Certified nurse midwives (CNMs) are among advanced practice registered nursing roles projected to grow by nearly 29,200 new jobs annually in the coming decade (US Bureau of Labor Statistics). CNMs can earn over six figures and have flexibility in their practice field, making the role enticing to nurses who wish to advance their careers.
However, becoming a CNM requires a higher education. Nurses who advance to midwifery attend CNM programs to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. If you're considering becoming a CNM, you'll want to find the best programs in the nation.
This article explores the top 10 CNM programs in the United States and other important factors you should know before attending midwifery school. Keep reading to find the right CNM program for your needs!
GCU’s RN-BSN program is tailored to meet the needs of the RN adult learner and to maximize the strengths that the working RN already possesses. Transfer up to 90 credits and earn a BSN in as little as 12 months. GCU’s online classes allow you to study at the times that work for your schedule while still enjoying a close connection with your classmates and instructor via online discussions.
Accreditation Prerequisite RN RequiredEnrollment: Nationwide
MSN - Family NP
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Nursing@Georgetown delivers Georgetown University’s MS in Nursing program online, preparing RNs with a BSN to pursue certification in an APRN specialty. Students can earn their degree in as few as 19 months.
Accreditation Prerequisite RN RequiredEnrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY and WA.
MSN - Nurse-Midwifery/Women's Health NP MSN - Women's Health NP DNP - Nurse-Midwifery/Women's Health NP
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WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor's and master's degrees.
Accreditation Prerequisite RN RequiredEnrollment: Nationwide
BSN-to-MSN - Family NP
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Walden’s online programs for nursing meet rigorous standards for academic quality and integrity, and the School of Nursing teaching faculty all hold doctorates. With three degree completion options, you can choose a bachelor’s in nursing path that makes sense for your busy, unpredictable schedule.
Accreditation Prerequisite RN RequiredEnrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY, RI and CT. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
MSN - Family NP Post-Master's Cert - Family NP
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As a working RN, you need a flexible, transfer-friendly program to help you save time and money as you take the next step in your nursing career. In our CCNE-accredited4
RN to BSN program, you can transfer in up to 134 credits—which is nearly 75% of program requirements. Your transfer credits can be reviewed in one business day (on average).
Enrollment: FL
MSN - Family NP
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| How to Become a Certified Nurse Midwife >> | Certified Nurse Midwife Salary >> | Midwife vs Nurse Midwife >> |
Nurse.org has compiled a list of some of the best online and in-person CNM programs for 2024. This list considers numerous factors, including location, graduation rate, cost, credit hours, and more. Read about our program ranking methodology here.
GCU’s RN-BSN program is tailored to meet the needs of the RN adult learner and to maximize the strengths that the working RN already possesses. Transfer up to 90 credits and earn a BSN in as little as 12 months. GCU’s online classes allow you to study at the times that work for your schedule while still enjoying a close connection with your classmates and instructor via online discussions.
Accreditation Prerequisite RN RequiredEnrollment: Nationwide
MSN - Family NP
Learn More
Nursing@Georgetown delivers Georgetown University’s MS in Nursing program online, preparing RNs with a BSN to pursue certification in an APRN specialty. Students can earn their degree in as few as 19 months.
Accreditation Prerequisite RN RequiredEnrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY and WA.
MSN - Nurse-Midwifery/Women's Health NP MSN - Women's Health NP DNP - Nurse-Midwifery/Women's Health NP
Learn More
WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor's and master's degrees.
Accreditation Prerequisite RN RequiredEnrollment: Nationwide
BSN-to-MSN - Family NP
Learn More
Walden’s online programs for nursing meet rigorous standards for academic quality and integrity, and the School of Nursing teaching faculty all hold doctorates. With three degree completion options, you can choose a bachelor’s in nursing path that makes sense for your busy, unpredictable schedule.
Accreditation Prerequisite RN RequiredEnrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY, RI and CT. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
MSN - Family NP Post-Master's Cert - Family NP
Learn More
As a working RN, you need a flexible, transfer-friendly program to help you save time and money as you take the next step in your nursing career. In our CCNE-accredited4
RN to BSN program, you can transfer in up to 134 credits—which is nearly 75% of program requirements. Your transfer credits can be reviewed in one business day (on average).
Enrollment: FL
MSN - Family NP
Learn More
Picking the right CNM program can be overwhelming, especially with the increasing number of available programs nationwide. Online programs have given access to top-tier programs to those unable to relocate.
The most important determining factor when choosing a program is understanding if the state where you reside allows students to enroll in distance education programs and participate in clinical practicums within the state.
Licensure requirements vary from state to state and by professional organization. It is essential to check with your state board of nursing to see if your state allows this. If you have any questions regarding state eligibility, contact the University's Office of Enrollment and Student Affairs.
Other factors include:
CNM programs generally offer similar courses to adhere to accreditation criteria. Some classes are comparable to those in other advanced nursing degree programs. Students can expect the take the following types of courses:
Though every Certified Nurse Midwife degree program is different, most have similar entry requirements, which generally include the following:
Certified Nurse Midwife programs vary significantly in cost. Factors include school, location, online versus in-person, and ultimate degree.
Examples of credit costs include:
The Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) is the accreditation body for Certified Nurse Midwife programs in the United States. ACME aims "to ensure that programs are performing at the highest level of quality and providing learning experiences that will lead to optimal outcomes for students."
Accreditation by a program is entirely voluntary; however, students will want to seek out programs that ACME accredits. This can be essential when sitting for state boards at the end of the program. Furthermore, some healthcare systems will not hire individuals who have not attended accredited CNM programs.
ACME established the Criteria for Programmatic Accreditation of Midwifery Education Programs. This criterion was established to provide a framework for programs seeking accreditation. More specifically purposes of the requirements are:
Currently, the ACME accredits CNM programs using six main criteria:
GCU’s RN-BSN program is tailored to meet the needs of the RN adult learner and to maximize the strengths that the working RN already possesses. Transfer up to 90 credits and earn a BSN in as little as 12 months. GCU’s online classes allow you to study at the times that work for your schedule while still enjoying a close connection with your classmates and instructor via online discussions.
