Midwife: What Training?

The profession of midwifery, which is not limited to the practice of childbirth, has been open to men since 1982. This medical profession, which involves overseeing the proper progress of pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care, is accessed through a 5-year curriculum, including one year of medicine and 4 years in a midwifery school.

Introduction to this profession.

The profession of a midwife involves accompanying pregnant women before, during, and after childbirth. Midwives not only assist in delivering babies but also provide follow-up care, call in a doctor in case of difficulties, and give necessary care to the mother and newborn.

In France, this profession is a full-fledged medical profession since midwives have the right to prescribe certain treatments.

A job open to men.

This curriculum has been open to men since 1982, although they currently represent only 5% of the student body. They are called male midwives, "maïeuticiens" or "accoucheurs". It should also be noted that the selection process for students in this curriculum is strict. Since 1971, the number of students admitted to health professions training programs has been regulated. The midwifery curriculum is subject to the "Numerus clausus", which means it admits a limited number of students.

A 5-year training program.

Training to become a midwife is provided in midwifery schools accredited by the region. Admission to this type of school is granted after passing the PCEM1 exam, which is the ranking exam at the end of the first year of the First Cycle of Medical Studies.

To hope to practice this profession one day, it is necessary to start by enrolling in a Faculty of Medicine to complete a first year of study.

The midwifery training itself lasts 4 years and consists of one-third theoretical teaching and two-thirds practical teaching (practical work, directed work, and mandatory internships).

Training program

The midwifery training takes place in two phases of 2 years each: The first one trains students in physiology and eutocia (normal delivery), the second one teaches them to detect and prevent pathologies in the fields of obstetrics, gynecology, and pediatrics.

To obtain the State diploma, which is a higher education diploma, it is necessary to validate the teaching units and internships at each stage of the course and present a final thesis.

Internships, carried out in health establishments or with self-employed midwives, represent an important part of these studies.