The American College of Nurse-Midwives is the professional organisation representing advanced practice midwives in the United States, which covers both certified nurse-midwives, who hold a nursing licence, and certified midwives, who enter through a different educational route without one.
That two-credential structure is the first thing to understand about American midwifery, and it is why the organisation's name refers to nurse-midwives while its membership is broader.
Certification
Nurse-midwives have been certified by examination since 1971. The certification function was separated from the professional body when the American Midwifery Certification Board, formerly the college's own certification council, was incorporated in 1990. That board now develops and administers the national examination for both credentials.
The separation matters for the same reason it does elsewhere in nursing: it keeps the credential independent of the membership organisation that advocates for the profession. See nursing specialties.
What the role is
Certified nurse-midwives are one of the four advanced practice registered nurse roles recognised in the regulatory framework, alongside nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists and clinical nurse specialists. Their practice covers pregnancy, birth and postpartum care, and also gynaecological and primary care across the lifespan, which is wider than the name suggests.
Federal data puts the median pay for nurse midwives at $134,040 across about 8,200 jobs, making it the smallest of the advanced practice roles by headcount. See levels of nursing and registered nurse pay.
State law governs what any individual midwife may do, including prescribing and whether a written agreement with a physician is required, and it varies as much as it does for nurse practitioners. See nurse practitioner practice authority and collaborative practice agreements.
What the organisation does
It sets standards for midwifery practice, publishes a peer-reviewed journal, accredits education programmes through a separate accreditation commission, and campaigns on access to midwifery care, particularly in maternity care deserts and on maternal mortality.
Its practice standards are also a reference point in the wider argument about staffing in maternity settings, where the perinatal nurse staffing standards published by the obstetric nursing association set expected ratios by phase of care. See AWHONN.
Related
- Nursing organizations
- Nurse midwifery
- Levels of nursing
- AWHONN
- Nurse practitioner practice authority
Sources
- American College of Nurse-Midwives. ACNM, for its representation of certified nurse-midwives and certified midwives. Accessed September 9, 2026.
- History and philosophy. American Midwifery Certification Board, for certification by examination since 1971 and the board's incorporation in 1990. Accessed September 9, 2026.
- About AMCB. American Midwifery Certification Board. Accessed September 9, 2026.
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 pay and employment. Accessed September 9, 2026.