Nurse-Midwifery FAQ

I have my BSN and am interested in your program, what do I need to apply?

You will find the information about application to the program, application deadline, and other pertinent information on our  admission process page

Do I need to have labor and delivery (L&D) experience to be accepted into the Nurse-Midwifery Education Program at East Carolina University?

L&D experience is preferred but not required. Students who have had no experience in L&D or women’s health may be asked to get training as a Doula or enroll in an independent study where they complete intrapartum modules and work with a nurse in L&D to gain some experience. We have found some preceptors decline students without nursing experience in L&D. Also, graduates without nursing experience in L&D may have more difficulty finding jobs after graduation.

I am a nursing student and I’m very interested in becoming a Certified Nurse-Midwife. What should be my next step after I graduate from nursing school?

It depends on whether you’re graduating with your BSN or ADN. If you’re in an ADN program, you can enroll in an RN to BSN program. If you are in a BSN program, you can apply to graduate school at ECU. You will need to work as an RN for at least 1 year prior to starting the midwifery clinical courses. However, during this year you can be in graduate school part time taking core courses pertinent to all graduate students in the College of Nursing.

I’ve been a nurse in L&D for several years and would like to further my career as a Certified Nurse-Midwife. What do I need to do to get into your program?

You will need to apply to graduate school at ECU. The GRE is required if your GPA is below a 3.2. If your GPA was a 3.2 or better the GRE may be waived. Contact the program director to confirm and send the waiver to the graduate school. You will also need transcripts from all institutions of higher learning, with a GPA of at least 2.5 overall or 3.0 for nursing school, 3 letters of reference from people who know you professionally, ie: nurse manager, MD or CNM, and a 1-page statement of intent which tells us why you want to be accepted into the midwifery education program at ECU. Once all this material is collected, the graduate office will send your packet to the College of Nursing, midwifery concentration. You will then be called for an interview with the midwifery faculty. You will receive a letter of acceptance or rejection with an explanation and if accepted, a plan of study will be developed, with your assistance, to guide you as to what courses to take each semester.

I understand the midwifery education program at ECU is a distance education program. How do you teach nurse-midwifery from a distance?

Distance education has become quite popular in university settings as it allows students to remain in their local community while attending school. We have students participate in on-campus activities throughout the program to attend orientation, assist with skill acquisition and to make connections with faculty and fellow students. Assignments are completed and submitted through the learning management system. A clinical site is chosen as close as possible to your place of residence. It may be in the same community or you may need to travel several hours. We try to find a site that will meet your needs for a particular course.

Is it better to attend a distance education program or a face-to-face program?

The advantage of a distance education program is that the student can remain in their local community and continue working part time while they attend school. A disadvantage is the students sometimes feel socially isolated. We try to prevent that by encouraging the students to socialize when they come to campus.

I have a baccalaureate degree in something other than nursing and am interested in becoming a Certified Nurse-Midwife. What steps do I need to take to be accepted into your program?

East Carolina University has an accelerated BSN program in the College of Nursing which prepares the graduate to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam after one year of study. Once you graduate and obtain a nursing job (preferably in labor & delivery), you may apply to graduate school in the nurse-midwifery concentration. You are required to have one year of nursing experience prior to starting the midwifery clinical courses. It is possible to get this experience while attending the core courses in the graduate program at the College of Nursing.

I already have a master’s in nursing (MSN) but would like to be certified in midwifery. How does that work in your program?

We do have a post master’s certificate in midwifery. You will need to discuss your situation with the director of the midwifery education program as you may be able to waive some of the clinical, depending on your background. An individual plan of study will be developed for you to obtain a post master’s certificate which must have a minimum of 23 semester hours. Upon graduation from the program, you will be eligible to sit for the certification exam which, upon passing, registers you as a CNM.

How many students do you accept in each graduating class?

We do cap admissions for each graduating class in order to maintain a faculty to student ratio that facilitates learning. It also helps insure clinical placements.

Do you accept out-of-state students?

We only accept students from NC and SC because our mission is to increase the number of CNMs in rural areas of the Carolinas. If you choose to move to NC you will be charged out-of-state tuition until you have lived within NC for one year.

What is the attrition/graduation rate of students in the nurse-midwifery concentration?

This rate was calculated from 2020 to 2024. Some students do not complete the program due to family, health, or financial concerns. A few students choose to transfer to a different concentration to complete their MSN degree. Attrition/graduation rates for the ECU Nurse-Midwifery Education Program from the past 5 years are demonstrated in the chart below. It is high because it includes students who step back a year. They are listed under Extended Curriculum.

* Student Race number listed is non-white. B-Black, L=Latino, AI=American Indian

** BIPOC = Black Indigenous People of Color

What is the certification rate on the national board exam for your graduates?

Upon successful completion of the nurse-midwifery concentration, the graduates are eligible to sit for the national board exam offered through the  American Midwifery Certification Board. The ECU Nurse-Midwifery Education Program has a goal of an 85% certification rate which comes from going slightly above the national average.

What is the ratio of full time to part time students? What is the ratio of MSN to Post Masters Certificate Students?

The majority of midwifery students are in the MSN program part time which allows them to continue working. The chart below demonstrates these rates over the past 5 years.

What is the cost of the nurse-midwifery program at ECU?

Since the cost is subject to change per semester it is most accurate to check ECU’s Financial Services website. Once there, scroll to the Main Campus Distance Education link on the left.  If you live in N.C. you are considered a graduate resident.  Note the additional fees per credit hour (ASG, MSN, Nursing Certificate for post master’s certificate, and Clinical Assessment Fee for the clinical courses). All midwifery courses that start with Nurse-Midwifery Management: are clinical courses and would have the clinical assessment fee added.  You can go to the curriculum plans in the midwifery website and add up the cost per semester. There is a $500 liability insurance fee added to the tuition the Fall of the first clinical course (N6119) and the Fall of the intrapartum and postpartum/newborn courses (N6115/N6116). That fee covers the student for the year. The cost of books depends on whether you purchase hard copies or use electronic books from the library.  There is also a cost to travel to clinical sites (usually within 30-60 minutes from your home) and a lab coat, stethoscope, and laptop if you do not already have these.