what's the difference?

I agree, go to the MANA website. None of them are higher than RNs. They are only required to have a high school degree and then many do on-their-own study and an apprenticeship. A CPM has met the standards set forth by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) and their website may be able to give you more information as well.

-A CPM can learn via apprenticeship (the majority) and then they are also considered a DEM (direct entry midwife). There are also NARM accredited schools that they can attend. Basically, they need to pass the NARM exam to be considered a CPM. A CPM is the blanket term used to describe all the other acronyms you described. They practice only in out-of-hospital births. Most at home, some in birth centers.

-A DEM learns via apprenticeship, therefore it is a direct entry.

-A LM is a CPM that is licensed in a specific state. Since the CPM is not legally allowed to practice in every state, this acronym is used to distinguish that they are licensed.

OVERALL: None of these are Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs), which are RNs which special expertise in women's health, labor and delivery. They have completed a Master's level degree. My understanding is that it takes a CPM around 2-4 years to complete their certification (not a degree). A CNM it will take 1.5-2 years of Master's level studies (after being a RN, which is anywhere from 2-4 years). So yes, CNMs are more specialized than RNs, but at the core, they are nurses. CNMs mostly practice in hospitals (96%).

Hope this is helpful!

The whole alphabet soup for CPM, LM, DEM is all very confusing...

You already asked this:

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/profession-higher-nurse-611665.html

blackbird singing:u confused me..before in the previous blog "Which profession is higher?nurse or midwife?" u said that CNM, CM, CPM, LM are higher than RN in terms of profession. then ur above post states that none of CM, CPM, LM are higher than RN..

blackbird singing:u confused me..before in the previous blog "Which profession is higher?nurse or midwife?" u said that CNM, CM, CPM, LM are higher than RN in terms of profession. then ur above post states that none of CM, CPM, LM are higher than RN..

Okay, first, CPMs and LMs don't even work with RNs so it's irrelevant to compare the two.

Second, what do you use to determine who is "higher" ? Is it education level? If so, sure, CNMs are higher than RNs. In terms of hierarchy, I guess you could say that a CNM is "higher" than an RN simply because they have an RN plus a MSN. However, RNs are not employed by CNMs so that it is why I did not say they are higher. I like the way that the first responder here said that CNMs are RNs with specific specialization at a Master's level. So, sure, CNMs are higher than RNs. But CNMs are also RNs.

If you are asking all this to determine whether it was appropriate that the midwife bossed you around (as in the previous post you asked this same question), I honestly don't even know. Just talk it over with the midwife if you are so upset about it. You will deal with crappy bosses everywhere, so trying to figure out which is higher is not important. If you don't like your job or your boss, and can't resolve the issues, then quit. Also, you mentioned that you weren't even in the US, so I'm not quite sure how your licensing works with midwives. So, your questioning may even be more irrelevant.

Blackbird...The OP is in the middle east and may not be familiar with the ins and outs of american hierarchy of education.

Yeah, that's why I am wondering if my answer was even relevant. I wasn't meaning to sound rude or snarky, and I apologize if it came off that way. But she was asking about CPMs, LMs and DEMs, which is why I am wondering if she is trying to relate their experience to the experience in her country.

OP: if you aren't familiar with what I am talking about, PM me and I would love to discuss it with you. I apologize if I came off as callous in the previous post.

OP, to answer your question, there are different types of midwives in the US:

DEM: Direct entry midwife. Has learned midwifery through an apprenticeship

CPM: Certified Professional Midwife. May have learned midwifery through an apprenticeship program, may have attended a school of midwifery. Has taken and passed a midwifery certification exam with NARM (North American Registry of Midwives).

CM: Certified Midwife. Has attended specific midwifery training through a school and has taken and passed the ACNM (American College of Nurse Midwives) exam.

Schools of midwifery could be 2-4 years in length.

CNM: Certified Nurse Midwife. Has obtained a nursing degree (4yrs) and a Masters Degree in Nursing (2-3 years, most programs are 50 semester hours in length which equates to about 3 years).

All provide care during the pregnancy, labor, birth, and post-partum period of women. CNMs go to school (it seems) for the longest period of time. This is because they have to be an RN first. DEMs, CPMs, CMs are not typically RNs