licensing exam for CNMs

Specialties CNM

Published

Specializes in LDRP.

I feel like this is a silly question, but since I'm applying to Frontier's CNM program, this is good to know.

What is the licensing exam for cnm's and when do you take it? Is it as bad as the nclex?

I saw in frontier's catalog that you take the comprehensive examination at the end... Is this it?

I tried to google the answer and found nothing, so anything you can tell me would be great. Thanks, and sorry for a silly question

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It's a fine point, but it is a "certification" exam rather than a licensing exam. When you graduate from your program they send the American Midwifery Certification board (AMCB) a form and you fill out a form and send it in. Those two forms meet somewhere in the middle and you get an e-mail saying that you can take the exam. You go online to find the closest exam location (AMP testing centers, I think) and choose your location, date, and time. Then once you pass the exam you are a certified nurse midwife but not necessarily a licensed one. You then take your certification results, master's degree, and whatever else ir required to your state board of nursing (usually although I think in some states the Medical Board might oversee it?) and get your license to practice as a CNM. So you are nationally certified but you have to be licensed in individual states. The website to the AMCB is www.AMCBmidwife.com I think. Good luck!

Also, it's hard!! But doable:)

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Specializes in LDRP.

wow, that sounds complicated, lol.

Hope it makes more sense when I actually get to that point. So how long from graduation til you actually can practice as a CNM?

thanks for your answer!

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I think I did make it sound more complicated that it is. It was essentially the same process as what I went through with my NCLEX and RN license. A national examination but a state license.

I would say it was only about 4 weeks between when I graduated and I had my eligibility to test statement (meaning I could schedule the exam). I took a few more weeks to study and you get the results immediately when you test.

The real problem is that it often takes 3-4 months to get priveliged at a hospital. Ordinarily you have to be licensed to apply so that it can be a part of your application and it is still a long wait to start working. That came as a surprise to many of my classmates.

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