Ministry of Midwifery by Patti Barnes, CPM, EMT
  • Home
  • About
  • Aspiring Midwives
    • The Ministry of Midwifery
    • Routes to Certification
    • Getting Started
  • Expectant Parents
    • Prenatal Care
    • Healthy Pregnancy
    • Home Birth
    • High Risk Situations
    • Labor and Delivery
    • Postpartum Care
  • Divine Design TV Series
  • The Manual
  • Donate
  • Contact Me

How Does One Go About Becoming a Midwife?

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There are several routes available in midwifery education. One must decide if she wishes to be a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM), a Certified Midwife (CM), or a lay midwife.

CNM’s are all registered nurses who have completed a nurse-midwifery program certified by the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM). They are legal in all states, most practicing in hospitals and/or birth centers. A very small percentage do homebirths.

CPM’s are certified by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM). They are not required to be RN’s, however they must meet rigorous requirements and pass the NARM examination, requiring both didactic and practical skills. There are various educational routes currently available that meet the CPM standards, which is the Midwifery Model of Care. These specialize in births outside of hospitals, particularly in homes and free-standing birth centers. CPM’s are currently regulated in 28 states.

CM’s are credentialed by ACNM. This is a relatively new certification (since 1996), which does not require a nursing degree, but does require at least a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution. They must meet the same standards as the CNM in their midwifery education. CM’s are currently licensed in New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island, but authorized by permit in Delaware and Missouri. 

Lay Midwives are not certified or licensed as midwives, but have been trained through apprenticeship and self-study. Their legal status is limited to only a few states.


  • Midwifery Education Accreditation Council - Find accredited midwifery schools.
  • National College of Midwifery - Distanced-based accredited school
  • Bastyr University - Campus-based midwifery masters program, both regionally accredited and MEAC accredited
  • Hartland College - Campus-based Seventh-day Adventist midwifery program

Next: Learn the Best Way to Get Started in Midwifery
Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.
- Psalm 37:5

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Preview the Midwifery Manual
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Copyright 2014 by Patti Barnes - The content on this site is for information purposes only.  Please consult your care provider for your individual concerns.
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  • Home
  • About
  • Aspiring Midwives
    • The Ministry of Midwifery
    • Routes to Certification
    • Getting Started
  • Expectant Parents
    • Prenatal Care
    • Healthy Pregnancy
    • Home Birth
    • High Risk Situations
    • Labor and Delivery
    • Postpartum Care
  • Divine Design TV Series
  • The Manual
  • Donate
  • Contact Me