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
CM Toolkit – Advocacy resources for expanding the CM credential
- CNM/CM/CPM Comparison Chart (May 2023)
- Practice Environments for Certified Midwives (July 2023)
- Talking Points for Certified Midwife Licensure
- Midwives of ACNM
- Definition of Midwifery and Scope of Practice of Certified Nurse-Midwives and Certified Midwives
- Mandatory Degree Requirements for Entry into Midwifery practice
- Certified Nurse-Midwife and Certified Midwife Education and Certification in the United States
- Joint Statement of Practice Relations between Obstetrician-Gynecologists and Certified Nurse-Midwives/Certified Midwives
- AWHONN Position Statement: Midwifery
- March of Dimes Position Statement: Midwifery Care and Birth Outcomes in the United States
Further information
- Jefferson, K., Bouchard, M. E., & Summers, L. (2021). The Regulation of Professional Midwifery in the United States. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 11(4), 26–38. [PDF]
- Lichtman R, Farley C, Perlman D, et al. The Certified Midwife Credential and the Case for National Implementation. J Midwifery Women’s Heal. 2015. doi:10.1111/jmwh.12416 [PDF}
- Marzalik PR, Feltham KJ, Jefferson K, Pekin K. Midwifery education in the US-Certified Nurse-Midwife, Certified Midwife and Certified Professional Midwife. Midwife 2018;60:9-12. [PDF]
- Niemczyk NA, Cutts A, Perlman DB. Prior Work and Educational Experience Are Not Associated with Successful Completion of a Master's-Level, Distance Education Midwifery Program. J Midwifery Women’s Heal. 2018;63(2):161-7. [PDF]
- Stec MA, Arbour MW. Labor and Delivery Nursing Experience: A Prerequisite for Midwifery Education?. J Midwifery Women’s Heal. 2018;63(2):157-60. [PDF]