Earn your MEAC accreditation from the only certified practicing midwifery program in the US that provides all necessary clinical experience onsite, with no extra fees or time included

Programs of Study at Maternidad La Luz

Maternidad La Luz's academic program is flexible, giving the opportunity to make educational choices based on the student's individual midwifery goals. A student may choose to participate in any segment of the program that is appropriate for her. Programs are organized on a quarter system. A quarter is approximately thirteen weeks in length, each building on the previous one. All programs are based on MANA core competencies and NARM requirements.

The curriculum is designed to build students' knowledge sequentially, beginning with pregnancy in the first quarter, progressing to labor and birth in the second, and moving to advanced midwifery skills and knowledge in subsequent quarters. Midwifery research is an integral part of the program to prepare midwives to have a questioning and reflective attitude towards their own practice and who continue to gain new knowledge.

MEAC-Accredited Midwifery Programs

Maternidad La Luz offers several education options for those with the calling to the art and practice of midwifery, with the capacity to accommodate a maximum of twenty students. Each quarter builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in the previous quarters. All options involve a very intensive program of study and clinical training.

The Maternidad La Luz midwifery program is a direct entry program providing an integrated model of academic and clinical training. The academic program is based on the MANA Core Competencies and the clinical program is based on Texas standards and NARM requirements. The following options are MEAC-accredited. If a student attends a program at MLL not accredited by MEAC, she will not qualify to take the NARM exam to become a CPM except through the Portfolio Evaluation Process (PEP).

Maternidad La Luz offers two MEAC-accredited programs--the One Year and Three Year. However, students in the One-Year Program may choose to complete additional quarters for further clinical experience, to have more on-call clients, or to take advantage of more advanced academic classes.

The One-Year Program

The One-Year Program that consists of four quarters is the basic program that fulfills the requirements necessary to apply to become a Texas-licensed midwife, as well as requirements for other states and provinces, or to apply to become a NARM Certified Professional Midwife (CPM).

The Fifth Quarter Option

Students may attend the One-Year Program and wait to do the majority of the on-call clinical component with a lighter clinical schedule after completion of course work. A student may take one on-call each in the second, third, and fourth quarters and two in the fifth quarter, or one each in the third and fourth quarters and three in the fifth.

The Three-Year Program

Many states and provinces require midwives to attend a three-year program. The Three-Year Program at Maternidad La Luz is a continuation of the One-Year Program and consists of nine quarters. Students who have completed the first four quarters continue their studies in quarters five through nine. The Three-Year Program can be completed in 27 months. The Medical Board of California accepts MLL's Three-Year Program as a vehicle for licensure.

The program is intended to further enhance and consolidate clinical skills, while providing care for women and their babies prenatally, during labor, birth, and the postpartum. They also continue to gain academic knowledge with a focus on independent study and attending classes in the fifth through ninth quarters.

Special Midwifery Residency

Students in the Three-Year Program may apply for this residency after completing the One-Year Program. They obtain midwifery licensure in Texas and earn their three-year diploma while working as a staff midwife. Students receive a stipend while doing the residency.

Extended Program

The extended program is designed for students who have family commitments or for those students who want to complete a Maternidad La Luz program at a slower pace, and may allow students to hold a part-time job. Classes, assignments, and exams in the extended program are the same as those required in the programs described above. Students in the Extended Program complete the academic component on the same track as those students in the one-year program. However, the clinical requirement is adjusted to two twenty-four hour shifts a week, and rotation at births is also modified. To make up for the adjusted clinical time, students stay an additional two weeks for each quarter that they are on an extended schedule. There are fees for each quarter that a student does an extended program.

Advanced Placement

An applicant with prior midwifery experience or education may challenge the first quarter and begin the program in the second quarter. This requires documented proof of equivalent competency in the academic, clinical, and birth requirements needed to advance to the second quarter. Individuals who may apply include advanced students from other schools or practices, practicing midwives, nurses, and other health care providers.

Applicants interested in advanced placement fill out the regular application form and write a narrative describing their midwifery experience and/or clinical background and why they are qualified for advanced placement. A supervisor or colleague will have to complete a skills evaluation form documenting the applicant's level in prenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum skills. Accepted applicants must successfully complete Maternidad La Luz's first quarter exam and skills evaluation and attend either the March or September three-week orientation.

There is a fee to complete the Advanced Placement procedure.

Other Midwifery Programs at Maternidad La Luz

Clinical Placement for Non-MLL Midwifery Students

Students who have completed or are nearing completion of the academic portion of a midwifery program in another school may do a 3-month or 6-month intensive clinical placement at Maternidad La Luz. After a 3-week orientation beginning either March 1 or September 1, students begin working two to three clinical shifts each week, providing prenatal and postpartum care to clients, as well as attending births. During this clinical placement, students are able to meet most of the NARM requirements for certification. A student enrolled in the three month long Clinical Placement Program may not take on-call clients at Maternidad La Luz.

Students enrolled in the 6-month long placement may participate in the on-call component of the clinical program and take three continuity of care clients in their last three months, in addition to working two clinical shifts each week. MLL cannot guarantee that these students will fulfill the NARM requirement for three continuity of care clients. However, students may spend additional time at MLL to complete the NARM requirement of three continuity of care clients if necessary.

The Advanced Midwifery Practicum

The Advanced Midwifery Practicum is a 3-month long program designed for midwives and midwife apprentices with at least one year of experience who wish to gain more hands-on experience and improve their clinical skills. The applicant must contact MLL to request a packet with further documentation to be submitted with her application, including forms to provide documented proof of at least the following:

- 10 births as active participant
- 10 births in primary role
- 35 prenatal exams
- 10 initial exams
- 10 newborn exams
- 20 postpartum exams
- Letter of reference and evaluation from preceptor

The practicum is scheduled individually at the convenience of the applicant and Maternidad La Luz and includes the following:

- A two-week long one-on-one orientation to the clinic and MLL policies, procedures, and protocols.
- An assessment of the participant's midwifery and well-woman care skills and private instruction in areas that need improvement.
- Opportunity to provide prenatal and postpartum care to MLL clients.
- Opportunity to attend births as primary, assist, or documenter.
- Signing off on NARM skills and requirements as completed.
- Invited to attend any 1st or 2nd quarter classes offered during the practicum.
- A written evaluation and certificate at the end of the program.

The Introductory Midwifery Practicum

The Introductory Midwifery Practicum is a three-month long program for those exploring the option of becoming a midwife and for midwifery students who do not wish to enroll in an accredited program. This special program that begins every March 1 and September 1 provides the student midwife with the opportunity to learn and acquire basic midwifery skills, attend births, catch babies, and provide prenatal and postpartum care. This practicum includes:

- A three-week orientation to the clinic and MLL policies, procedures, and protocols.
- Didactic and practical classes in essential midwifery and well-woman care skills.
- Attendance at births as primary, assist, or documenter.
- Providing prenatal and postpartum care to clients.
- Signing off of NARM skills and requirements.
- A written evaluation and certificate at the end of the practicum.

Students who complete the Introductory Practicum may continue their studies at MLL to complete the One- or Two-Year Program.

Short-term Placements

Maternidad La Luz will accept applications from individuals who desire a short-term visit. Any placement from one week to less than one quarter is considered to be short-term. This opportunity is open to those investigating a career in midwifery, experienced midwives who want to observe life in a busy birth center setting, and others interested in studying at MLL. Short-term students may attend births as observers, shadow students in the clinic, and attend 1st and 2nd quarter classes. To apply, students complete the application and state the dates requested. Dates that are convenient both to the applicant and MLL will be considered.