Certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) provide a full range of primary health care services to women, including gynecology checkups, family planning services, preconception care, prenatal and postpartum care, and, of course, delivering babies.

A certified nurse-midwife is a health care provider who has been trained in both nursing and midwifery and is certified by a national organization called the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM).  In order to be certified, a CNM must be formally educated in midwifery at an accredited program affiliated with an institution of higher learning, demonstrate clinical competence, and pass a rigorous national certifying exam.  CNMs are licensed to practice in all 50 states and the District of Colombia.