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The University of South Carolina’s College of Nursing will offer the state’s only accredited nurse-midwifery education program starting in Fall 2025 to address South Carolina’s maternal health needs.

Midwives care for women throughout their lifetime and, officials say, play a critical role in maternal health by providing gynecological, prenatal, postpartum and primary care.

Their presence is linked to lower C-section rates, reduced preterm births and higher breastfeeding rates, the officials say.

The program will offer an accessible online pathway for registered nurses to earn a Master of Science in Nursing.

Upon completion, students will be eligible to sit for the Certified Nurse-Midwife certification exam administered through the American Midwifery Certification Board. 

“Our nurse-midwifery program will offer high quality education and training that empowers nurses to provide compassionate, specialized care for families throughout every stage of pregnancy and childbirth,” says College of Nursing Dean Jeannette Andrews.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 40 percent increase in midwifery jobs over the next decade.

The college anticipates launching a Doctor of Nursing Practice program with a focus on midwifery in 2026. 

To support clinical training for midwifery students, USC has partnered with the School of Medicine Columbia, Prisma Health Baptist and the South Carolina affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives.  

Ten midwifery practices across the state have committed to providing clinical education opportunities for students, including Columbia, Easley, Greenville, Greenwood, Hartsville, Manning and Orangeburg, with multiple locations in Charleston and Spartanburg.