Certified Midwife Credential

About Certified Midwife Credential

The Certified Midwife (CM) credential was developed in 1994 in order to expand access to midwifery through multiple educational pathways. The first CM was licensed in 1997. The CM pathway includes a graduate degree in midwifery from a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) and board certification through the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB). CMs differ from Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) only in that they are not also licensed as nurses. CMs and CNMs meet the same core competencies, sit for the same board exam, and have identical scopes of practice including prescriptive privileges.

The CM credential is currently recognized in Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Several other states are currently pursuing licensure of CMs.

The Committee of Midwife Advocates for the Certified Midwife (C-MAC) is the ACNM committee that provides support for expanding licensure of CMs. C-MAC coordinates activities within the Division of Advocacy and Affiliate Support and works closely with ACNM’s federal lobbyist and the ACNM Director of Government Affairs. In accordance with ACNM’s 2021-2024 strategic goals, C-MAC develops advocacy strategies to promote equitable national and state recognition of the CM credential to allow CMs to practice to the full extent of their education and training. C-MAC activities include the following:

  • Education about the CM credential to stakeholders
  • Advocacy for state licensure of CMs
  • Lobbying for the CM role in federal and state initiatives related to provision of midwifery care

For more information about licensing CMs or to connect with C-MAC, contact [email protected].

CM Toolkit – Advocacy resources for expanding the CM credential

Further information

Welcome...

To the new website for the American College of Nurse-Midwives. If you need to access a resource from the previous website, please click below.