Yes, a Birth Assistant, also known as a Midwife's Assistant, is a healthcare professional specifically trained to support community midwives with births in out-of-hospital settings, such as homes or free-standing birth centers. They provide support during labor, birth, and postpartum care.

Birth Assistants typically work as independent contractors and are primarily hired by direct-entry midwives.

Under the supervision of a midwife, a Birth Assistant performs various duties. These include taking maternal and fetal vital signs, charting, setting up equipment, maintaining a clean and organized birth space, and providing assistance in obstetrical emergencies, among other essential birth assistant responsibilities.

RESOURCE VIDEOS:

• WATCH NOW: (CLICK HERE) What is a birth assistant / clinical assistant?

• WATCH NOW: (CLICK HERE) Brittney Miller, Birth Assistant?

• WATCH NOW:(CLICK HERE) SANM Brand Film

No, you do not need a degree or a medical background to become a Birth Assistant. There is no national accrediting body that governs who can become one. Do your due diligence and know what your state's laws and regulations are in regards to working as a birth/ midwife's assistant.

Here's what's included in the Black Sisters Birth Academy® Online Birth Assistant Program:

• Black Sisters Birth Academy® Online Birth Assistant Course: (30 pre-recorded modules, training videos, 30 interactive quizzes, internal assignments and an exit exam)

• BSBA Clinical Experience Course: External Assignments with Community Midwives & Birthing Families. (This course includes: Job Search Preparation)

• BSBA Resource Library

• A Certification of Completion

• PLUS: Two Additional Certification of Completion For Bloodborne Pathogens & OSHA, and HIPAA

• Downloadable Birth Assistant Manual

• Placement on Birth Assistant Directory after your program completion

PLEASE NOTE: This program does not include direct, one-on-one time with an instructor. This feature is available in both the Online Program PLUS and Hybrid Program.

Here's what's included in the Black Sisters Birth Academy® Online Birth Assistant Program PLUS:

• Black Sisters Birth Academy® Online Birth Assistant Program

• Access to Our Private Facebook Group

• Access to Our NEW Professional Development Community

• (3) LIVE Virtual Group Skills Day Sessions with built-in Module Reviews (1.5 hours session / per month)

• Student Support: Assignment Feedback & Bi-Weekly Email Check-Ins

• 1:1 Mentorship Calls: Access to the instructor between sessions via phone or email during office hours M-F 11 AM - 5 PM EST (Except for Federal US Holidays), answering questions, birth reviews, ensuring you are clear through all of the integration and implementation.

Here's what's included in the Black Sisters Birth Academy® Hybrid Birth Assistant Program:

• Black Sisters Birth Academy® Online Birth Assistant Program PLUS

• 2-Day In-Person Birth Assistant Skills Training (Group & 1:1 Skills Drills)

• Certificate of Completion

• Black Sisters Birth Academy® Tote Bag

• Academy T-Shirt: BIRTH: It's What We DO

• Professionally Catered, Plant-Based Meals: Breakfast & Lunch Provided During Your In-Person Training

Consider your learning style and skill level. The Online program offers a flexible, self-guided path to certification for experienced birth workers. If you are a newcomer to birth work or an experienced birth worker who needs direct, one-on-one support from an instructor and community, the Online PLUS program is perfect. If hands-on practice is essential for your learning, the Hybrid program provides the most immersive experience.

Program Comparison Chart:

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For the Online Program:

• Enrollment is offered on a rolling basis.

• Once accepted, you will have 7 days to complete your enrollment and secure your spot.
  

For the Online Program PLUS:

• Enrollment opens three times a year, in January, May and September.

• We accept a maximum of six students per enrollment period.

• Once accepted, you will have 48 hours to complete your enrollment and secure your spot.

For the Hybrid Program:

• Enrollment opens once a year in January.

• We accept a maximum of six students per enrollment period.

• Once accepted, you will have 48 hours to complete your enrollment and secure your spot.

PLEASE NOTE: Only qualified applicants will be considered for enrollment into Black Sisters Birth Academy®.

The Online Birth Assistant Program and the Online Birth Assistant Program PLUS has Two Phases, and completion of both phases is required for certification.

PHASE ONE:

• Completion of the Online Birth Assistant Course

• Completion of the Phlebotomy, Venipuncture, and IV Techniques Certification (External Certification)**

• Provide proof of a valid CPR Certification (External Certification)**

• Provide proof of a valid NRP (Advanced Provider) Certification (External Certification)**

PHASE TWO:

• Completion your Clinical Experience with a community midwife(s):

Attendance at 3 prenatal visits (at 28 weeks +) and 3 out-of-hospital births

The Hybrid Birth Assistant Program has Three Phases, and completion of each phase is required for certification.

PHASE ONE:

• Completion of the Online Birth Assistant Course

• Completion of the Phlebotomy, Venipuncture, and IV Techniques Certification (External Certification)**

• Provide proof of a valid CPR Certification (External Certification)**

• Provide proof of a valid NRP (Advanced Provider) Certification (External Certification)**

PHASE TWO:

• Completion of a 2-Day In-Person Birth Assistant Skills Training in Central Florida

PHASE THREE:

• Completion your Clinical Experience with a community midwife(s):

Attendance at 3 prenatal visits (at 28 weeks +) and 3 out-of-hospital births

**PLEASE NOTE: Students are required to maintain all external certifications in good standing for the entire duration of the program. View the full, official External Certification Policy on our Tuition, Fees, and Policies page. Enrolled students will be instructed in detail on how to complete their Phlebotomy, Venipuncture, and IV Techniques Certification when enrolled.

EXEMPTION POLICY FOR PHLEBOTOMY, VENIPUNCTURE, AND IV TECHIQUES COURSE:

Healthcare workers may be exempted on a case-by-case basis based on an approved active license or certification. For a prospective student to be exempt from completing the Phlebotomy, Venipuncture, and IV Techniques course and received Advanced Standing credit, they must meet one of the following criteria:

• An active license from one of the listed professions: Phlebotomist, Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse, Patient Care Assistants, Patient Care Technicians, Certified Medical Assistants, or Physician Assistants.

• Proof of a valid certification in Venipuncture, Phlebotomy, and IV Techniques training.

Proof of an active licensure or certification must be submitted via email to the academy for approval within 90 days of program enrollment.

For any questions, email us at support@blacksistersbirth.com and we'll be glad to guide you.

Black Sisters Birth Academy® Online Birth Assistant Course is a 10-week online curriculum-based course with pre-recorded modules and external assignments to be completed within the course. Three (3) modules are released each week. You will receive a certificate of completion for the online course after all assignments are completed and after you have successfully passed your exit exam with an 80% or higher.

All programs (Online Program, Online Program PLUS, and Hybrid Program) must be completed within 180 days from your enrollment date.

ONLINE PROGRAM & ONLINE PROGRAM PLUS COMPLETION TIMEFRAME (RECOMMENDED):

• PHASE ONE: Complete within 90 days from the date of your enrollment.

• PHASE TWO: Complete at any point within 180 days from the date of your enrollment AFTER completion of PHASE ONE.

IMPORTANT: Completion of PHASE ONE is MANDATORY before entering PHASE TWO.

HYBRID PROGRAM COMPLETION TIMEFRAME (MANDATORY):

• PHASE ONE: Must be completed within the first 90 days from your enrollment date, or before your scheduled date in-person training for PHASE TWO.

• PHASE TWO: Must be completed by the scheduled date of your in-person training, and only after you have successfully completed PHASE ONE.

• PHASE THREE: Can only be completed after the successful completion of PHASE TWO.

IMPORTANT: In the Hybrid program, it is mandatory to complete PHASE ONE before starting PHASE TWO, and PHASE TWO must be completed before beginning PHASE THREE.

Below is a list of approved organizations for each required certification:

For CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) Certification:

US Residents:

American Heart Association

American Red Cross

Canadian Residents:

Canadian Red Cross

For NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program) Certification:

US Residents:

American Academy of Pediatrics

Canadian Residents:

Canadian Paediatric Society

If you have any questions, email us at support@blacksistersbirth.com and we'll be glad to guide you.

Black Sisters Birth Academy® Hybrid Birth Assistant Program includes a mandatory two-day in-person skills training session, held annually in Central Florida.

Enrollment for this program opens once a year in January and is limited to a maximum of six students per enrollment period.

We also offer a two-day in-person skills training session for alumnae annually in the summer. These sessions are available on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to availability when the need arises.

Subject to change: TUITION

Black Sisters Birth Academy® Online Birth Assistant Program:

$1,500 USD.

Black Sisters Birth Academy® Online Birth Assistant Program PLUS:

$3,000 USD.

Black Sisters Birth Academy® Hybrid Birth Assistant Program:

$5,000 USD.

FEES:

You will need to set aside an additional $250-$350 USD to purchase your Birth Assistant equipment, supplies, CPR and NRP courses if not already certified.

REFUND POLICY: Enrolling into Black Sisters Birth Academy® is non-refundable. If you are not at a level where you are financially capable to invest at this level, please do not apply!

Yes, Black Sisters Birth Academy® offers two payment plan options: a single payment and an installment plan.

Online Program Payment Plan Options:

(1.) One-time payment: $1,500 USD

(2.) 5 installments of $345 USD for 5 months

Online Program PLUS Payment Plan Options:

(1.) One-time payment: $3,000 USD

(2.) 5 installments of $690 USD for 5 months

Hybrid Program Payment Plan Options:

(1.) One-time payment: $5,000 USD

(2.) 3 installments of $1,917.67 USD for 3 months

(Due to the in-person training component, this installment plan must be paid in full before attending.)

Please note that the installment plan includes a 15% installment fee on the total tuition as reflected.

Additional payment plan options are available through Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services (Affirm, PayPal, AfterPay, or Klarna) when you select the "Pay In Full" option at checkout. These BNPL services are typically available on the enrollment checkout page and provide short-term installment financing.

After you have received your program certification you can seek employment as a certified Birth Assistant dependent upon your state law. Please note that each state law, midwife or institution such as a free-standing birth center determines what their requirements are prior to hiring or working as a Birth Assistant.