Becoming a certified nurse midwife (CNM) in the United States is a very difficult proposition, requiring years of education and hands-on experience. This article explains in detail the necessary steps to become a CNM, including information on certification exams and recommendations for becoming an RN first and then deciding on specialization.
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To become a certified nurse midwife, you must first complete your bachelor’s degree in nursing. After that, you must take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). This is a computer-adaptive exam that tests knowledge and skills needed to practice safe, evidence-based care.
Once you pass the NCLEX-RN, you may then apply to your state’s Board of Nursing for certification as a registered nurse (RN). Once this is obtained, your next step will be to enroll in an accredited nurse-midwifery education program. The first part of this program is clinical rotation where students gain experience working with families who are expecting babies.
Upon completion of the clinical rotation, students will then complete coursework and pass several exams before taking the American Midwifery Certification Board exam (AMCB). This test assesses knowledge and skills related to midwifery care including maternal health services like prenatal care or postpartum care; neonatal health services such as breastfeeding support; family planning methods like contraception or sterilization; and health promotion/disease prevention strategies such as nutrition counseling or smoking cessation programs for pregnant women or new mothers.
How to become a certified nurse midwife
Become a registered nurse (RN)
To become a certified nurse midwife, you’ll first need to earn your registered nurse (RN) license. You can then complete an RN-to-CNM program at one of the many schools across the country that offer such programs. Once you have completed the coursework, you’ll have to pass all of your exams and clinical experiences before being able to apply for certification through NANNM.
- National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX)
- The NCLEX is a national exam taken by individuals who wish to work as nurses in the United States. It’s offered in January and July each year, so there are two opportunities for you to take it each year if necessary.*National Certification Examination (NCE) – Critical Care*National Certification Examination (NCE) – Neonatal Pediatric Intensive Care
Get certified as a midwife
As a certified nurse midwife, you are required to take a certification test every few years. The test is given at testing centers across the country and is not free.
To be eligible for certification, your nursing degree must be from an accredited school with a BSN or MSN degree in nursing. You should also have experience as a registered nurse (RN) for a minimum of two years before taking the certification exam.
Complete graduate training
To become certified as a nurse midwife, you must complete graduate training. Nurse-midwifery programs are available at most U.S. schools that offer nursing degrees and advanced practice midwifery certificates.
A master’s degree is required for graduate entry into the field of nurse-midwifery, which can take up to two years to complete depending on your previous education and experience. The graduate program should include both classroom study and clinical training on supervised births under the supervision of certified nurse midwives or physicians in obstetrics and gynecology units at hospitals or birthing centers. After completing your master’s program, you must apply for certification from the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB). This requires passing an extensive written examination based on content outlined in its Core Curriculum Guidelines published by AMCB; studying for this exam takes about 250 hours over a period of three months before testing day arrives (or longer if you’re a slow reader!). Once you pass this exam with flying colors (no small feat!), it will be time for your professional debut—and after all that hard work on behalf of future generations, we’re sure they won’t disappoint!
Receive licensure to practice
- You must be licensed in order to practice nurse midwifery. The American Midwifery Certification Board offers certification in nurse midwifery.
- To become certified, you must pass the certification exam and then recertify every five years. The exam includes a written and an oral component.
Becoming a certified nurse midwife is a long journey, but it is worth the effort.
Becoming a certified nurse midwife is a long journey, but it is worth the effort. It will be hard, but you can do it. The joy of helping others is worth the effort, and the money is good too! You get to make a difference in people’s lives.
