Will I be able to support myself?

[midwifemaybe]

I'm really really considering midwife school.  I've applied for the program at Southwest Tech in Wisconsin, and I'm excited about it.  I'm worried about not being able to live on what I make as a midwife.  It's totally a calling for me, and I can't see myself doing anything else, but a girl's gotta eat!  Is it completely unrealistic for me to plan on making enough money to live on?  I'm willing to travel anywhere.  

Also- is the NARM certificate accepted in Canada?  

Thank you guys so much, I'm new here but this board has answered so many of my midwifery questions!

[mandib50]

If you are interested in working in Canada, you will have to be assessed through the bridging programs, either the MMBP http://cmrc-ccosf.ca/node/213/ or the IMPP https://ce-online.ryerson.ca/ce_2010-2011/default.aspx?id=2161 

You may want to take a look at the websites, I think more important than the NARM certificate is your education and level of experience (although that is not to say that the NARM certificate would not be helpful for your application).

Good luck with everything! You can definitely make a good living in Canada as a midwife.

[jengacnm]

Hi midwifemaybe-

The short answer is an emphatic yes. From what I've seen of midwife salaries in Canada, they're making around $90,000/yr

I am a CNM (also in IL, BTW) who is thick in the process of applying to the MMBP (bridging program in Vancouver BC).

If you *know* you want to go to Canada, and you haven't started school yet, I'd recommend you consider going to Ryerson (Toronto) or UBC (Vancouver). I don't know how easy or hard it is to get in if you're not a citizen.

Otherwise, you could do a program here in the States, then do the bridging program.

You should know that ALL midwives, at least the regulated ones, do home AND hospital birth.

Here are some websites:

Canadian Association of Midwives: http://www.canadianmidwives.org/what-is-a-midwife.html 

Canadian Midwifery Regulators Consortium (the people reponsible for the registration test): http://cmrc-ccosf.ca/node/18

MMBP (bridging program in BC): http://cmrc-ccosf.ca/node/213/

IMPP (bridging program in Ontario): https://ce-online.ryerson.ca/ce_2010-2011/default.aspx?id=2161 

Hope this helps!