Nurse-midwifery is quite simply one of the most critical roles in modern healthcare. While to many people, “midwife” may sound old-fashioned or even historical, nurse midwives are not a thing of the past. They are the present and future of birthing.

With extensive training in most medical research, the most up-to-date, evidence-based nursing practice. Also, nurse midwives are the best in the age-old art of caring for women during pregnancy and birth.

Also, of all possible worlds for expectant mothers and their newborns. This article will provide vital information on certified nurse-midwifery programs, midwifery Schools, and online midwifery programs.

Navigate through the table of contents below to get an overview of all that this article entails;

What is a Midwife?

What is a Midwife?

In the modern clinical sense, a midwife is a nurse or health professional with specialized training in the reproductive health care of women. In general, women resort to midwives for support through prenatal care, pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.

However, midwife training also extends to other aspects of women’s health, such as gynecological and family planning services. Therefore, it is common for midwives to receive certificates as nurses for women’s health (WHNP) and midwifery certificates.

Although there are several different types of professional midwives, only certified midwives (CNM) are licensed to practice throughout the country. The CNM Certificate requires an active Nurse Practitioner (RN), a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), and a degree of success in the American Midwifery Certificate Certification (AMCB) exam.

Certified midwives (CMs) must have nearly all the same credentials as a CNM, but they are not required to have RN licenses. Only Delaware, Maine, Missouri, New Jersey, and New York allow CMs to practice in certified capacities.

Online Midwifery Programs

Midwifery is one of the oldest medical specialties. With this story come many misconceptions. For example, common assumptions are that midwives are only available to assist pregnant women during pregnancy and childbirth. Modern midwives do a lot.

Certified midwives specialize in a full range of health problems for women. They can work in hospitals, obstetric/gynecological offices, or private counseling. As such, an online midwifery program is an attractive option for registered nurses (RNs) with an affinity for caring for women seeking a rewarding and profitable specialty.

Online Midwifery Program Experience

Online Midwifery programs often include a range of clinical courses and hours. The number of credit hours and hours of clinical practice varies depending on the student’s experience, level of education, and expected outcome.

For example, a nurse seeking to complete the MSN online program focusing on obstetric nursing and a master’s in obstetric nursing can expect to complete 48 to more than 80 credit hours and 500 to 1200 clinical hours. DNP programs that focus on midwifery nursing are similar in length.

However, the RN with the MSN score and simply looking to add a CNM certificate can complete a shorter program of 24 to 40 credit hours and about 600 to 1000 clinical hours. Many of these programs are available online in full or in mixed format online/in person. However, clinical requirements must be met in situ.

To promote an engaging and reliable learning environment, these types of online midwifery programs provide students with the following:

A cloud-based digital hub used to distribute, interact with, and turn in course content
Multimedia-infused learning tutorials and content
Embedded communication and collaboration tools for student-professor and student-student interaction
Tech support services to address software and hardware issues

Online Midwifery Program Admissions Requirements

While you can take several different paths to become a licensed and certified midwife, the most comprehensive programs focus on training and certification for CNMs. This means admissions officers are looking for candidates that meet the following criteria:

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from an accredited university or college
An active registered nurse’s license in good standing
A minimum amount of work experience as an RN (amount varies by institution)

Programs for CM certifications have comparable requirements but do not require an active RN license for admission.

In some cases, colleges and universities will allow applicants to obtain an RN and midwifery certificate simultaneously. In these cases, the CNM certificate is treated as an RN specialty option similar to the Family Nurse Certificate (FNP).

Some schools also offer doctoral programs in nursing practice (DNP) specializing in midwifery. While there are BSN-DNP methods, most DNP programs are designed online for RN with MSN degrees seeking a Ph.D. without a Ph.D. These programs are longer and more expensive than similar MSN-based programs.

Certified Online Nurse-Midwifery Program Curriculum

Certified Nurse Midwives are excellent practice nurses who care for women with low-risk pregnancies from prenatal care through labor and delivery. Midwives also provide various health care services for women from adolescence through menopause, including primary care, gynecologic and family planning services, and care during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care.

This page outlines the educational paths available to aspiring nurse midwives and licensing and certification information to advance your certified nurse-midwife career to the next level.

Regardless of the path, typical courses in an online nurse midwifery specialization program will include topics such as:

Reproductive health
Women’s mental, emotional, and behavioral health
Gynecological care
Prenatal health
Labor & birth
Postnatal health
Infant care

Beyond coursework, clinical experience is crucial to any certified nurse-midwifery program – even online midwifery programs. These practicum rotations allow prospective midwives essential hands-on experience with skills and techniques such as:

Physical examinations
Cytology testing
CPR
Births
Intrapartum experiences
Pre- and post-natal examinations
Newborn examinations
Gynecological care

Midwife Certification (American Midwifery Certification Board – AMCB)

When choosing an online certified nurse-midwifery program, accreditation matters. Several institutions govern the licensure and certification of American midwives and nurses. They include:

The American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB)
The Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME)
North American Registry of Midwives (NARM)
Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC)
The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
The Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

Among these, AMCB is the only body that has the authority to issue a CNM certificate accepted in all 50 states. AMCB also issues the CM certification, which is less acceptable. When evaluating candidates for these certificates, AMCB will rely on its certification exam and completion of training courses at ACME-accredited institutions.

In addition, CNM and CM licenses must be renewed every 5 years. For this reason, AMCB remains an essential point of contact for certified midwives throughout their careers.

Full details of the CNMs, CMs, and CPM certificates can be found on the AMCB website.

The Importance Of Online Nurse Midwifery Programs

Nurse midwives are special for many reasons. On the one hand, they can provide care closer to the obstetrician and gynecologist because their nursing training makes practical care for the patient essential for their experience.

In addition, nurse midwives can provide a valuable compromise between mothers who desire the safety of a medical delivery environment and an intimate presence relevant to the obstetrician’s clinical nature.

However, perhaps most importantly, nurse midwives have a crucial role in providing medical care in rural and remote areas where there are few or no OB-GYNs in practice. As with other specializations, nurse midwifery is on course to make a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) the standard for entry-level positions in nurse-midwifery.

The American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), which accredits nurse-midwifery programs, has resisted that trend, arguing that nurse midwives are too crucial to be held up in unnecessary schooling when an MSN provides all the education necessary.

Ranking The Best Online Nurse Midwifery Programs

To rank the Top 13 Online Nurse Midwifery Programs, Top RN to BSN researched online, hybrid, and low-residency nurse midwifery MSN and DNP programs across the US, choosing only those with regional certification and many with ACME certification. We then ranked programs according to three factors:

Cost: current tuition (according to IPEDS)
Reputation: current Niche score
Return on Investment: current alumni salaries (according to College Scorecard)

This combination provides the best quality, affordability, and job-market authority for nurse-midwifery graduates.

Midwife Career

As a professional career, becoming a CNM is becoming the most versatile and profitable way to midwifery to get the three options adopted. This pathway is often translated into the Women’s Practitioner’s Certificate (WHNP), which can increase the clinician’s clinical value and professional prospects.

Until 2026, the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a strong growth rate of 31% for skilled nursing occupations, such as midwifery, requiring the MSN score. Since 2016-2017 alone, the number of midwives working in the United States has increased by 21%.

Midwives certified by CNM received competitive compensation with other specialized RNS. In 2017, the average annual income of registered midwives in the United States was just over $100,000. An external link, some of which reached a salary rate of just under $70 an hour.

Here is the list of the 13 Accredited midwifery programs

This forum has researched properly and compiled a list of accredited Midwifery schools. Click on the link below for further information.

James Madison University
University Of Colorado College Of Nursing
Texas Tech University
University Of Washington
Georgetown University
George Washington University
Stony Brook University
University Of Kansas
Baylor University
East Carolina University
University Of Cincinnati
Bethel University
Old Dominion University

#1. James Madison University

News from the United States James Madison University ranks one hundred and seventeen for two Masters and Doctor of Nursing degrees in nursing schools. The top 100 personal finance personalities from Kipling JMU are rated as one of the best values for their money in public education.

Although the JMU mark tends to emphasize the venerable school and sports teams, the small size of the classroom contributes to the reputation of having one of the most standardized communities for nursing students, which is a major attraction for many students and professionals in this field. The number of graduate students at James Madison University is 120, with 20 full-time students.

The ACME-accredited JMU MSN Nurse-Midwifery Concentration program will train students on advanced health assessment, health care policy, the role of an advanced practice nurse, and epidemiology and population assessment, among other courses. This is also one of the best Midwifery schools.

University Link

#2. University Of Colorado College Of Nursing

The University of Colorado Denver Medical Campus is one of the country’s most renowned medical and health science institutions. It dates back to the University of Colorado’s original medical school at the end of the 19th century, which held courses in Denver because of the city’s population growth.

CU health programs were ranked among the top 20 programs, many in the top ten, according to the US News & World Report. The College of Nursing, dating back to 1898, is particularly appreciated. The University of Colorado focuses primarily on academic excellence, classifications, and awards that have won.

University Link

#3. Texas Tech University

Texas Tech University, the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System, was founded in 1923. This is based on a century of technical and training traditions.

Texas Tech University was also founded as a technical university, providing vocational training to people in West Texas, where there is no public institution of higher education.

However, the need was present today, with about 40,000 students. Texas Tech is essential for a career in the region. The University of Texas Tech ranks first with 180 countries on the list of the best national universities in the 2019 edition. It is mainly known for the TTU Center for Health Sciences. This is also one of the best Midwifery schools.

University Link

#4. University Of Washington

One of the best national universities in the United States of America is classified by the news and reports for 2024. The University of Washington is Washington’s leading state in social science, medicine, engineering, and business programs. The UW was founded in 1861, dates back to Seattle, and was incorporated as a city long before the Washington area was accepted into the state.

In other words, the state of Seattle and Washington owes much to the University of Wisconsin, which is not just a great school, but a cornerstone of life in the Pacific Northwest. In addition, nursing graduates are already in one of the cities with the highest nurse salaries.

University Link

#5. Georgetown University

Georgetown University is one of those schools that do not need an introduction. With approximately 7,000 students, Georgetown University is recognized as one of the country’s most select and elite institutions, gaining competitive acceptance.

As the first Catholic university in the country, located in the country’s capital, Georgetown University has a huge academic and political influence.

With the oldest Catholic school of medicine and the world-famous Georgetown Medical Center, Georgetown is also one of the country’s most influential institutions in the health sciences. This is also one of the best Midwifery schools.

University Link

#6. George Washington University

Founded in 1821 by a letter from Congress. There was design of George Washington University as a sign of the growth of Washington, DC, and of its development into global capital, following the wishes of the first president. Through its location in the region, GWU is one of the universities that connect politically in the country. Also, in addition to its political powers, and is primarily known for its engineering and health programs.

However, the university is also highly selective, where students receive the highest level of support and professional opportunities outside of Ivy Universities. This is one of the best Midwifery schools.

University Link

#7. Stony Brook University

Stony Brook is an excellent school and a pillar of life and learning in Long Island and New York. While Stony Brook began as a university for teachers in 1957, the university has become a center of great research and development during the following six decades. It constantly appeals to some of the best people in medicine.

However, Stony Brook’s medicine provides research, learning, and community health care. The University generally represents nearly seven and a half billion dollars in economic impacts on Long Island.

University Link

#8. University Of Kansas

Founded in 1865, the University of Kansas has a bigger job than educating Kansas people. It also came about to heal and restore the state known as “Bloody Kansas” just a few years before for its pre-Civil War violence. Today, KU is one of Kansas’ bedrocks.

Also, one of the region’s finest research universities and a center of health and medicine with the KU Medical Center. Kansas is known for its value and return on investment, regularly ranking as the best value. This is also one of the best Midwifery schools.

University Link

#9. Baylor University

Baylor University is a Christian university in Waco, Texas, the oldest state university. At that time, Texas was still an independent republic, not yet present, until it joined the United States. It was still the identity of Texas and its service to Texas in the heart of Belor.

Baylor holds a particularly high position in nursing, ranking 10th at the national midwifery level, according to the US News & World Report.

Recognizing the commercial name of a school such as Baylor University can do much to improve your career, and this is an integral part of Baylor’s identity.

University Link

#10. East Carolina University

When people talk about the University of East Carolina, one of the first things that come is hackers. It is a great sports university, but its medical programs are comprehensive, with generous awards and distinctions to help produce a great CV.

The European Education Unit is teaching more nurses than any other university in Carolinas. It is also considered the best nursing school in the south. In other words, the University of East Carolina produces people who can find jobs in their chosen professions, industry leaders, and game-changers.

University Link

#11. University Of Cincinnati

The slogan of the University of Cincinnati is “Power in unity.” This spirit has led the University of California for almost 200 years. Even the online study of students finds a vibrant society around the school.

UCLA is also one of the oldest universities in the Midwest and one of Ohio’s most trusted institutions, greatly affecting the development of the first city founded after the American Revolution.

The University of Cincinnati is dedicated to giving its students a place and a purpose. It is also the birthplace of the cooperative education model, the foundation of experiential professional education. This is also one of the best Midwifery schools.

University Link

#12. Bethel University

One of the leading Christian universities in Minnesota since its founding in 1871, Bethel University in Chicago has already been established and moved to St. Paul and then to Jordan Hills in 1972. Bethel’s mission is to develop students at all levels: spiritually, socially, and physically within a Christian environment.

Regardless of its religious origin, Bethel has a proven record in the production of excellent nursing specialists, and the culture that surrounds the school is very positive. This is also one of the best midwifery Schools.

University Link

#13. Old Dominion University

The University of Virginia was founded in 1930 as an extension of the William and Mary College campus. It is also the leading public research university. Of course, ODU has largely exceeded its assets, with a growing demand to make the university one of the largest universities in Virginia and a comprehensive research university.

ODU has made a name, especially in online education and distance education, in recent years and has become a great option for medical professionals who are thinking about a possible future in the academic world and research, as well as in the commercial aspect of the profession. This is also one of the best Midwifery schools.

University Link

13 Accredited Midwifery Programs 2024 | Careers & Schools

Table of contents