A Birth Assistant (also known as a Midwife's Assistant) is a trained professional who provides assistance to community midwives with births in out-of-hospital settings (home &/ free-standing birth center settings). Typically, Birth Assistants are independent contractors who are primarily hired by direct-entry midwives. A Birth Assistant performs several duties under the supervision of a midwife including taking maternal and fetal vital signs, charting, setting up equipment, keeping the birth space clean and organized, providing assistance in obstetrical emergencies and other essential birth assistant duties.

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 Access to Our Private Facebook Group Placement on Birth Assistant Directory after your program completion Student Support: Assignment Feedback & Bi-Weekly Email Check-Ins (2) LIVE Virtual Group Skills Day Sessions (1.5 hours session / per month) 1:1 Mentorship Calls: Access to the instructor between sessions via phone 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 (2) LIVE Virtual Group Skills Day Sessions (1.5 hours session / per month) 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 Breakfast & Lunch provided during trainings

The Online Birth Assistant Program 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 Course)** • Proof of CPR Certification (External Course)** • Proof of NRP (Advanced Provider) (External Course)** PHASE TWO: • Clinical Experience with your community midwife(s): Attendance at 3 prenatal visits (at 28 weeks +) and 3 out-of-hospital births **PLEASE NOTE: You will be instructed in detail on how to complete your external courses upon enrollment. 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 Course)** • Proof of CPR Certification (External Course)** • Proof of NRP (Advanced Provider) (External Course)** PHASE TWO: • Completion of a 2-Day In-Person Birth Assistant Skills Training in Central Florida PHASE THREE: • Clinical Experience with your community midwife(s): Attendance at 3 prenatal visits (at 28 weeks +) and 3 out-of-hospital births **PLEASE NOTE: You will be instructed in detail on how to complete your external courses upon enrollment. If you have any questions, please contact us at support@blacksistersbirth.com and we'll be glad to guide you.

Yes, you can complete your external courses for Phase One prior to enrollment. 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 For Venipuncture and Phlebotomy Certification: Apprentice Doctor® (MANDATORY) EXEMPTION: Healthcare workers may be exempted on a case by case basis from the Venipuncture and Phlebotomy Course based upon an approved active licensure & / certification. For a prospective student to be exempt from completing the Venipuncture course and received Advanced Standing credit, they must meet one of the following criteria: (1.) An active license from one of the listed professions: Phlebotomist, Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse, Patient Care Technicians, Paramedic, EMT or Military Medic OR (2.) Proof of certification of a Venipuncture, Phlebotomy, and IV Techniques training. Proof of an active licensure or certification must be submitted via email at support@blacksistersbirth.com for approval within 90 days of program enrollment. Please allow 3-4 business days for a response. If you have any questions, please contact 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.

You have 180 days to complete either the Online or Hybrid program from the date of your enrollment. ONLINE PROGRAM COMPLETION TIMEFRAME (RECOMMENDED): Complete PHASE ONE within 90 days from the date of your enrollment. Complete PHASE TWO 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. PHASE TWO: Must be completed according to the scheduled dates. PHASE THREE: Can be started only after the successful completion of PHASE THREE. 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.

Yes, we offer in-person training sessions as part of our Black Sisters Birth Academy® Hybrid Birth Assistant Program. This program includes a two-day, in-person skills training session held in Central Florida. Enrollment for this program is available three times a year: Winter, Spring, and Fall with a maximum enrollment of 6 students per enrollment period. Additionally, we offer opportunities for in-person skills training for alumnae on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to availability.

Yes, Black Sisters Birth Academy® will issue you a Certificate of Completion after you have completed your program.

Subject to change: TUITION Black Sisters Birth Academy® Online Birth Assistant Program: $3,497 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: $3,497 USD (2.) 6 installments of $699.40 USD for 6 months Hybrid Program Payment Plan Options: (1.) One-time payment: $5,000 USD (2.) 5 installments of $1,200 USD for 5 months Please note that the installment plan includes a 20% 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.

For our Online Program, enrollment opens four times a year: Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. For our Hybrid Program, enrollment opens three times a year: Winter, Spring, and Fall. PLEASE NOTE: Only qualified applicants will be considered for enrollment into Black Sisters Birth Academy®.

If you have any questions while working on your online course or program, you can reach out to your instructor via email or phone, or post your questions in our private Facebook group. Please note that questions are answered Monday through Friday, between 11 AM and 5 PM ET, excluding Federal US Holidays. For customer support inquiries related to login access, billing, or program extensions, please email us directly at support@blacksistersbirth.com.

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.