CCA Program Overview

Established February 1986, the CCA Program is a voluntary comprehensive recognition program developed to provide Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) and Certified Midwives (CMs) with an opportunity to demonstrate competency in the provision of health care to women, newborns and their families.

The ACNM CCA Program is built upon the ACNM Philosophy, Code of Ethics, Core Competencies for Basic Midwifery Practice, and the Standards for Midwifery Practice. The ACNM CCA Program is not connected to certification as a CNM or CM, however, some employers, accreditation agencies, and/or state licensing bodies may require participation in the CCA Program in order to practice.

CNMs and CMs who participate in the CCA Program find value in the recognition they receive through participation. Participants receive a verification card upon enrollment and a Certificate of Satisfactory Completion at the end of a cycle for completing the program requirements

When to Enroll in CCA

You do not need to be a member of the ACNM to enroll in the CCA Program. Enrollment in the CCA Program is voluntary but not automatic. Enrollment requires completing an application form and mailing to the ACNM with a non-refundable fee. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.

In order to be enrolled in a CCA cycle on a continuous basis, you should submit an application within one year after 1) notification of certification, or 2) the end of your last CCA cycle. If you do not complete a CCA cycle, you can still enroll in your next CCA cycle.

ACNM will mail you an application to enroll in the CCA program after notification that you have been certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB), (formerly known as the ACNM Certification Council (ACC)), and at the completion of each CCA cycle.  Applications are sent to the current address on file, so it is important to notify the ACNM education or membership staff of any change of address.

For various reasons, you may choose to take a leave of absence from clinical practice or teaching positions (such as family obligations, further educational advancement, and job changes), and may not automatically receive CCA enrollment information. You can request a CCA Enrollment Form and information at anytime by contacting the Education Department at (240) 485-1846.

Beginning Your CCA Cycle

Once your CCA application has been processed at the ACNM national office, you will receive a CCA enrollment card stating all cycle dates. Please keep this card as verification that you are enrolled in the CCA Program should your state licensing agency or employer request to see verification. Along with your CCA card, you will receive a Self-Reporting Form (SRF), the official reporting mechanism you will submit at the end of the five year cycle or upon completion of your cycle requirements.

Options for Completing CCA Cycles

Option 1: The National Certification Examination

CCA participants may choose to demonstrate their current knowledge base by successfully passing the AMCB national certification examination. (Initial certification does not count towards your CCA requirement.) If you choose this option, specific examination instructions will be sent to you by AMCB.

ACNM suggests that if you choose Option 1, take the exam early in your CCA cycle. If you should decide not to complete the examination mechanism, you can still switch to Option 2, accrual of CEUs.

Should you have any questions regarding examination dates or fees, please contact AMCB at (410) 694-9424 or by writing to 849 International Dr., Suite 205, Linthicum, MD  21090.  Email: DSmith@amcbmidwife.org.

Option 2: Accrual of CEUs/Acceptable Alternatives

Under Option 2, you may choose to complete 5 CEUs/50 contact hours or more of ACNM or ACCME Category I approved CEUs, or each of any of the eight alternatives approved in lieu of CEUs to demonstrate competence for your CCA cycle. ACNM recommends that your CEU selections benefit all areas of practice including antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum, neonatal, gynecology, family planning, primary care and professional practice issues.

Understanding CCA Cycles

The CCA program is based on five year cycles. Your CCA Enrollment Card will have the beginning and end dates for your five year cycle, and the reporting deadline for your CCA activities. You may report your CCA activities at any time during your cycle, but no later than your reporting deadline.

Enrollment in a CCA cycle is activated when your application is received at the ACNM national office, rather than when you graduated your midwifery education program or completed your last CCA cycle. A CCA cycle enrollment period is open for 12 months. CCA cycle enrollment will not be made retroactive to correspond with graduation from a midwifery education program or completion of your last CCA cycle.

Completing Your CCA Cycle

To receive your Certificate of Satisfactory Completion, you must submit a completed Self-Reporting Form (SRF) documenting completion of the CCA Program requirements through your continuing education activities accrued throughout the cycle. The SRF must be postmarked no later than the reporting deadline found on your CCA Enrollment Card. A random audit is conducted at the end of each cycle. To ensure the accuracy of the random audit conducted at the end of each cycle, you may not enroll in a new CCA cycle until the cycle you are currently enrolled in ends, even if you finish your CCA option before the end of the cycle's 5 years.

Maintaining CCA Files/The CCA Audit

You are responsible for maintaining a personal file of all certificates of attendance and/or other documentation of continuing education activities. You do not need to submit any documentation to the ACNM Education Department except in the case of an audit. At the end of each CCA cycle, ACNM conducts a random audit of 10% of all SRFs submitted to ensure the CCA program is meeting its objectives. If your SRF is selected for audit, you will be notified where and when to send copies of your documentation.

Certificates of Satisfactory Completion

As soon as all audit procedures are completed, a certificate of satisfactory completion will be issued to each participant in the cycle, unless they fail the audit. The ACNM then recycles all SRFs (except those audited) and only a computer record of select information is maintained.

Incomplete CCA Cycles

If you miss the reporting deadline for the CCA cycle you are enrolled in, your SRF will be subject to the CCA policy for late submission and an additional fee in order to receive a certificate of satisfactory completion. If you did not successfully complete either Option I or Option II for your CCA cycle, you will not be eligible for a CCA certificate of satisfactory completion. Participants cannot "roll over" enrollment from one cycle to the next. To continue in the CCA program, you need to submit a new application for enrollment in your next cycle.

Obtaining CEUs

Continuing education is defined by the ACNM as an educational experience whose content goes beyond basic midwifery education. ACNM or ACCME Category I approved CEUs may be accrued by completing a variety of education activities including workshops, home study programs, video or computer assisted programs, grand rounds, etc. To find out about continuing education approval, contact the program sponsor.

ACNM computes CEUs/contact hours and continuing medical education (CME) or Continuing Physician Professional Development (CPPD) hours as:

60 minutes = 1 contact hour
1 contact or CME or CPPD hour = 0.1 CEU
10 contact or CME or CPPD hours = 1.0 CEU

ACNM has developed several application mechanisms to approve continuing education programs for the purpose of granting CEUs. Each application must be submitted prior to the program date. Applications may be obtained by:

• Downloading the Sponsor or Participant application from the website
• E-mail the ACNM at educ@acnm.org
• Calling or writing the ACNM education staff

Type I Program Sponsor Application

The Type I Program Sponsor Application process is to be completed by the sponsor of a continuing education program designed for allied health professionals and considered relevant to the practice of nurse-midwifery.

Type II CCA Participant Application

The Type II CCA Participant Application is designed for individuals wishing to obtain credit for attending a continuing education program not already approved or submitted for approval by the ACNM or ACCME Category I.