The naturopathic midwifery program is open to graduates of, and to students currently enrolled in, any naturopathic medical program that is accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME).

The program provides academic and clinical training leading to a Certificate of Naturopathic Midwifery.

Graduates are uniquely qualified among naturopathic physicians and among midwives. As comprehensive naturopathic family physicians, they enjoy an extended scope of practice in the provision of care to the birthing woman and her family. In their role as naturopathic midwives, they augment the midwifery model of care with the naturopathic principles of practice and exceed the midwifery scope of practice by providing ongoing pediatric, gynecological and family care. The depth and breadth of naturopathic medicine is wholly embodied in the naturopathic doctor specializing in maternity care.

The vision of the naturopathic midwifery program is:

• To preserve naturopathic childbirth within the scope of naturopathic medical practice and to promote naturopathic midwifery nationwide.
• To improve the quality of care provided to childbearing women and their families.
• To preserve the normalcy of childbearing and promote natural childbirth.

This certificate adds to the Bastyr naturopathic medicine program 71.5 additional classroom and lab credits, which includes approximately 1,300 clinical hours. These additional requirements may be done concurrently with, or after finishing, a CNME accredited program in naturopathic medicine. (If taken after completing a naturopathic medicine degree, the program will take one to two years to complete.)

The program is fully accredited by the federally approved Midwifery Education Accreditation Council. The naturopathic midwifery program fulfills the Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA) core competencies for midwifery practice and exceeds minimum clinical standards set by both the American College of Nurse Midwives and the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM). Graduates are eligible for licensure as midwives in the state of Washington and may be able to demonstrate eligibility in other states that license midwives. Graduates may also sit for the ACNO (American College of Naturopathic Obstetricians) specialty licensure exam in states that include natural childbirth within the scope of the naturopathic physician. In addition, graduates are eligible to sit for the NARM certified professional midwife (CPM) exam.