Wish to make a name for yourself professionally and reap the most benefits?
Are you thinking about a career as an advanced practice nurse?
Interested in focusing on women’s health, especially during pregnancy, labor, and delivery?
What you need is a career as a Certified Nurse Midwife!
High paying, highly respected, and incredibly important, the job of a CNM can offer you all these benefits.
But, although the job of a CNM might appeal to you, the question you must be asking is, “How do I become one?”
Don’t worry!
In this comprehensive guide, we are going to tell you exactly how to become a nurse midwife (CNM) in Idaho – what is required, how long it will take, and much more.
Did we tell you there are only 4 steps?
Let’s start!
How to Become a CNM in Idaho in 4 Steps
Here are the four steps to becoming a CNM in Idaho:
- Step #1: Become a Registered Nurse
- Step #2: Take a Master’s in Nurse Midwifery
- Step #3: Pass the National Certification Exam in Nurse-Midwifery
- Step #4: Apply for Your CNM License from the Idaho Board of Nursing
Let’s discuss each one in detail.
Step #1: Become a Registered Nurse (RN)
A Certified Nurse Midwife is a Registered Nurse (RN) who later specializes in midwifery.
So, in your journey to becoming a CNM, you first need to become an RN.
If you are already an RN, you can skip ahead to Step #2.
Admission to a Nursing Education Institute
To receive the proper training as an RN, you need to enroll in a state-approved nursing education institute.
You also need to decide what you will take – an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
We usually suggest that you go for a BSN since BSN graduates are more employable and have more job opportunities.
However, getting a BSN is even more important if you want to become a CNM since most graduate-level nursing programs require a BSN as your educational background.
The NCLEX
The NCLEX is a national nursing examination that all aspiring RNs need to take and pass to become licensed.
The NCLEX tests if you have what it takes to practice safely and effectively as an RN.
Prepare well and work hard. However, don’t worry if you don’t succeed at first, you can try again after 40 days!
Application Submission to the Idaho Board of Nursing
Aside from graduating from an approved RN program and passing the NCLEX, you also need to submit other documents to the Idaho Board of Nursing to become licensed.
For more information, you can check out this simple guide on how to become an RN in Idaho.
Step #2: Take a Master’s in Nurse Midwifery
This is where your CNM journey gets even more interesting.
Why?
You are going to become a specialist.
A master’s, post-graduate degree, or a doctorate in nurse-midwifery will make you a specialist.
Think of it this way – Before, you were just a rookie/beginner with a general understanding. Now, you will become an expert in a particular field!
Hospitals, communities, and even senior doctors are looking for experts. As a result, opportunities and rewards will be great here.
Approved Programs
All this talk of specialization and its privileges is exciting, but remember to enroll in an accredited program. Otherwise, your education and training won’t count!
You need to enroll in a program that is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME).
Unfortunately, there are no approved CNM programs in Idaho. But this doesn’t mean your CNM dreams are over. There are many schools from other states that offer online options.
These programs partner with health institutes for the compliance of your clinical hours.
The length of an approved Master’s program is about 1-2 years if you are studying full-time.
Step #3: Pass the National Certification Exam in Nurse-Midwifery
After finishing a qualified degree program, Idaho APRN candidates must pass national certification exams.
In particular, aspiring nurse midwives must pass the AMCB exam to become certified.
The American Midwifery Certification Board’s exam is made up of 175 MCQs, and candidates have four hours to complete the exam.
The questions cover midwifery topics, such as antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum.
Before scheduling the CNM exam at an Applied Measurement Professionals (AMP) testing site, candidates must apply and gain approval.
NOTE: Candidates in Idaho can take their certification exams at the AMP testing center in Meridian.
You can check this Candidate’s Handbook from the AMCB for a detailed guide on the exam content, instructions for application, etc.
Step #4: Apply for Your CNM License from the Idaho Board of Nursing
Once you complete your master’s or doctorate, it’s time to apply for your Certified Nurse Midwife license from the Idaho Board of Nursing.
The CNM license falls under the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) license category.
Application Requirements in Idaho State
To be able to apply, you have to hold an active, unrestricted Idaho RN license or a multi-state RN license from another NLC state.
For APRN licensing in Idaho, applicants must submit the following to the Idaho Board of Nursing:
- A nurse portal application.
- Payment of the application fee ($90.00).
- Transcripts sent directly to the Board of Nursing from your CNM school
- Verification of CNM certification from the AMCB
- Completed fingerprint-based criminal background check
- Documentation of completing 30 contact hours of pharmacotherapeutics related to APRN practice, if applicable.
Nurse Midwife with Prescriptive and Dispensing Authority
Great news!
APRNs who finish their degree after December 2015, will automatically be granted prescriptive and dispensing authority together with their APRN license.
However, they must be able to provide evidence of completing 30 contact hours of post-basic education in pharmacotherapeutics. This is usually built-in to your APRN educational program already.
For more information on the licensure process, you can consult the Idaho BON website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Becoming a Nurse Midwife in Idaho
How long does it take to become a CNM?
In terms of the time it takes, let’s break it down:
- BSN Degree at Nursing School: 4 years
- RN Licensure Process: 3-6 months
- Experience Gaining = 6 – 12 months
- Master’s: 1-2 years
- CNM Licensure Process: 3-6 months
Total = 6-8 years
Looking at these figures you may think that the process is too long and potentially overwhelming.
However, you need to remember becoming a CNM is not a race. It is a series of steps, so take it slow and enjoy every step of the way.
How much does a CNM in Idaho make?
According to Salary.com, a CNM in Idaho earns an average wage of $112, 039.
Your salary depends on several factors such as how many years you’ve been working as a CNM, what city you are in, your position in the
How often does a CNM need to renew his/her license?
A CNM in Idaho has to renew his/her RN and APRN licenses every two years.
For more information on the CE requirements, you can read our simple guide.
Conclusion
Well, there you go, a step-by-step, easy-to-understand guide on becoming a CNM in Idaho. It wasn’t that hard was it?
The best thing to do when you feel overwhelmed by a task is to break it down into smaller steps. Becoming a CNM seems daunting, but if you take it one step at a time, you’ll find yourself at the end of the road before you know it!
A quick review before ending would be helpful: First, become an RN. Next up, Masters. We can’t stress how important this is, so study hard. After that, pass another exam, this time for midwifery. Once you’ve cleared that, it’s time for an APRN license application. If you follow our steps, we know you’ll get that license!
Stay focused and you’ll see your dreams come true.
We hope this will help you in your journey to becoming a CNM.