NARM Phases Overview
Please select a bolded tab below to view each phases details
NARM Phase 1: Attendance of 10 births in any setting in any capacity (observer, doula, family member, friend, beginning apprentice, etc.)
After completing a mandatory orientation program, students will be scheduled in the clinic for up to 48 hours per week, until they meet the NARM Phase I requirements. The witness verifying a Phase I birth does not have to be a NARM-registered preceptor, but must be present at the birth, and willing to verify the applicant's presence.
This program option is scheduled at the mutual convenience of the student and MLL. Students in the NARM Phase I program are welcome to attend selected classes that are scheduled during their time at MLL.
After completing a mandatory orientation program, students will be scheduled in the clinic for up to 48 hours per week, until they meet the NARM Phase I requirements. The witness verifying a Phase I birth does not have to be a NARM-registered preceptor, but must be present at the birth, and willing to verify the applicant's presence.
This program option is scheduled at the mutual convenience of the student and MLL. Students in the NARM Phase I program are welcome to attend selected classes that are scheduled during their time at MLL.
NARM Phase 2: Assistant Under Supervision (AUS)
Licensed midwives, who are also preceptors registered with NARM, supervise and sign off skills and knowledge on NARM's Comprehensive Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities Essential for Competent Midwifery Practice Verification Form 201a during Phase 2. Maternidad La Luz has a notary public on premises who notarizes student documents at no additional cost. The program includes:
Licensed midwives, who are also preceptors registered with NARM, supervise and sign off skills and knowledge on NARM's Comprehensive Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities Essential for Competent Midwifery Practice Verification Form 201a during Phase 2. Maternidad La Luz has a notary public on premises who notarizes student documents at no additional cost. The program includes:
- An orientation period designed to introduce students to the clinic and MLL policies, procedures, and protocols;
- Didactic and practical classes in essential midwifery and well-woman care skills, designed to meet the NARM knowledge and skills requirements;
- Attendance at a minimum of 20 births as assistant under supervision, which includes shadow primary, shadow, assist, documenter, and gofer roles;
- Assisting at a minimum of 20 newborn exams within 12 hours of birth;
- Providing prenatal care to clients, working towards completing the required 25 prenatal exams (including at least 3 initial prenatal exams); and
- Providing postpartum care in 10 postpartum exams over 24 hours after birth.
NARM Phase 3: Primary Under Supervision (PUS)
This program is designed for those exploring the profession of midwifery and for midwifery students and apprentices who are striving to obtain the Certified Professional Midwife credential via the PEP process. This program provides the student midwife with the opportunity to expand upon basic midwifery skills acquired during Phase 2, attend births as primary under supervision, and participate in providing prenatal and postpartum care as Primary Under Supervision (PUS). Licensed midwives supervise and sign off all skills and knowledge gained during this program. Maternidad La Luz has a notary public on premises who notarizes student documents at no additional cost. The program includes:
An orientation period designed to introduce students to the clinic and MLL policies, procedures, and protocols.
This program is designed for those exploring the profession of midwifery and for midwifery students and apprentices who are striving to obtain the Certified Professional Midwife credential via the PEP process. This program provides the student midwife with the opportunity to expand upon basic midwifery skills acquired during Phase 2, attend births as primary under supervision, and participate in providing prenatal and postpartum care as Primary Under Supervision (PUS). Licensed midwives supervise and sign off all skills and knowledge gained during this program. Maternidad La Luz has a notary public on premises who notarizes student documents at no additional cost. The program includes:
An orientation period designed to introduce students to the clinic and MLL policies, procedures, and protocols.
- Attend prenatal and postpartum appointments as primary under supervision (PUS)
- Attend births as primary under supervision
- Attend newborn exams as primary under supervision
- Begin learning and practicing more advanced entry-level skills such as IV therapy, basic
suturing, and neonatal resuscitation (unless already certified) - Students may request taking on a maximum of 3 full continuity of care clients (COC)
and 3 partial continuity of care clients (PCOC) per 3-month period - Signing off of NARM skills and requirements as primary under supervision (PUS) from
MLL’s pool of NARM registered preceptors - A written evaluation and certificate at the end of the program
Phase 4
This program is designed for entry-level midwives who have completed NARM Phases I – III, and are ready to take the NARM certification exam, or have already taken the exam and need to meet the requirement of 5 additional births as primary under supervision. This programs allows interested applicants the opportunity to expand upon their entry level midwifery skills, and possibly further develop more advanced midwifery skills including suturing and IV therapy. The time frame for this program is dependent of the clinics volume and the personal ability of the applicant. Maternidad La Luz cannot guarantee that the requirements of this phase will be met in a certain amount of time, and therefor cannot predict the amount of time necessary to fulfill these requirements with any certainty.
This program is designed for entry-level midwives who have completed NARM Phases I – III, and are ready to take the NARM certification exam, or have already taken the exam and need to meet the requirement of 5 additional births as primary under supervision. This programs allows interested applicants the opportunity to expand upon their entry level midwifery skills, and possibly further develop more advanced midwifery skills including suturing and IV therapy. The time frame for this program is dependent of the clinics volume and the personal ability of the applicant. Maternidad La Luz cannot guarantee that the requirements of this phase will be met in a certain amount of time, and therefor cannot predict the amount of time necessary to fulfill these requirements with any certainty.
Preceptor Program
This program is designed for entry-level midwives who have already passed the NARM exam, and are eligible to apply for Texas state licensure. Midwives enrolled in this program will be working in our high volume birth center along side MLL staff midwives, towards gaining the requirements to become NARM certified preceptors, which requires that the applicant attend 50 births as primary midwife, 10 of which are FCOC. Midwives enrolled in this program will gain a strong sense of what it means to supervise student midwives and manage births under the direct supervision of MLLs licensed midwives, as well as build upon more advanced clinical skills such as suturing, managing birth complications, administering IV antibiotics in labor, and much more. Midwives choosing this program will be immersed in a high volume bicultural, bilingual environment, where their skills and knowledge will be supplemented and expanded upon to enhance their ability to serve as a skilled and well-rounded primary midwife. Many midwives completing this program have gone on to work in international settings with organizations such as Doctors Without Borders and Midwife Pilgram.
This program is designed for entry-level midwives who have already passed the NARM exam, and are eligible to apply for Texas state licensure. Midwives enrolled in this program will be working in our high volume birth center along side MLL staff midwives, towards gaining the requirements to become NARM certified preceptors, which requires that the applicant attend 50 births as primary midwife, 10 of which are FCOC. Midwives enrolled in this program will gain a strong sense of what it means to supervise student midwives and manage births under the direct supervision of MLLs licensed midwives, as well as build upon more advanced clinical skills such as suturing, managing birth complications, administering IV antibiotics in labor, and much more. Midwives choosing this program will be immersed in a high volume bicultural, bilingual environment, where their skills and knowledge will be supplemented and expanded upon to enhance their ability to serve as a skilled and well-rounded primary midwife. Many midwives completing this program have gone on to work in international settings with organizations such as Doctors Without Borders and Midwife Pilgram.