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What requirements do I need to become a Midwife?
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Suzanne’s Answer
Hello Shelena P.!
What a wonderful career that you might pursue. I am a registered nurse and have never regretted taking this exciting career path.
Here is some information regarding midwifery in your state:
So where can one obtain the education necessary to become a midwife? New York boasts a number of local programs. These include campus-based programs at Columbia University, New York University, and SUNY Downstate Medical Center, and a distance program at Stony Brook University. Columbia, NYU, and Stony Brook all offer nurse-midwifery programs, and Downstate offers both nurse-midwifery and direct-entry midwifery pathways. There are many other midwifery schools elsewhere in the US, some campus-based and others distance programs which may be completed in New York. Philadelphia University offers a distance program for direct-entry practice. For a full listing of currently-accredited schools, please visit ACNM’s list of ACME-accredited programs.
Please review the following links:
https://www.newyorkmidwives.org/for-midwives/how-to-become-a-midwive/
https://www.healthcareersinfo.net/midwives/
http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/midwife/midwifelic.htm#
I wish you all the best as you think about this possible choice!
Sue, RN, MSN
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Investigate your state's licensure requirements
What a wonderful career that you might pursue. I am a registered nurse and have never regretted taking this exciting career path.
Here is some information regarding midwifery in your state:
So where can one obtain the education necessary to become a midwife? New York boasts a number of local programs. These include campus-based programs at Columbia University, New York University, and SUNY Downstate Medical Center, and a distance program at Stony Brook University. Columbia, NYU, and Stony Brook all offer nurse-midwifery programs, and Downstate offers both nurse-midwifery and direct-entry midwifery pathways. There are many other midwifery schools elsewhere in the US, some campus-based and others distance programs which may be completed in New York. Philadelphia University offers a distance program for direct-entry practice. For a full listing of currently-accredited schools, please visit ACNM’s list of ACME-accredited programs.
Please review the following links:
https://www.newyorkmidwives.org/for-midwives/how-to-become-a-midwive/
https://www.healthcareersinfo.net/midwives/
http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/midwife/midwifelic.htm#
I wish you all the best as you think about this possible choice!
Sue, RN, MSN
Suzanne recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Tonya’s Answer
Congratulations on your interest in becoming a midwife. I knew I wanted to be a midwife when I was in middle school (apx. 7/8th grade). And, when I attended a birth in my senior year of nursing school, the passion to be a midwife was even stronger.
Ok, there are options as a midwife. You could become a certified nurse midwife (CNM), Certified Professional Midwife (CPM), or a Certified Midwife (CM). The difference is in the educational background of the person. A CNM has achieved a nursing degree. A CM has education/a degree in a healthcare field such as public health or community health (or other healthcare field). Then a CPM enters directly into a midwifery program. To learn more about the different types, you can visit the Midwives Alliance of North America (2021). The link for the website is at the bottom of my information.
In the midwifery tracks, you can learn how to care for women from teens to elderly, annual check-ups and healthcare exams, pregnancy and birth, families, communities, and newborns. Midwives can also provide specific care to genders in addition to women (https://www.midwife.org/acnm/files/ACNMLibraryData/UPLOADFILENAME/000000000266/Definition%20of%20Midwifery%20and%20Scope%20of%20Practice%20of%20CNMs%20and%20CMs%20Feb%202012.pdf)
As a CNM, you can also take two certifications and achieve two licenses as a midwife and as women’s health nurse practitioner (check your state and school opportunities). I had this opportunity, and thought this was such a cool opportunity.
There are also different opportunities of what the three types of midwives can and cannot do depending on the state and where they can work. However, I am going to focus my answer on your question, which are the requirements.
As a CNM, you will need to complete your education in an accredited nursing program for your degree. You could achieve your Associate of Science degree in Nursing (ASN) then achieve your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) then your Master of Science degree in Nursing (MSN). However, that is not necessary. You can apply directly to BSN programs and there are even combination BSN to MSN programs. I have included the websites where you can search for different nursing programs and Midwifery schools across the United States (ACEN, 2021; CCNE, 2021; ACNM, 2021).
A CNM is considered an Advance Practice Registered Nurse. As a result you will see support of CNM’s returning for their doctorate degree (DNP and PhD).
If you decide on a different path, you could obtain your degree in a health related field as mentioned above, and then apply to midwifery school. As a direct entry midwife take time to learn about the different educational opportunities to achieve your goals at the websites provided. The more education, the more opportunities.
I wish you all the best during your search of schools and finding the one that fits you.
References:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (2021). Search ACEN Accredited Nursing Programs
http://www.acenursing.com/accreditedprograms/programsearch.htm
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2021). CCNE Accredited Programs. https://www.aacnnursing.org/CCNE-Accreditation/CCNE-Accredited-Programs
American College of Nurse-Midwives (2021). Home. https://www.midwife.org/
American College of Nurse-Midwives (2011). Definition of Midwifery and Scope of Practice of Certified Nurse-Midwives and Certified Midwives. https://www.midwife.org/acnm/files/ACNMLibraryData/UPLOADFILENAME/000000000266/Definition%20of%20Midwifery%20and%20Scope%20of%20Practice%20of%20CNMs%20and%20CMs%20Feb%202012.pdf
Midwives Alliance North America (2021). Home.
https://mana.org/about-midwives/what-is-a-midwife
International Confederation of Midwives (2021). Home. https://www.internationalmidwives.org/
U.S. News and World Report (2021) Find the best nursing schools. https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-nursing-schools?int=top_nav_Nursing
Ok, there are options as a midwife. You could become a certified nurse midwife (CNM), Certified Professional Midwife (CPM), or a Certified Midwife (CM). The difference is in the educational background of the person. A CNM has achieved a nursing degree. A CM has education/a degree in a healthcare field such as public health or community health (or other healthcare field). Then a CPM enters directly into a midwifery program. To learn more about the different types, you can visit the Midwives Alliance of North America (2021). The link for the website is at the bottom of my information.
In the midwifery tracks, you can learn how to care for women from teens to elderly, annual check-ups and healthcare exams, pregnancy and birth, families, communities, and newborns. Midwives can also provide specific care to genders in addition to women (https://www.midwife.org/acnm/files/ACNMLibraryData/UPLOADFILENAME/000000000266/Definition%20of%20Midwifery%20and%20Scope%20of%20Practice%20of%20CNMs%20and%20CMs%20Feb%202012.pdf)
As a CNM, you can also take two certifications and achieve two licenses as a midwife and as women’s health nurse practitioner (check your state and school opportunities). I had this opportunity, and thought this was such a cool opportunity.
There are also different opportunities of what the three types of midwives can and cannot do depending on the state and where they can work. However, I am going to focus my answer on your question, which are the requirements.
As a CNM, you will need to complete your education in an accredited nursing program for your degree. You could achieve your Associate of Science degree in Nursing (ASN) then achieve your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) then your Master of Science degree in Nursing (MSN). However, that is not necessary. You can apply directly to BSN programs and there are even combination BSN to MSN programs. I have included the websites where you can search for different nursing programs and Midwifery schools across the United States (ACEN, 2021; CCNE, 2021; ACNM, 2021).
A CNM is considered an Advance Practice Registered Nurse. As a result you will see support of CNM’s returning for their doctorate degree (DNP and PhD).
If you decide on a different path, you could obtain your degree in a health related field as mentioned above, and then apply to midwifery school. As a direct entry midwife take time to learn about the different educational opportunities to achieve your goals at the websites provided. The more education, the more opportunities.
I wish you all the best during your search of schools and finding the one that fits you.
References:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (2021). Search ACEN Accredited Nursing Programs
http://www.acenursing.com/accreditedprograms/programsearch.htm
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2021). CCNE Accredited Programs. https://www.aacnnursing.org/CCNE-Accreditation/CCNE-Accredited-Programs
American College of Nurse-Midwives (2021). Home. https://www.midwife.org/
American College of Nurse-Midwives (2011). Definition of Midwifery and Scope of Practice of Certified Nurse-Midwives and Certified Midwives. https://www.midwife.org/acnm/files/ACNMLibraryData/UPLOADFILENAME/000000000266/Definition%20of%20Midwifery%20and%20Scope%20of%20Practice%20of%20CNMs%20and%20CMs%20Feb%202012.pdf
Midwives Alliance North America (2021). Home.
https://mana.org/about-midwives/what-is-a-midwife
International Confederation of Midwives (2021). Home. https://www.internationalmidwives.org/
U.S. News and World Report (2021) Find the best nursing schools. https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-nursing-schools?int=top_nav_Nursing