Program FAQ
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A midwife is a registered health care professional who provides primary care to low-risk women throughout their pregnancy, labour and birth and provides care to both mother and baby during the first six weeks following the birth. Midwives work together in group practices. During regularly scheduled visits to the midwifery practice, midwives provide clinical examinations, counselling and education. Women in midwifery care normally do not see a physician during their pregnancy, labour or the first six weeks after the birth unless complications arise.
A midwife is a person who, having been regularly admitted to a midwifery educational program, duly recognized in the country in which it is located, has successfully completed the prescribed course of studies in midwifery and has acquired the requisite qualifications to be registered and/or legally licensed to practice midwifery. The International Confederation of Midwives believes that a midwife offers care based on a philosophy, which influences the model of care. – from International Confederation of Midwives website (September, 2007)
Find out more by visiting our What Is a Midwife page.
Clinical experiences require students to provide their own means of reliable transportation. Throughout the program, students will be placed in more than one midwifery practice within the McMaster Midwifery Program catchment area (the McMaster student placement area spans from Oakville to Windsor and Guelph to Niagara Falls). Due to limited placements students may have to relocate within Ontario for clinical placements. Travel and living expenses are the responsibility of the student. Careful financial planning is required in order to participate in the program.
Yes. Each student is assigned to a midwife preceptor during clinical courses within the McMaster Midwifery Program catchment area (the McMaster student placement area spans from Oakville to Windsor and Guelph to Niagara Falls). There are 6 clinical terms and each spans 12 weeks. Students will provide continuity of care to clients and obtain continuity of supervision from a preceptor. There are additional placements in hospital labour and delivery units and with obstetricians.
There is no one educational background that will guarantee admission. However we recommend at least one year of university studies prior to application. The program curriculum is structured to train students who have no prior health care education or experience.
Persons with qualifications from outside of Canada are advised to contact the Continuing Education Department at Toronto Metropolitan University regarding the International Midwifery Preregistration Program (IMPP) Alison Gaul at agaul@ryerson.ca or (416) 979-5000 ext. 7681.
All graduates are required to apply to the College of Midwives for registration and are required to work in an established practice for their first year of registration. To date all graduates who choose to practice are working.
As a newly practicing midwife (New Registrant) you can anticipate your salary to be approximately $100,000 in your first full-time year of work. If you graduate from an Ontario Midwifery Program and spend your first-year practicing in Ontario, you will also get a grant of just over $7500 to buy the equipment required to practice. You should also anticipate yearly increases as you become a more experienced midwife. Finally, a benefits package is also included as part of your yearly income.
The Association of Ontario Midwives provides some additional information found here
Midwives, as Primary Care Practitioners, set up private practices usually in groups of 2 or more. They attend births in hospitals and women’s homes. They provide care throughout pregnancy, labour, birth and up to six weeks postpartum to the woman and her baby.
Having attended a birth is NOT a requirement for admission to the program; however, any type of volunteer or work experience may be beneficial to you in understanding the role of a caregiver.
Midwifery students should consider carefully the lifestyle changes that will occur as a student and later as a practicing midwife. Midwifery students will have to plan carefully for the four years of the program. This will mean discussing with family and support people, the implications of working long hours, relocating for clinical terms, maintaining transportation and the cost of the program. As a midwifery students, you will not be able to maintain a part-time job during clinical terms. These clinical terms begin in the 2nd term of year two of the program and students are expected to cover the costs, including transportation.
The McMaster Midwifery Education Program does not offer a part-time stream. Toronto Metropolitan University does offer a part-time program. For more information, please visit the TMU Midwifery Education Program website.
The McMaster Midwifery Education Program does not offer an accelerated stream. However, Toronto Metropolitan University offers this option for individuals with Health Profession degrees.
For more information about the Toronto Metropolitan University Post-Baccalaureate Program for Health Professionals, please visit the TMU Midwifery Education Program website.
For the Midwifery Program, there is only one intake each year, in September.
Admissions FAQ
Updated: May 29, 2023
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Over 400 applicants apply to the Midwifery Education Program at McMaster each year.
The average competitive CGPA varies from year to year, but most successful applicants chosen for interview range in the high 90% to mid 80% range.
The top 135 ranked applicants will be invited to the interview. 20% of the 135 spots are reserved for applicants for whom applications were assessed solely on High School credits.
Your CGPA is derived from a maximum of 42 units of most recently completed undergraduate course work and 18 units of prerequisite English, Biology, and Chemistry high school courses (or university equivalents). At McMaster, a 3-unit course is equivalent to a 0.5 credit course (i.e. a single-semester course).
As a direct entry program, the Midwifery Education Program at McMaster fully reviews and assesses all applications from current high school students and high school graduates. Depending on the applicant pool each year, a variable number of high school students are offered admission to the program. The Midwifery Education Program does, however, encourage all applicants to complete at least a year of university prior to applying to the program to best prepare for the admissions interview and for success in Level 1 of the program.
If you are missing any of the three required high school courses, you can upgrade them through a local high school/adult education board or through the Independent Learning Centre (ILC). For example, the Independent Learning Centre offers the current Ontario High School curriculum.
Alternatively, if you can present 6 units of Biology, Chemistry, or English at the University level, they may be used in place of any corresponding High School course prerequisite that is absent or below the required grade.
Biology, Chemistry, or English courses taken at College will not be accepted.
Any prerequisite 6 units for eligibility must be satisfied by 6 units of discrete high school or 6 units of discrete university credits. High school credits will not be combined with university credits.
All applicants who have obtained permanent resident status prior to submitting their application will be considered for the program.
All applicants must be Canadian Citizens or have Permanent Resident status prior to applying to the Midwifery Program.
A Nursing or other health professional degree is not a requirement of admissions eligibility.
The Midwifery Education Program is comprised of a diverse student body who are admitted from various academic streams and with course credits or degrees commonly in Faculty of Humanities, Social Science, Arts & Science, or Health Science programs. Applicants with education from all post-secondary programs of study are welcome to apply.