Midwifery School in West Virginia - WV

By Jennifer Williams, allied health world Contributing Writer
Published: November, 3 2010

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The West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses regulates the licensing of midwives in West Virginia. In order for midwives to be licensed, they must take specific midwifery courses in West Virginia that fully comply with the appropriate licensing requirements. The completion of these courses will equate to a Master of Science degree in nursing/midwifery, generally a 2- to 3-year program.

The West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses requires all midwives to be registered nurses. The undergraduate degree studies, which are taken prior to entering into a midwifery program, essentially prepare students to seek, test, and obtain registered nursing certification through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

In West Virginia, the master of midwifery program is typically divided into 2 aspects: 1 year of formal education and 1 year of didactic/clinical training. Together, this usually makes the entire program between 60 and 70 credit hours. During the educational portion of the course, students take classes to learn about the historical roots of midwifery, the stages of labor and delivery, physiologic elements of the female reproductive system, techniques that can be used to ensure a comfortable home-birth experience, and possible pregnancy-related complications.