Thinking about becoming a nurse-midwife? Learn the education, exam, experience and timeline you need to move from L&D nurse to CNM.

<p class="">If you love supporting patients through birth and want to lead their care, becoming a certified nurse-midwife (CNM) could be your next move. CNMs care for patients through pregnancy, birth and beyond, often managing labor and delivering babies themselves. Your L&amp;D experience gives you a strong head start. Here is how to build on it.</p>
<h2 class="">What Does a Certified Nurse-Midwife Do?</h2>
<p class="">A CNM is an advanced practice registered nurse who provides care during pregnancy, birth and recovery, plus gynecologic and reproductive health care across the lifespan.</p>
<p class="">Common CNM tasks include:</p>
<ul style="margin-left:20px">
  <li class="">Providing prenatal care and education</li>
  <li class="">Managing labor and delivering babies</li>
  <li class="">Caring for patients and newborns after birth</li>
  <li class="">Offering well-woman exams, birth control and menopause care</li>
  <li class="">Prescribing medications, depending on state law</li>
  <li class="">Working with physicians when a pregnancy becomes high risk</li>
</ul>
<p></p>
<p class="">CNMs work in hospitals, birth centers, clinics and sometimes home birth settings. How independently they practice depends on state law.</p>
<h2 class="">Why L&amp;D Nurses Make Great Nurse-Midwives</h2>
<p class="">L&amp;D nurses already have many of the skills midwifery programs look for:</p>
<ul style="margin-left:20px">
  <li class=""><strong class="">Labor know-how:</strong> You understand how labor progresses and when it does not</li>
  <li class=""><strong class="">Fetal monitoring:</strong> You read and respond to heart rate patterns</li>
  <li class=""><strong class="">Patient support:</strong> You coach patients through pain, fear and pushing</li>
  <li class=""><strong class="">Emergency response:</strong> You know how to act when a birth becomes urgent</li>
</ul>
<p></p>
<p class="">The big change is moving from carrying out the plan to making the plan and delivering the baby yourself.</p>
<h2 class="">Nurse-Midwife Requirements</h2>
<p></p>
<table class="">
  <tbody class="">
    <tr class="">
      <td data-row="1" class="">Requirement</td>
      <td data-row="1" class="">What It Usually Looks Like</td>
    </tr>
    <tr class="">
      <td data-row="2" class="">License</td>
      <td data-row="2" class="">Active, unrestricted RN license</td>
    </tr>
    <tr class="">
      <td data-row="3" class="">Degree to apply</td>
      <td data-row="3" class="">BSN preferred or required by most programs</td>
    </tr>
    <tr class="">
      <td data-row="4" class="">Experience</td>
      <td data-row="4" class="">Not always required, but most programs prefer 1 to 2 years in an OB setting</td>
    </tr>
    <tr class="">
      <td data-row="5" class="">Education</td>
      <td data-row="5" class="">Graduate degree (MSN or DNP) from a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME)</td>
    </tr>
    <tr class="">
      <td data-row="6" class="">Certification exam</td>
      <td data-row="6" class="">Pass the national exam from the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB)</td>
    </tr>
    <tr class="">
      <td data-row="7" class="">State license</td>
      <td data-row="7" class="">Apply for advanced practice (APRN) licensure in your state</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>
<h2 class="">How to Go From L&amp;D Nurse to Nurse-Midwife in 6 Steps</h2>
<h3 class="">Step 1: Build Strong L&amp;D Experience</h3>
<p class="">Aim for one to two years in labor and delivery. A mix of low-risk and high-risk births makes you a stronger candidate. <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/travel/travel-nursing-jobs" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="">Travel nursing</a> can help you see different hospitals, birth volumes and care styles.</p>
<h3 class="">Step 2: Earn Your RNC-OB</h3>
<p class="">The RNC-OB is not required for midwifery school, but it shows proven obstetric knowledge and strengthens your application.</p>
<h3 class="">Step 3: Shadow a Nurse-Midwife</h3>
<p class="">Spend time with CNMs on your unit or in a clinic. Ask about their path and their day. It helps you confirm this career is right for you and can lead to strong references.</p>
<h3 class="">Step 4: Choose an Accredited Program</h3>
<p class="">Look for a program accredited by ACME. Options include an MSN with a nurse-midwifery focus, a BSN-to-DNP path or a post-graduate certificate for nurses who already hold a master’s in another advanced practice role. Ask each program how they arrange clinical placements and how many births students usually attend.</p>
<h3 class="">Step 5: Complete Your Program</h3>
<p class="">MSN programs usually take two to three years, and DNP programs take three to four years. Many combine online classes with in-person clinical training in your area.</p>
<h3 class="">Step 6: Pass the AMCB Exam and Get Licensed</h3>
<p class="">After graduation, you take the AMCB certification exam. It has 175 multiple-choice questions and four hours to finish. Candidates have 24 months after finishing their program to pass, with up to four attempts. Then you apply for advanced practice licensure in your state. You keep your certification through AMCB’s five-year certificate maintenance program, with no retest required.</p>
<h2 class="">How Long Does It Take to Become a Nurse-Midwife?</h2>
<p class="">Most nurses become CNMs about 6 to 9 years after starting nursing school:</p>
<ol style="margin-left:20px">
  <li class=""><strong class="">BSN:</strong> About four years</li>
  <li class=""><strong class="">L&amp;D experience:</strong> One to two years recommended</li>
  <li class=""><strong class="">Midwifery program:</strong> Two to four years, depending on degree</li>
  <li class=""><strong class="">Certification exam:</strong> Taken after graduation</li>
</ol>
<h2 class="">How Much Do Nurse-Midwives Make?</h2>
<p class="">The median pay for nurse-midwives was $134,040 per year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That compares with a median of $97,550 for all registered nurses. Jobs for nurse-midwives are projected to grow 11% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than average.</p>
<h2 class="">Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a Nurse-Midwife</h2>
<h3 class="">Do I need L&amp;D experience to become a nurse-midwife?</h3>
<p class="">Not every program requires it, but most accepted students have it. One to two years in an OB setting is a common recommendation.</p>
<h3 class="">What is the difference between a CNM and a CM?</h3>
<p class="">A CNM is a registered nurse with midwifery training. A certified midwife (CM) has the same midwifery education and exam but comes from a background outside nursing. Not all states license CMs.</p>
<h3 class="">Can nurse-midwives prescribe medication?</h3>
<p class="">Yes, in most states, but the rules vary. Some states require a collaborative agreement with a physician.</p>
<h3 class="">Do nurse-midwives only deliver babies?</h3>
<p class="">No. CNMs also provide gynecologic care, birth control, well-woman exams and menopause care.</p>
<h2 class="">Build the Experience That Gets You to Midwifery School</h2>
<p class="">The road to midwifery starts with strong, varied L&amp;D experience. Cross Country can help you land assignments at hospitals and birth units across the country. Start by learning <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/how-travel-nurses-identify-high-quality-assignments" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="">what makes an assignment high quality</a>, browse our <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/travel-guides" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="">travel guides</a>, then <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/apply-now" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="">apply today</a> to talk with a recruiter about your goals. Know an L&amp;D nurse with the same dream? <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/refer-a-friend" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="">Refer a friend</a>.</p>


L&D to Nurse-Midwife: How to Make the Jump | Cross Country

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L&D to Certified Nurse-Midwife: How to Make the Jump in Your Nursing Career

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