Becoming a Midwife in the United States is a regulated industry that requires advanced education with conditions that will vary from state to state. However the most common Midwife licenses are as a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), which the steps below will focus on.  
  
The first step to becoming a Midwife is to complete a bachelor’s degree in nursing. The role of a Midwife is more specialized than a Registered Nurse, however Midwives will need to complete nursing education before advancing their career as a Midwife. As well as completing the degree in nursing, it is necessary for all aspiring Midwives to gain experience as a Registered Nurse before continuing their specialization as a Midwife. 
  
In order to study as a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) you must be admitted to a master’s or doctoral degree in Nurse-Midwifery.  
  
Following the completion of all the studies required for the CNM or DNP, a qualifying exam is administered by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB). This exam consists of questions that are divided into sections about antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum, newborn, well woman/gyn and women’s health and primary care. Students have four hours to complete the exam, which consists of 175 multiple-choice questions. 
  
Once all of the education, exams and certifications have been complete a Midwife must obtain the state licensure wherever they wish to practice and search for employment.  
  
Things to know before becoming a ­ Midwife  

• A Midwife is not a Doula. Midwives must complete years of education and their practice is highly regulated, whereas Doulas act a source of support and have no certified medical training. 
• After becoming a Midwife it is required to continue your education in order to keep your knowledge up to date. The AMCB has a five-year cycle where Midwives must complete a certain amount of continuing education units (CEU). 
• Midwives are required to pass an exam by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB), if they do not pass the first time they are able to try again, however there is a maximum of four attempts at the cost of $500.00 per try. 
• Midwives can spend a lot of their time working with obstetricians, their goal is to provide expecting mothers with the best possible care during childbirth. 
• Midwives attend births in both hospitals and at homes.