out the GEM Midwife Academy application and schedule an interview with the Academy Director, Jana, for a one-on-one video call to make sure GEM is indeed the right fit for you!
What are the prerequisites to get into GEM Academy?In order to join the GEM Midwifery Academy, you must first complete a doula training program (either from GEM or from another organization) and also you must take GEM's Intro to Midwifery Course as a pre-requisite to joining the academy.  Once you have completed those two things, then you can fill out the GEM Midwife Academy application and schedule an interview with the Academy Director, Jana, for a one-on-one video call to make sure GEM is indeed the right fit for you!
Does GEM Midwifery Academy qualify as an accredited program for obtaining CPM credential through NARM? Yes & No...

YES, GEM Midwifery Academy IS a valid self-study educational program to obtain the Certified Professional Midwife credential through the "PEP" process with the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM). 

However, GEM Midwifery Academy is NOT a "MEAC" Accredited program. Therefore, depending on the laws of the state or country you intend to practice in, the GEM Midwife Program may not qualify as a valid educational program. 

Therefore, you need to first learn about the midwifery laws of your region before proceeding!
Can I enroll in GEM Midwifery Academy if I’m not planning on becoming a midwife?Yes, if you are wanting to grow your knowledge in birth work and be a part of the community, you are welcome to do so even if you do not plan to complete or obtain a midwife credential for professional practice.
Can I be enrolled at GEM Midwifery Academy if I’m not living in the U.S.?Yes, the GEM Academy curriculum is a self-study program that can be completed from anywhere in the world.  If outside the US, we recommend you complete the International Registry of the Midwife (IRM) requirements to become a certified international midwife (CIM).
What resources do I get access to with my subscription to GEM Midwifery Academy?When you join the GEM Midwifery Academy, you will get access to the GEM Midwifery Academy cirriculum via an online platform called Thinkific. You will also get access to a bi-weekly live class call on Zoom with fellow students and a teacher midwife, as well as being added to a GEM Midwife Student WhatsApp chat group to interact with student peers and midwife teachers continuously, and lastly you will have  access to digital midiwfery texts and a medical research database for study and reference.
How long is the GEM Midwifery Academy program?The GEM Midwifery Academy is designed as a 2-year academic self-study program, however, you will be able to complete assignments faster or slower based on your capacity and ability to do so at the pace you want. Importantly in most cases, when a student is simultaneously working in apprenticeship with a practicing midwife, it is normal for completion of both academic and practical apprenticeship together to take 3-5 years (and at maximum 10 years if choosing a slow pace) to complete in order to receive midwifery certification! (Practical apprenticeship must be completed in conjunction with academic studies whether during, after, or in some cases before academic studies)

**Few women are able to complete both academic and practical apprenticeship portions of midwifery study in 2 years or less, BUT it is "possible" if you are able to commit 100% of your time (like a single woman without kids and not working another job!) to midwifery study and work with a busy midwife doing 5-10 births per month or more…OR if you are already starting out with significant previous midwifery knowledge and birth experience from another profession and work with a busy midwife!**
How much does the GEM Midwifery Academy Cost?The GEM Midwifery Academy is a monthly membership subscription model that costs $100 per month.
What are the payment options?Automatic online payments via debit or credit card. The program is a subscription model and works as a month-per-month payment until you finish the academic assignments 

*You may complete all assignments long before completing apprenticeship, in which case you will no longer need to pay GEM membership and you can continue completing PEP paperwork and learning through apprenticeship only until completion. However, GEM will provide a chat group for GEM Midwifery Academy graduates who want to continue to have peer & GEM Midwife communication even after completing all academic work!
Do I need to make a payment first to start the lessons?Yes, you need to first subscribe and pay to get access to the cirriculum platfom to start lessons. You will not have access to subscribe to the academy until you have complete pre-requisites, applied, interviewed, and been accepted into the Midwife program.
Can I pause my subscription and re-enroll in the program?Yes, you can pause your subscription at any point and then re-enroll in GEM Academy when the timing is best for you.
How are assignments graded?Grading is competency-based, one-on-one check-ins with Jana via Zoom call where she reviews your assignments and asks you important questions from each topic to verify that you have gained and retained the knowledge from each assignment.
Is there a specific schedule for the lessons?The GEM Midwifery Academy program is broken down into eight 12-week quarters over the course of the two years. Each module consists of twelve assignments intended to each take one week to complete. You can go at your own pace, meaning you may go slower [completing one assignment in 2 weeks or more], or faster [completing two assignments in 1 week or less]. There are completion check-ins with a midwife after every completed course module and a bi-weekly group video call where you can ask questions as you go along.
How can I get started in clinical practice while I’m studying with GEM Midwifery Academy?We encourage all GEM students to start as doulas to start learning through real birth expriences.  Doula work is extreeeeemely valuable in preparing you as a midwife! The first phase of your clinical practice paperwork is 10 births in any role, which means attending a birth as a sister, mom, friend, DOULA, or anything else, counts! So doula-ing is the best place to start. 

*If* you have already been a doula for 10 or many more births, and desire to pursue midwifery, then you are ready to start the GEM Midwifery Academy.  
How does the CPM license work in different states of the USA?First of all, the Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) credential is not a license but a certification from the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM), which is a private midwifery credentialing business located in Tennessee, USA. NARM is not government run and does not "regulate" midwives! Rather it is an organization that was started by homebirth midwives in the 1990’s to create a standardized process for qualifying out-of-hospital midwife training and credentialing that has now become generally accepted as the standard in the USA. 

Now, separately from midwife certification, some states have created midwife licensure which can be obtained by completing  individual state requirements, which is state government managed.  In some states, the CPM certification is all that is required to obtain Midwife Licensure with the state by some kind of registration process with the state. In other states there are other requirements in addition to CPM certification and in some cases midwifery licensure can be obtained even without a CPM certification by completing other requirements.  It just depends on each individual state's laws. In some states midwifery is still illegal and there is no pathway to licensure nor legal practice within the state for professional out-of-hospital midwifery EVEN if you were to obtain the CPM certifiction credential.... although in those states usually nurse-midwives, family physicians, or obstetricians may practice homebirth legally if they choose to. 

I explain more about state laws and requirements for midwives in the GEM Intro to Midwifery Course.
Do I get a midwife certification when I finish my studies with GEM Midwifery Academy?When you finish all modules of the GEM Midwifery Academy program, you will receive a certificate of completion of GEM Midwifery Education. However, in order to recieve your Midwifery Certification and Credential as a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) you must ALSO complete midwifery apprenticeship paperwork process through the certifying organizations of NARM or IRM in order to qualify for testing. After you pass the exam, the midwifery certification and midwife credential is awarded by NARM or IRM directly.
How do you work after you complete the program?In many cases, after completing your midwifery training and gaining the CPM and/or CIM credential, women will start their own private practice midwifery business.  Alternatively, in some regions where midwifery care is more popular, particularly in bigger cities, you may be able to get a job working for another midwife in her homebirth practice OR get a job at a local free-standing (out-of-hospital) birthing center that hires certified professional midwives (*some birth centers only hire certified nurse midwives).

info@gemmidwife.com

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