CNM, DNP, MSN, LM, CM and CPM: Midwife Credentials Explained for New York

Author: Igel Cudiera

Letters after a name can be hard to decode, especially when a midwife lists several. Some describe education, some describe a national exam the midwife passed and keeps up, and one describes the state's permission to practice. None of them, alone or together, tells you whether a particular midwife is the right fit for you.

This guide explains each abbreviation, how they relate to each other in New York, and where each one can be checked.

Degrees, Certifications and Licenses: What's the Difference?

Midwife credentials fall into three main categories:

• A state license is the government's permission to practice a profession. In New York, midwives are licensed by the State Education Department (NYSED), under the oversight of the Board of Regents.
• A national certification shows that a person met a certifying board's education requirements, passed its exam, and keeps the certification current. It is awarded by a certifying board such as AMCB or NARM, not by the state.
• An academic degree shows that a person completed a college or university program. A degree doesn't authorize anyone to practice.

You may also see professional association memberships listed. Groups such as the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) and the New York State Association of Licensed Midwives (NYSALM) are associations. Membership is not a license or a certification.

LM: New York's Midwifery License

What "licensed midwife" means in New York

New York's Education Law says that only a person licensed or exempt under the midwifery article, or authorized by another section of law, may practice midwifery. Only a person licensed or exempt under that article may use the title "midwife." The exemptions in the midwifery article cover physicians and students in supervised training programs.

NYSED's midwifery FAQ explains that New York uses "licensed midwife" for both certified nurse-midwives and certified midwives, and that "the credential 'LM' is used to identify New York State licensed midwives on New York State birth certificates." So in New York, LM is not a separate kind of midwife or a national certification. It is the state license that CNMs and CMs hold.

To be licensed, NYSED requires a midwife to:

• Be at least 21 and of good moral character
• Complete a master's or higher degree program in midwifery or a related field that is registered by NYSED, accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME), or determined by NYSED to be equivalent
• Pass the examination developed and administered by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB)

Licensed midwives can also be authorized to prescribe after completing required pharmacology coursework.

Licensed and registered

A New York license generally lasts for life, but a midwife must also keep their registration current to practice. Registration is renewed every three years. Our guide on how to verify a midwife's license in New York explains how to look up a license and read its status.

CNM and CM: Two Routes to the Same New York License

Certified nurse-midwife (CNM)

A certified nurse-midwife is a registered nurse who has completed a graduate midwifery program and passed AMCB's national certification exam. According to AMCB, candidates must graduate from a nurse-midwifery program accredited by ACME and hold an active registered nurse (RN) license. As of January 1, 2011, AMCB requires a graduate degree to be eligible for its exam.

Certified midwife (CM)

A certified midwife completes the same kind of ACME-accredited graduate midwifery education and passes the same AMCB exam, but isn't required to be a registered nurse. Instead of an RN license, CM candidates complete required science and health coursework, according to AMCB and ACNM.

CMs are licensed in only some states. New York is one of them. NYSED's FAQ states that New York "has legislated the term licensed midwife to encompass both forms of certification" and that both credentials "meet the requirements for licensure."

What CNMs and CMs share

In New York, CNMs and CMs hold the same license, appear under the same profession in NYSED's license search, and are held to the same standard. NYSED describes licensed midwives as held "to the same entry-level standard of theoretical knowledge and clinical practice."

Both certifications are issued by AMCB, which notes that the titles "CNM" and "CM" can only be used by midwives certified through AMCB. To keep the certification active, AMCB requires CNMs and CMs to recertify every five years.

New York does not require national certification for a licensed midwife to renew their state registration, according to NYSED. So a midwife's AMCB certification status and New York license status are separate records, and each should be checked on its own.

Why "nurse-midwife" means two licenses

Under New York's Education Law, only a person licensed as both a nurse and a midwife may use the title "nurse-midwife." A licensed midwife doesn't need a nursing license to practice midwifery, and NYSED confirms that a registered nurse who becomes a licensed midwife "need not maintain a current registration in nursing." If a midwife describes themself as a nurse-midwife, both licenses should appear in NYSED's records.

CPM: A National Certification, Not a New York License

How the CPM credential is earned

The certified professional midwife (CPM) credential is issued by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM). NARM describes the CPM's competency as "established through training, education and supervised clinical experience, followed by successful completion of a written examination," with a focus on practice "predominately in out-of-hospital settings."

AMCB's credential comparison lists several routes to the CPM exam: NARM's apprenticeship-based Portfolio Evaluation Process, graduation from a program accredited by the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC), AMCB certification as a CNM or CM, or completion of a state licensure program. There is no minimum degree requirement for the CPM exam, and CPMs recertify every three years.

CPMs and New York law

A CPM certification is not a New York license. New York's licensing requirements call for a master's or higher degree and the AMCB examination, which the CPM credential alone doesn't provide. Because only licensed or exempt people may practice midwifery in New York, CPM certification by itself does not authorize midwifery practice in the state.

Bills to create a separate New York license for certified professional midwives, S5542 in the Senate and A1125 in the Assembly, were introduced in the 2025–2026 session. As of October 2026, both were in their houses' higher education committees and had not passed either house. They are proposals, not law.

Why other states differ

Midwifery is regulated state by state. ACNM's credential comparison notes that CPMs are licensed in many other states, and AMCB describes CPMs as "licenced or otherwise regulated" in a number of states. Sources give different counts, so check the current rules for any specific state. A CPM's legal status somewhere else doesn't carry over to New York. NYSED also notes that a midwifery license can't be issued in New York solely because someone is licensed in another state or country.

MSN and DNP: Academic Degrees, Not Licenses

MSN (Master of Science in Nursing)

An MSN is a graduate degree in nursing. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), master's nursing programs prepare nurses for a range of roles, including administration, teaching, research, informatics, and direct patient care. Many people with an MSN are not midwives.

For a midwife, an MSN often reflects the graduate degree earned in a nurse-midwifery program. New York requires a master's or higher degree in midwifery or a related field for licensure. Other graduate degrees can also qualify, so an MSN is common among midwives but not universal.

DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice)

A DNP is a doctoral degree in nursing. AACN describes it as a practice-focused degree "designed for nurses seeking a terminal degree in nursing practice," with content in areas such as evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and systems leadership. Nurses in many roles earn a DNP, so the letters alone don't show that someone is a midwife.

Do more letters mean a better fit?

Not necessarily. ACNM's position is that "a doctoral degree will not be a requirement for entry into practice for CNMs or CMs." A DNP reflects additional education, which some midwives pursue for leadership, teaching, or practice improvement. It doesn't change what a midwife is licensed to do in New York, and it doesn't tell you whether their approach to care suits you.

How to Read the Letters After a Midwife's Name

The usual order

Many nurses and nurse-midwives follow the American Nurses Association's guidance on displaying credentials. It lists the highest education degree first because it is "permanent," then licensure, then state designations, then national certifications, then awards and honors. Not everyone follows this order, so treat it as a guide rather than a rule.

A worked example

Imagine a midwife who signs their name "DNP, CNM." Read from left to right:

• DNP: They completed a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.
• CNM: They were certified by AMCB as a certified nurse-midwife. If the title is current, their AMCB certification should be active.

What the letters don't show is just as important. They don't tell you whether the midwife holds a current New York midwifery license and registration. In New York, the license that lets a midwife practice may not appear in the letters at all. Use the official license search to check it.

Where to Check Each Credential

Each type of credential is recorded by a different organization:

The NYSED search is the official record for New York licensure. AMCB and NARM records show certification status, which is a different question. For step-by-step instructions, including what each license status means and what to do if you can't find a midwife, see our guide on checking a midwife's license in New York.

What Credentials Can't Tell You

A license, a certification, and a degree each confirm something specific. None of them tells you:

• Whether a midwife's approach and communication style fit your family
• How much experience they have with the kind of birth you're planning
• Whether they attend births in your area or setting, or are available around your due date
• Whether your pregnancy is a good fit for the birth setting you're considering
• Whether they accept your insurance

If you're still deciding between birth settings, our comparison of home birth vs. hospital birth walks through how care differs in each. For a broader introduction to the profession, see our overview of what midwives do.

Questions to Ask About a Midwife's Credentials

A short conversation can fill in what the letters leave out:

• "Are you licensed and currently registered as a midwife in New York? What's the name on your license?"
• "Which national certification do you hold, and is it current?"
• "Where did you complete your midwifery education?"
• "How long have you practiced, and in which settings?"
• "Who will attend my birth with you, and what are their credentials?"

For more questions about experience, logistics, and care philosophy, see our list of 50 questions to ask when choosing a midwife.

This article is for general educational purposes and is not legal or medical advice. Licensing rules, certification requirements, and pending legislation can change. For the current status of a specific license, use the New York State Education Department's official verification search, and for certification status, contact the relevant certifying board.

Sources

• New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions. Frequently Asked Questions for Midwifery. Accessed October 2026.
• New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions. License Requirements for Midwifery. Accessed October 2026.
• New York State Education Law, Article 140 (Midwifery), §§6951–6957. NYSED reprint. Accessed October 2026.
• New York State Education Law, Article 130, Subarticle 1, §6502. NYSED reprint. Accessed October 2026.
• New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions. Consumer Information for Midwifery. Accessed October 2026.
• New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions. Verification Search. Accessed October 2026.
• American Midwifery Certification Board. Why AMCB Certification. Accessed October 2026.
• American Midwifery Certification Board. AMCB Certification. Accessed October 2026.
• American Midwifery Certification Board. Consumer Information. Accessed October 2026.
• American Midwifery Certification Board. Verify a Midwife. Accessed October 2026.
• North American Registry of Midwives. Certification and Recertification. Accessed October 2026.
• North American Registry of Midwives. Verify a Credential. Accessed October 2026.
• American College of Nurse-Midwives. Comparison of Certified Nurse-Midwives, Certified Midwives, and Certified Professional Midwives. Updated February 2026.
• American College of Nurse-Midwives. Mandatory Degree Requirements for Entry Into Midwifery Practice (position statement). Revised 2022.
• American Association of Colleges of Nursing. DNP Fact Sheet. Accessed October 2026.
• American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Master's Education. Accessed October 2026.
• American Nurses Association / American Nurses Credentialing Center. How to Display Your Credentials. Accessed October 2026.
• New York State Senate. Senate Bill S5542 (2025–2026) and Assembly Bill A1125. Accessed October 2026.