The California Challenge Process Information Sheet

What is the California Challenge Process?

The three-year MEAC-accredited program at Maternidad La Luz was created to help students meet the academic and clinical requirements to become licensed midwives in some states and provinces. MLL's three-year program is accepted in the State of California to practice midwifery.

MLL is pleased to offer another option to the 3-year program for former students in pursuit of a midwifery career in California. Students who have completed the one-year program at MLL can challenge the three-year program through a written and clinical examination and documentation of certain prerequisites. The written and clinical skills examination portion of the Challenge Process will be offered at the mutual convenience of the applicant and Maternidad La Luz.

What are the steps needed to complete the challenge process?

The applicant must:

1. Fulfill all prerequisites:
   • One-year documented experience at MLL
   • The following clinical experience:
     • 50 initial / new antepartum visits
     • 300 return antepartum visits
     • 50 labor management experiences
     • 30 births as primary attendant
     • 30 newborn assessments
     • 100 births attended as an active participant
     • 50 postpartum visits within the first 5 days after birth
     • 50 postpartum / family planning /gynecology visits
   • At least 50 percent of the required clinical experience has to have been obtained within five years of applying to the California Medical Board to either sit for the written exam or for initial licensure
   • Current certification in NNR, CPR, and IV
     
2. Complete the application which includes:
   • Verification of MLL experience by official transcript and required clinical experience by a qualified U.S. or Canadian midwife and a physician
   • Each verifier must complete a Verifier's Information Form and provide a copy of their current license
   • Copy of current CPR, NNR, and IV certification
     
3. Send completed application and documentation forms to MLL with application review fee
   
4. MLL sends notice of approval or denial of application within 6 weeks
   
5. Send registration form to MLL with written & clinical examination fee
   
6. Complete written and clinical skills examinations
   
7. MLL reviews exam and notifies applicant of pass/fail within 4 weeks
   
8. If all sections of the examination are passed, MLL will send proof of completion of the Challenge Process
   
9. If any section is failed, the applicant must complete the retake registration form for the section or sections that need to be retaken, and submit these with the retake fee to MLL

How do I apply to challenge the 3-year program?

In order to apply, the applicant must write to MLL to request the California Challenge Packet. The packet includes the following:

• Detailed information on the Challenge Process for the applicant
• Policies and procedures for the Challenge Process
• A study guide that includes the curricula, syllabus, objectives, and a list of required readings for the 5^th through 9^th quarters of MLL's 3-year program
• MANA core competencies
• Sample written test questions and clinical skills tested
• Pull-out forms for the person(s) verifying the applicant's clinical experience
• An application to be returned to MLL by the designated deadline

What is the cost of obtaining credit by examination?

Additional fees that may be incurred during the Challenge Process include:

The applicant will pay all costs for travel, lodging, and food.

How do I apply?

Contact Deborah Kaley, Challenge Process Director
1301 Magoffin
El Paso, TX  79901
Tel:  (915) 532-9895
e-mail:  academic@maternidadlaluz.com