Certified nurse-midwives care for women through pregnancy, birth and beyond, and many also provide gynaecological care. Here is how nurses become CNMs, and how the route differs from midwifery in other countries.
Imagine supporting a woman through her labour, catching her baby and seeing her again for her postnatal check. For nurse-midwives, that continuity of care is the best part of the job.
What CNMs do
- Antenatal care and education
- Care during labour and birth
- Postnatal and newborn care
- Family planning and gynaecological care
- Prescribing, within their state’s rules
Steps in the US
- Earn a nursing degree and become a registered nurse
- Gain experience, often in labour and delivery or women’s health
- Complete a graduate nurse-midwifery programme accredited by ACME
- Pass the American Midwifery Certification Board exam
- Get state licensure as an advanced practice nurse
Midwifery in other countries
In many countries, such as the UK, Australia and New Zealand, midwifery is its own profession with a direct-entry midwifery degree, and you don’t need to be a nurse first. Nurses can still become midwives, sometimes through shortened programmes. Check your local regulator.
Where CNMs work
- Hospitals
- Birth centres
- Clinics and private practice
- Community and home birth services
Frequently asked questions
Is a CNM the same as a doula?
No. Doulas give emotional and practical support but are not clinical providers. CNMs are licensed clinicians.
How long does it take?
In the US, about six to eight years from starting nursing school, depending on experience and programme length.
But do I need to be a nurse to be a midwife?
Only in some countries. In the US, CNMs are nurses, but there are also Certified Midwives (CM) who enter without nursing. Elsewhere, direct-entry midwifery is common.
Your next step: If you are a nurse, ask to spend a shift with midwives on your labour ward to see if the role suits you.
Related: How to become a midwife · Midwife vs nurse
Sources: American College of Nurse-Midwives, American Midwifery Certification Board, Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education, International Confederation of Midwives.
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