Thinking of advancing your nursing career for better opportunities and compensation?
Passionate about women’s health, especially during pregnancy and childbirth?
Then becoming a nurse midwife is a great fit for you!
While unregulated midwife assistance is available in Mississippi, getting a CNM helps you put yourself out there, and differentiate yourself from the rest.
So, if you’re set on gaining a CNM and want guidance on how to get started, then keep on reading.
Our guide will give you 4 easy steps on how to become a nurse midwife (CNM) in Mississippian, as well as answer some FAQs.
Let’s get into it!
How to Become a CNM in Mississippi in 4 Steps
Here’s a brief rundown of all the steps you’ll need to go through to get registered in Mississippi:
Step #1: Meet All the Prerequisites
Step #2: Take a Master’s Degree in Nurse-Midwifery
Step #3: Pass the National Nurse-Midwife Certification Examination
Step #4: Apply for APRN Licensure with the Mississippi Board of Nursing
Let’s take a closer look at each stage down below.
Step #1: Meet All the Prerequisites
Becoming a CNM is no joke. Aside from the process itself, there are a lot of prerequisites to meet.
Since nurse-midwifery is a highly specialized certification, you need a strong nursing foundation.
To earn a CNM, you first need to be a Registered Nurse (RN), which also requires a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree to obtain.
If you’ve gained your RN license using an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN), you’ll need to take an ACME-accredited RN-to-MSN (Master in Science in Nursing) bridge program.
This will convert your associate’s degree to a bachelor’s degree, while also earning you a Master’s Degree in Nursing, side by side.
While the process may seem a bit complex, here’s an article that easily explains how to become an RN in Mississippi.
You should also avoid certain factors that result in disqualification from CNM licensure.
These include:
- Conviction of a felony in any state of the U.S. or its territories
- Disciplinary action, conviction, or ongoing investigation for the past or current unauthorized practice of midwifery or medicine
- Misrepresentation on the CNM application form
Step #2: Take a Master’s Degree in Nurse-Midwifery
If you’ve already got an RN license, then the next step is to take a Master’s Degree in Nurse-Midwifery.
You have to make sure that your program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education.
Unfortunately, there are no accredited schools in Mississippi itself. There are other options, however.
Jefferson University, for example, offers Nurse-Midwifery education, with the choice of in-person or online instruction. This makes it easier to manage your schedule, especially if you are working as a nurse.
The course consists of 36 credits that’ll take around 3 years to complete (assuming you do it full-time).
Aside from your RN license, the admission requirements of schools may include:
- Admission essay
- GRE score
- Letters of recommendation
- GPA
Nurse-Midwifery courses shall expand upon concepts learned in your bachelor’s, with a focus on pre and post-natal care.
Some examples of areas you’ll be learning are:
- Newborn Care
- Midwifery Care During Pregnancy
- Ambulatory Care of Women
- Pharmacology
- Family Crisis Care
- Midwifery Care During Labor
You’ll also be expected to complete about 600-1,000 hours of clinical work, depending on the program.
Step #3: Pass the National Nurse-Midwife Certification Examination
After completing your Master’s Degree in Nurse-Midwifery, you’ll be permitted to sit for the final National Nurse-Midwife Certification Examination.
The exam is conducted by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB), which is in charge of Midwifery examinations across the US.
To apply, you’ll need to fill out the application form and mail it to the address below,
AMCB
849 International Drive, Suite 120
Linthicum, MD 21090
Alternatively, the AMCB also permits online applications.
In Mississippi, the exam is conducted at the following address,
Jackson H & R Block Office
5250 I-55 N Suite C
Jackson, MS 39211
The exam is made up of 175 MCQs, with candidates having 240 minutes to complete it.
The passing score for the test will vary based on the cohort you appear with, devised according to the average score.
Here you’ll be quizzed on several areas in the following percentages (updated for 2023):
- Antepartum – 21%
- Intrapartum – 21%
- Postpartum – 18%
- Newborn – 10%
- Well Woman/Gyn – 19%
- Women’s Health/Primary care – 11%
If you’re looking for more information about the application process, exam day requirement, and syllabus details consult the AMCB Certification Exam Candidate Handbook.
Step #4: Apply for APRN Licensure with the Mississippi Board of Nursing
After you’ve successfully passed the examination, and received your passing certificate, you will be able to apply for a CNM license.
But first, you have to make sure that you are currently licensed as an RN in Mississippi or have an active, unencumbered multi-state RN license.
The Mississippi Board of Nursing requires 720 hours of supervised residency, under a licensed practitioner or APRN.
To apply for a CNM license from the Mississippi Board of Nursing, you will need to create an account on Nurse Gateway, which is an online platform that handles applications for licensure.
Once you have an account, you will need to submit the following documents:
- Proof of multi-state RN licensure (if your primary state of residence is an NLC state)
- Evidence of national certification from the AMCB
- Official transcripts from your ACME-accredited program
- Documentation of practice site, type, and specialty
- Verification of protocol/practice for each physician with whom you have entered into a collaborative practice agreement
After filling out the application, you’ll have to pay a fee of $100 online.
You will also be asked if you wish to apply for Controlled Substance Prescriptive Authority (CPSA) or not. If you do, you will need to pay an additional $100.
After being granted CPSA, you will need to register with the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration. This can be done through the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) website, where you’ll receive a certificate to upload onto the Nurse Gateway portal.
After uploading and finishing the CNM application process you’ll receive a response within a month or two which will make you a Certified Nurse-Midwife in the state of Mississippi.
For more information on the requirements, you can go to the official website of the BON.
Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a CNM in Mississippi
What does a CNM do?
A CNM is a licensed healthcare practitioner certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB) to be a Nurse-Midwife.
A CNM is an Advanced Practice RN (APRN) that specializes in providing healthcare to women of childbearing age.
Therefore, activities such as post and prenatal care, labor, and child delivery are activities that a CNM performs.
How much does the CNM test cost in Mississippi?
The CNM examination is handled by the American Midwifery Certification Board and costs $500. The reexamination fee is lower at $350. The exam offers 4 retries.
You’ll also have to pay a processing fee of $121.
How much does a CNM make annually in Mississippi?
According to Incredible Health, a registered CNM can make an average annual salary of around $128,000 in 2022, which works out to $65 per hour.
How long will it take to complete a CNM in Mississippi?
In Mississippi, for those who are already registered nurses (RNs) the process of attaining a CNM will take around 3-4 years, to complete the Master’s and pass the National Nurse-Midwife Certification Examination.
Conclusion
So there you have it, a complete 4-step guide to getting your CNM in Mississippi!
While the CNM process does require a Master’s and takes time to go through, it offers you a greater degree of specialization, with significantly better compensation plans and job security.
So, if you are passionate about providing reproductive care for women, especially during pregnancy and childbirth, just follow our simple guide.
You’ll become a CNM before you know it!
Good luck with getting licensed!