Cpm midwifery programs

Although midwives have practiced in countless cultures across the globe since time immemorial, for many years in the United States the practice of midwifery struggled to remain an accepted practice. Beginning in the s, competitive medical markets and hospital births threatened to jeopardize the practice of midwifery, with many physicians and medical establishments going as far as to criminalize the practice.

Today, however, midwifery has successfully re-integrated to become a recognized and valued element of the maternity care model. Women from all walks of life now seek out this unique blend of care and support, which views birth as a natural process rather than a medical procedure.

The rise of the medical care model, the practice of obstetrics, and the clash of care models, cultures, class, race, and gender dynamics throughout the years have shaped the practice and spurred the creation of different pathways and professional bodies. Although there are a number of professional designations under the umbrella of midwifery, all midwives share a similar view on the importance of focusing on the physical, psychological, and social well-being of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle, minimizing technological interventions, providing hands-on assistance during labor and delivery, and providing postpartum support.

However, not all midwives share the same education, training, credentials, scope of practice, and state recognition. All CNMs must hold state licensure, usually issued through their state board of nursing. They must also meet specific continuing education requirements to maintain state licensure and the CNM designation. Further, most licensed midwives will maintain their CPM and whereas some will let it lapse.

Reasons to maintain the CPM are to be in solidarity with the profession nationally and with other states that recognize the CPM for legal practice, and to support federal recognition and Medicaid recognition of the CPM credential.

Reasons often sighted that LMs let their CPM lapse is because of the additional cost and recertification application process every 3 years.

For Experienced Midwives. Challenge Mechanism As defined in California Business and Professions Code Section a - c , the challenge process offers a midwifery student and prospective applicant the opportunity to obtain credit by examination for previous midwifery education and clinical experience.

Upon successful completion of the Challenge Process, the candidate also must successfully complete the comprehensive licensing examination administered by NARM. NARM Website info narm. Skip links Skip to content. Becoming a Midwife Home Becoming a Midwife. Becoming a Midwife There are several paths to becoming a midwife. AMCB is the only organization in the U.

A direct-entry midwife is trained to provide the Midwives Model of Care to healthy women and newborns throughout the childbearing cycle primarily in out-of-hospital settings. Certified Midwife CM : The Certified Midwife CM credential was created to allow individuals with an undergraduate degree in a discipline other than nursing to obtain a graduate degree in midwifery and then practice as a midwife.

They are trained and certified according to the requirements of the American College of Nurse-Midwives, take the same certification exam, and have the same scope of practice as CNMs. CPMs can train through an apprenticship with a qualified midwife or by attending a midwifery program or school.