This Committee was created in 2000, as a group of CMs and CNMs came together to draw on the success of the CM credential in New York State and work on expansion of licensure of CMs outside of New York.

The success of New York State

Midwives in New York State worked tirelessly for many years with legislators to pass the Midwifery Practice Act in 1992. This Act established an independent Board of Midwifery that has allowed midwifery to be regulated as a unique profession and redefined midwifery to include those individuals who were not Registered Nurses but had an appropriate health sciences background prior to their midwifery education. SUNY Downstate, one of the oldest midwifery education programs in the nation, was the first to include a direct entry route into the profession. In 1997, the first CM was certified and the first CM candidates graduated from Downstate.

There is a widely acknowledged shortage of nurses in the US. Consequently, there is a shortage of qualified candidates for nurse-midwifery education programs. The direct entry route into midwifery has allowed a bright, committed and diverse group of people to enter and serve the profession.

How the work of CAMP benefits Certified Nurse-Midwives

CAMP is pleased to recognize that as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the ACNM, there are more than 50 CMs/SMs. Many of our CNM colleagues have shown great support and the midwives who were responsible for creating the CM degree are CNMs. All ACNM-certified midwives benefit when midwifery is regulated as an independent, unique profession. By expanding midwifery’s regulatory laws to include CMs, the voices of midwives are heard as distinct. We invite our CNM colleagues to join us in our work to expand licensure of CMs.

Current status of CMs in various states

• New York: CMs enjoy full scope practice and prescriptive privilege.
• New Jersey: CMs are licensed in the same manner as CNMs but do not have
prescriptive privileges.
• Rhode Island: CAMP members successfully petitioned for and received
licensure in Rhode Island, which has a midwifery law similar to New
York’s.
• Massachusetts: Midwives are working to establish a Board of Midwifery
to regulate practice of CNMs/CMs and CPMs. Baystate Medical Center’s
Midwifery Program offers a CM option for physician assistants.

CAMP looks forward to supporting our CM and CNM colleagues throughout the US in their efforts to expand the practice of midwifery in their own states, including licensure for CMs.

For More Information, Contact:

Trinisha Chapman, CM, MS ~ Email
Shawna King, CM, MS ~ Email
Christiane McCloskey, CM, MS ~ Email
Laura Sheperis, CM, MS ~ Email