The Florida School of Traditional Midwifery

The Florida School of Traditional Midwifery (FSTM) is a nonprofit professional school in Gainesville focused on training direct-entry midwives. Its three-year program combines classroom instruction with supervised clinical experience, preparing graduates to sit for the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) examination and, after passing, apply for Florida licensure and national Certified Professional Midwife credentials. This is a concentrated professional pathway rather than a broad liberal-arts college: applicants should be ready for a sequenced curriculum, in-person classes and clinical placements that may take them beyond Gainesville.

Program and clinical training

FSTM lists a single core program, the 3-Year Direct-Entry Midwifery Program, designed for students without previous nursing or midwifery education. The curriculum totals 91 credits and 2,505 instructional hours over nine terms. Students study year-round, with 15-week Spring, Summer and Fall terms; academic classes are currently taught on campus, while clinical experience is arranged at birth centers, home-birth practices and clinics around Florida. The school follows Florida’s midwifery practice rules and national certification requirements. The program is lock-step, so progression depends on completing required courses in sequence. Graduates receive a diploma and may sit for the NARM exam; eligibility for Florida licensure and the CPM credential depends on passing that exam and satisfying the applicable requirements. Nurses may ask about advanced standing, which is reviewed course by course and does not remove the statutory minimum training period. The program page and current 2026–27 catalog explain curriculum and clinical requirements. FSTM says it is accredited by the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council through December 6, 2031, and the program is licensed by Florida’s Commission for Independent Education.

Tuition, financial aid and scholarships

The school lists tuition of $4,352 per term for nine terms, or $39,168 for the program. Ask for the current written cost sheet to understand fees, supplies, travel to clinical placements and any other expenses not included in tuition. Eligible U.S. citizens and permanent residents may apply for federal Pell Grants and student loans using FSTM’s federal school code 038565. The school also lists Florida Bright Futures, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funding through a local workforce center, and a zero-interest school payment plan that divides a term’s balance after half is paid at registration. Its financial-aid office can advise students about private scholarships; do not assume every form of aid applies to every student.

FSTM’s Access and Equity Scholarship covers tuition and fees beginning in the second year for one student per cohort per year. The school says selection prioritizes applicants from groups underrepresented in midwifery, successful completion of the first year, financial need, and plans to serve Florida communities, including Medicaid or marginalized populations. It also describes the Jennifer Wollheim Devine Scholarship for emergency or other financial needs that could disrupt a student’s education. Review the current criteria with the school and ask when applications are distributed. See the school’s financial-aid page and scholarship information before building a budget.

Applying for the next cohort

FSTM seats a cohort once a year for Fall enrollment. As of October 31, 2026, the school says the Fall 2027 application cycle opened October 30, 2026. The process includes a complete online application, a $100 application fee, a résumé and cover letter, essay responses, official transcripts and an in-person American Heart Association or Red Cross Basic Life Support course. Applicants who request federal aid should file a FAFSA; the school asks for it before the interview. Candidates with complete applications are interviewed one-to-one to discuss readiness and fit. The school also lists prerequisites and special advanced-standing procedures for nurses. Check the current deadline before preparing materials: the application page gives the requirements, and the Admissions overview explains the cohort cycle. Questions can be sent to info@midwiferyschool.org or 352-338-0766.

Gainesville location and visits

FSTM is at 810 E University Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601. The school lists 352-338-0766 and info@midwiferyschool.org for contact. Campus visits are by appointment only; the school specifically says it is closed to drop-in visitors. Its contact page lists Monday and Tuesday visits by appointment and Saturday and Sunday closed, without publishing a general walk-in schedule for the other weekdays. Arrange a visit before traveling and ask whether the meeting will be in person or virtual. Clinical training locations are distributed around Florida and are assigned separately from the Gainesville classroom location.

What student comments can tell you

There are few public reviews, so they offer only a narrow snapshot. Some former students have left positive comments about the school and its teaching, while one former student describing attendance from 2019 to 2021 reports a seriously negative experience with administrators. The comments are too limited to establish how representative either view is or whether a past concern has since changed. Prospective students should use an admissions interview to ask about faculty communication, academic support, clinical placement, complaint procedures and how the school handles concerns during training. Review the current catalog and talk with the admissions team before deciding whether the program’s structure and expectations fit your goals.

FSTM may be a fit for students committed to professional midwifery who want a direct-entry route grounded in Florida’s licensure pathway. Before enrolling, understand the lock-step schedule, clinical travel, full cost and aid conditions, and the steps between graduation, the NARM exam and state licensure. The school’s admissions team can help you decide whether to apply for the next Fall cohort.