What Is a Student Midwife — and What Does It Mean for Your Care?

A student midwife is someone completing the education and clinical training required to become a licensed midwife. At our St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay practice, student midwives are fully integrated into the care team — attending prenatal visits, births, and postpartum care alongside a licensed midwife. They never practice independently, and everything they do is supervised. For many families, having a student midwife involved means more hands, more time, and more continuity throughout your care.

Student Midwives as Part of Your Care Team

As part of our commitment to supporting the next generation of midwives, you may have the opportunity to work with a student midwife during your care. Student midwives work closely alongside licensed midwives throughout their education, and are a genuine part of your care team, not just observers.

Many of our student midwives attend the Florida School of Traditional Midwifery (FSTM) in Gainesville, where they receive extensive classroom and clinical training. Throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period, student midwives often participate in appointments and births, which means you have the chance to build a relationship with them over time. Many families appreciate having an additional caregiver who is familiar with their preferences, history, and birth goals.

What Student Midwives Bring to Your Care

Student midwives bring real strengths to the care team. They are actively engaged in learning the latest evidence-based practices, and because they are focused on developing their skills, they often have more time to spend providing education, answering questions, and offering individualized attention during visits and labor.

Everything a student midwife does is performed under the supervision of a licensed midwife. They do not practice independently, and all assessments, recommendations, and clinical care are overseen by the supervising midwife to ensure safe, high-quality care.

The Training Behind the Role

Before becoming licensed in Florida, student midwives complete years of education and extensive hands-on clinical training, often participating in well over 100 births under supervision. By the time they are licensed, they have developed significant experience caring for birthing people and babies while working closely with experienced mentors.

By welcoming student midwives into your care, you receive the benefits of an expanded care team while helping train the future midwives who will go on to serve families in our communities.

Frequently Asked Questions About Student Midwives

What is a student midwife?

A student midwife is someone completing the education and clinical training required to become a licensed midwife. Many of the student midwives in our St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay practice attend the Florida School of Traditional Midwifery (FSTM) in Gainesville, Florida.

Will a student midwife be involved in my care?

You may have the opportunity to work with a student midwife during your prenatal visits, birth, and postpartum care. Their involvement allows for continuity of care and gives you the chance to build a relationship with an additional member of your care team.

What are the benefits of having a student midwife involved?

Student midwives bring enthusiasm, current evidence-based knowledge, and a strong commitment to learning. Because they are focused on developing their skills, they often have more time to provide education, answer questions, and offer emotional support throughout your pregnancy and birth experience.

Will a student midwife provide care independently?

No. Everything a student midwife does is performed under the supervision of a licensed midwife. All assessments, recommendations, procedures, and clinical decisions are overseen by the supervising midwife to ensure safe, high-quality care.

How much training do student midwives receive?

Student midwives complete years of classroom education and extensive clinical training before becoming licensed. During their training, they gain hands-on experience in prenatal, birth, newborn, and postpartum care while working closely with experienced midwife preceptors.

How many births do student midwives attend before becoming licensed?

Before licensure, student midwives typically participate in well over 100 births and complete hundreds of hours of supervised clinical experience. This extensive training helps prepare them to provide safe, competent care once licensed.

Why does your practice work with student midwives?

Supporting student midwives helps train the next generation of skilled and compassionate midwives. Their presence also benefits clients by providing additional support, attention, and continuity of care throughout the childbearing journey.

Have questions about your care team or want to learn more about what to expect? Book a free consultation; we're happy to walk you through how everything works.