MCU is proud to be a leader in midwifery education, offering unique degree programs that meet and exceed MEAC and ICM requirements. Our educational pathway is designed to cultivate intellectual curiosity, spark passion, and expand future professional options as the CPM credential expands.
Midwives
Current Students
Founded in 1980 by Dianne Bjarnson as the Utah School of Midwifery, the Midwives College of Utah (MCU) has grown into one of the largest and longest-standing direct-entry (out-of-hospital) midwifery programs in the nation. As a non-profit, distance education institution based in Salt Lake City, MCU serves a diverse community of students from all over the United States, guiding them toward becoming pivotal figures in the revolution of community-based perinatal care.
We are driven by a singular mission: to cultivate Midwives of Excellence—professionals defined by technical expertise, professional excellence, and personal greatness. Our programs are grounded in rigorous academic achievement, comprehensive clinical training, and the advancement of midwifery education.
At MCU, scholarship transcends the purely academic; it serves as the essential pathway to fulfilling our social mission. We utilize a blend of live academic instruction and one-on-one clinical training with MCU-approved midwives.
Through a foundation of culturally responsive and evidence-informed practice, our graduates are equipped to advocate for policy change and implement the Midwives Model of Care™, ensuring every family receives midwifery care of the highest caliber.
MCU is accredited by the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC) which is approved by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency. Additional information below.
MCU is committed to the vision that every family deserves a midwife. The MCU curriculum is firmly grounded in the unique and profound power of the Midwives Model of Care as a primary pathway for improving outcomes and eliminating inequities for pregnant persons and their babies during the childbearing year.
MCU’s culture is inspired by the Midwives Model of Care, reflecting philosophies, skills and behavior in both the way we model and train our students. What we teach and how we teach exemplifies what it means to be a midwife of excellence who is self-actualized and values courageous conversations and relationships built upon honesty and trust. MCU delivers a Midwifery Model of Education; ultimately midwifing midwives through their educational journey and beyond.
Midwives College of Utah (MCU) provides an educational structure and an integrated learning environment for individuals to become midwives of technical expertise, professional excellence, and personal greatness—namely Midwives of Excellence.
The BSM program provides the essential foundation for those seeking a career in community midwifery. Meeting—and exceeding—the comprehensive standards of the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC), the BSM focuses on building expert technical skills, clinical competency, evidence-informed practice, and critical thinking.
Our MSM degree is the ultimate expression of dedication to elevating the profession, moving beyond licensure to genuine academic and professional mastery. This graduate program provides the critical coursework necessary for scholarly growth and leadership across four essential areas of distinction:
Our virtual doors are open to lifelong learners seeking to advance their midwifery or birth professional practice. Access our Bachelor or Master-level courses without a degree commitment, attain CEUs for recertification, or pursue specialized credentials through our Childbirth Education certification or our Birth & Postpartum Doula certification (offered in partnership with Birth Learning).
Midwives College of Utah is registered under the Utah Post-secondary Proprietary School Act (Title 53B, Chapter 5, Utah Code Annotated 1953). Registration under the Utah Post-secondary Proprietary School Act does not mean that the State of Utah supervises, recommends, or accredits the institution. It is the student’s responsibility to determine whether credits, degrees, or certificates from the institution will transfer to other institutions or meet employers’ training requirements.
MEAC Accredited
MCU is accredited by the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC) which is approved by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency. At the successful completion of the program, students obtain a degree in midwifery and the national credential of Certified Professional Midwife through the North American Registry of Midwives.
Why MEAC?
While there are many immediate factors to weigh when choosing the right midwifery program, a prospective student must also consider the future significance of obtaining a degree from a MEAC accredited school. When you graduate from Midwives College of Utah, you will have earned a diploma from a MEAC accredited midwifery program, meaning that employers and clients alike will know that your education was rigorous and held to the high standards set forth in MEAC’s mission and purpose. Learn more about MEAC.
MEAC standards incorporate the nationally recognized core competencies and guiding principles set by the Midwives Alliance of North America and the requirements for national certification of the North American Registry of Midwives. In doing so, MEAC strives to ensure the creation of competent midwives, and to provide a process for self-evaluation and peer evaluation for diverse educational programs.
Also, please consider the following important reasons provided by MEAC:
Join us in transforming birth outcomes and serving families with compassionate, evidence-based care.
