Want to become a nurse midwife in New Jersey? Great choice!
Nurse midwives have a challenging and rewarding profession.
They get to help women in all life stages and especially during pregnancy and childbirth. By doing this, they are helping the whole family as well!
But to become a nurse midwife in NJ, you’ll need to meet certain eligibility requirements and complete an approved education program.
The process and requirements can seem long and intimidating if they are given to you in a jumble.
But we’re going to tell you how to become a nurse midwife in New Jersey in 4 steps.
We’ll do it simply, without leaving out any important information.
So, if you’re interested, keep reading for more information!
How to Become a Nurse Midwife in New Jersey in 4 Simple Steps
Becoming a nurse midwife in New Jersey is not as daunting as it sounds.
With the right resources, education, and licensure process, you can become a nurse midwife in no time.
Here are 4 important steps you need to take to become a CNM in New Jersey:
- Enroll in a Master’s Degree Program (or Higher) for Nurse Midwifery
- Take the National Certification Examination—And Pass
- Apply for Your License through the New Jersey Board of Nursing
- Start Practicing as a CNM in New Jersey and Maintain Your CNM License
Note: The following steps are meant for RNs who have completed their BSNs, gained at least one year of experience as an RN, and are currently eligible to apply for an MSN.
So, without further ado, let’s take a closer look at each step.
Step #1: Enroll in a Master’s Degree Program (or Higher) for Nurse Midwifery
Pursuing a nurse-midwife career in New Jersey requires significant dedication and commitment to education.
Individuals interested in this field must attain a master’s or higher degree that has been recognized by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME).
But before anything else, make sure you qualify for admission.
Admission Requirements
Master’s degree program requirements will vary between providers.
But some of the most basic things you should comply with include:
- Graduation from a BSN program.
- A Bachelor’s Degree is usually required by CNM schools since it provides a stronger foundation for advanced nursing practice compared to an Associate’s Degree.
- A current RN license.
- If you are not yet an RN, you can find out how to become an RN in New Jersey by reading this simple guide.
- At least one year of experience as an RN.
- Most CNM programs require you to have at least one year of experience working as a nurse. Some may even require two or more years.
Other admission requirements may include:
- Applicant’s video or written essay
- Applicant’s written statement of purpose
- Letters of recommendation from peers or other reliable relations
Accredited Programs
For those considering diving into nurse-midwifery, it is important to make sure any potential program is ACME-approved when looking at options available in New Jersey.
This ensures that nurse-midwives operating within the state are qualified and experienced to provide patients with quality care and services.
There is only one ACME-approved on-campus program in NJ – Rutgers School of Nursing in Newark, NJ.
Fortunately, there are many campuses in neighboring cities where you can complete your education requirements if Newark isn’t a possibility for you.
There are also online ACME-accredited programs that you may take at your convenience, but you will still need to comply with about 500-1000 clinical hours.
Here’s a list of a few clinical locations that CNM programs partner with within in New Jersey.
- Hackensack University Medical Center
- Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune
- Morristown Medical Center
- Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick
- Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick
- Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank
- University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro
Step #2: Take the National Certification Examination—And Pass
After completing your master’s degree in nurse-midwifery, the next step is to take the National Certification Examination.
To book a spot in the exam, you need to apply through the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB) website.
You’ll be given a candidate handbook, which will walk you through the process of applying for the NCE test.
You must take the NCE exam within the first 24 months of graduating from your master’s program. Candidates have a maximum of four attempts to pass the exam.
There are 175 multiple-choice questions and you have four hours to finish everything and get a passing grade.
You will be notified via email if you pass or fail. If you do pass, you will be provided a Certificate in Nurse Midwifery (CNM).
The next step will be to apply for your license!
Step #3: Apply for Your License through the New Jersey Board of Nursing
Before you can start practicing as a CNM in New Jersey, you first need a license provided by the New Jersey Board of Nursing.
To finalize your application, you simply have to submit the following requirements to the New Jersey Board of Nursing for verification:
- Three passport-sized photos
- Application fees ($125 nonrefundable application fee + $50 if applying with prescriptive authority)
- A completed and notarized application
- Official transcripts from an ACME-recognized MSN program in nurse-midwifery
- A valid RN license (verification of license form)
- Verification of CNM certification
- Criminal history background check
- Resume or CV
- Proof of U.S. citizenship (birth certificate, passport, or proof of immigration status)
- If applying for prescriptive authority, an authorized representative of your pharmacology program should complete the verification form attached to the application.
After gathering all your documents, you may proceed to send them to this address:
New Jersey Office of the Attorney General
Division of Consumer Affairs
State Board of Medical Examiners
Midwifery Liaison Committee
140 East Front Street, 2nd Floor, PO Box 183
Trenton, NJ 08625
For more details, check out this licensure checklist.
Step #4: Start Practicing as a CNM in New Jersey and Maintain Your CNM License
Once you have your license, all that’s left for you to do is find a job as a CNM.
Nowadays, CNMs are in incredibly high demand. So, you shouldn’t have trouble finding a suitable place to put your skills into practice.
In New Jersey, nurse midwives make an average yearly salary of $119,760, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
CNMs are predicted to have access to significantly more chances as more prominent health organizations collaborate with nurse-midwives.
Not sure where to apply after getting your license? Here are a few institutions to consider:
- CarePoint Health Women’s Services in Hoboken
- Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville
- Hunterdon Healthcare in Flemington
- Jersey Shore Women’s Health Care Center in Neptune
- Liberty Women’s Health Care in Flushing
But don’t forget to keep your licenses active!
All licenses granted by the New Jersey Board of Nursing must be renewed every two years.
If a licensee wants to renew their license, they must submit a filled-out renewal application, have documentation of their current ACNM, AMCB, or NARM certification, and pay the renewal cost specified in N.J.A.C.
You can read more about the nursing CE requirements in New Jersey here.
Final Thoughts
Becoming a certified nurse midwife in New Jersey is not as difficult as one might think. However, some important steps must be taken to comply with state requirements.
Make sure any potential program you consider is ACME-approved, and then take the NCE exam within the first 24 months of graduating from your master’s program.
Finalize your license application with the New Jersey Board of Nursing once you get your Certificate in Nurse Midwifery. Then you may begin practicing as a CNM in NJ!
With these simple steps, you too can become a registered nurse and begin providing quality care to patients across the Garden State.
We have various other articles on How to Become a Nurse in other states in the US. Make sure to browse through our previous articles to get your hands on the information you need.
Have any questions? Let us know in the comments section below!