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. A Birth Doula is a non-medical professional who provides physical and emotional support to a pregnant woman and her family during their pregnancy and childbirth.

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.

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

The Online Birth Assistant Program is designed in Two Phases. PHASE ONE: • Completion of the Online Birth Assistant Course • Completion of the Phlebotomy, Venipuncture, and IV Techniques Certification (External Course) • Proof of NRP and CPR Certification (External Courses) PHASE TWO: Clinical Experience with your community midwife(s). • Attendance at 3 prenatal visits (at 36 weeks +) and 3 out-of-hospital births PLEASE NOTE: You will be instructed in detail on how to complete each external course required for this program's completion once enrolled. Completion of Phase One and Two are required for program completion.

Black Sisters Birth Academy® Online Birth Assistant Course is a 10-week online curriculum-based course. Three (3) modules are released each week. The online course is pre-recorded modules with external assignments to be completed within the course. 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 this program from the date of your enrollment. ONLINE PROGRAM COMPLETION TIMEFRAME (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED): Complete PHASE ONE within 90 days from the date of your enrollment. Complete PHASE TWO at any time within 180 days from the date of your enrollment AFTER completion of PHASE ONE. Completion of PHASE ONE is MANDATORY before entering PHASE TWO.

SEE COMPARSION CHART BELOW: Black Sisters Birth Academy® offers TWO TYPES OF PROGRAM BUNDLE To Accommodate Different Learning Styles: 1.) Black Sisters Birth Academy® Online Birth Assistant Program (Basic Bundle) is an online birth assistant program designed for independent, do-it-yourself learners with some home birth or clinical experience in maternal-child health care. This program bundle is ideal for: Aspiring Midwives / Aspiring Birth Assistants with some home birth experience Birth Assistants that have no formal education in birth assisting currently working with a midwifery practice Midwifery Students Nursing Students Birth Doulas with out-of-hospital birth experience / with hospital birth experience (2 to 5+ years) Licensed Medical Professionals with Maternal-Child Health experience (L & D, Mother-Baby, Pediatrics or NICU experience) 2.) Black Sisters Birth Academy® Online Birth Assistant Program (Premium Bundle) is an online birth assistant program with LIVE virtual group sessions for social learners with no or some home birth or clinical experience in maternal-child health care. This program bundle is ideal for: Aspiring Midwives / Aspiring Birth Assistants with no or some home birth experience Birth Assistants that have no formal education in birth assisting currently working with a midwifery practice Midwifery Students Nursing Students Birth Doulas with out-of-hospital birth experience / with hospital birth experience (6 mos. to 1+ year) Licensed Medical Professionals with Maternal-Child Health experience (L & D, Mother-Baby, Pediatrics or NICU experience) Black Sisters Birth Academy® Online Birth Assistant Program: Comparison Bundle Chart For Basic Vs. Premium

Tuition: Black Sisters Birth Academy® Online Birth Assistant Program (Basic Bundle): $3,000 USD. What's Included: Black Sisters Birth Academy® Online Birth Assistant Course: (30 pre-recorded modules, training videos, 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 Basic Student Support: Assignment Feedback & Bi-Weekly Email Check-Ins Tuition: Black Sisters Birth Academy® Online Birth Assistant Program (Premium Bundle): $5,000 USD. What's Included: Black Sisters Birth Academy® Online Birth Assistant Program (Basic Bundle): Black Sisters Birth Academy® Online Birth Assistant Course: (30 pre-recorded modules, training videos, 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 - Basic Student Support: Assignment Feedback & Bi-Weekly Email Check-Ins (15) Weekly LIVE Group Module Review Sessions via Zoom (1 hour session / per week) (4) Monthly LIVE Group Skills Day Sessions via Zoom (1 hour session / per month) Premium Student Support: Access To Me Between Sessions via Email or Phone during office hours M-F 11AM-5PM EST(except for Federal US holidays), answering questions, ensuring you are clear through all of the integration and implementation PLEASE NOTE: You will need to set aside an additional $250-$350 to purchase your Birth Assistant equipment, supplies, CPR and NRP courses if not already certified. TUITION PAYMENT PLAN OPTIONS: Black Sisters Birth Academy® Offers Two (2) Tuition Payment Plan Options. (Basic Bundle) Tuition Payment Plan Options: One-Time Payment of $3,000 USD 5 Payments of $690 USD/ month (Premium Bundle) Tuition Payment Plan Options: One-Time Payment of $5,000 USD 5 Payments of $1,150 USD/ month PLEASE NOTE: Installment payments incurs an installment fee of 15% of the tuition cost. Additional payment options available through BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) products (Affirm & AfterPay) when you Pay In Full for enrollees who meet their set eligibility criteria on our enrollment page. BNPL products provide short-term financing that allows consumers to make purchases and pay for them in installments. 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!

If you have any questions while working on your online course & / program you can email your instructor or place your questions within our private Facebook group. Questions are answered M-F, between 11 AM and 5PM EST. If you have any customer support questions (login access, billing, program extension, etc.) email 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.