Professions / Healthcare

Occupational licensing · Healthcare · 51 state boards

Certified Nurse-Midwife Licensing Requirements by State

Certified Nurse-Midwife licensing rules differ by state. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) compilation and responsible state boards (current as of May 15, 2026), this registry compares education hours, initial and renewal fees, exams, background checks and reciprocity notes across 51 boards. Use the table to compare differences, then verify the current rule with the responsible board before applying.

Certified Nurse-Midwife across 51 state boards. Nearest coverage peers (51-state band): Athletic Trainer, Dental Assistant, Dental Hygienist.

By ·Compiled from official state licensing boards

States regulated
51
Require an exam
100%
View saved licenses

Board Pathway Strip

Certified Nurse-Midwife: 51 boards · exam on 100% · background check on 100%. Same-lane boards: Athletic Trainer, Dental Assistant, Dental Hygienist.

Provides prenatal, birth, and postpartum care. Scope varies by state.

Certified Nurse-Midwife: 51/51 boards require an exam (100%); unusually uniform for healthcare. Athletic Trainer is the usual same-lane contrast.

Board thresholds for Certified Nurse-Midwife drift board-to-board; the same pattern shows up on Athletic Trainer and Dental Assistant in healthcare. Methodology notes live on our methods page.

Certified Nurse-Midwife states

51

Top quartile, highest

Board gates for Certified Nurse-Midwife: exam on 51/51 (100%), background check on 51/51 (100%) , most boards skip mandated CE hours . Stack that against Athletic Trainer / Dental Assistant before calling this license soft or hard.

Other licenses near Certified Nurse-Midwife's board count

Coverage band

Certified Nurse-Midwife boards vs Athletic Trainer / Dental Assistant - state table

51 states
State Edu. Hours Exam Init. Fee Renewal Cycle CE Hrs Same-board peer
Alabama 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Amusement Ride Operator · Barber
Alaska 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Water Well Driller · Auctioneer
Arizona 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Commercial Truck Driver (CDL) · Electrician
Arkansas 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Auctioneer · Childcare Center Director
California 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Elementary School Teacher · Funeral Director / Embalmer
Colorado 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also HVAC Technician · Licensed Professional Counselor
Connecticut 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) · Medical Lab Technician
Delaware 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Licensed Professional Counselor · Mortgage Loan Originator
District of Columbia 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) · Medical Lab Technician
Florida 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Sign Language Interpreter · Tow Truck Operator
Georgia 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Taxi/Ride-Share Driver · Arborist / Tree Surgeon
Hawaii 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Dietetic Technician · Farrier / Horseshoer
Idaho 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Glazier · Interior Designer
Illinois 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Land Surveyor · Massage Therapist
Indiana 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) · Medical Lab Technician
Iowa 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Food Handler / Food Safety Certification · Home Inspector
Kansas 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also School Librarian / Media Specialist · Surgical Technologist
Kentucky 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Substitute Teacher · Veterinary Technician
Louisiana 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also School Counselor · Substitute Teacher
Maine 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Athletic Trainer · Chauffeur / Limousine Driver
Maryland 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Athletic Agent · Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Massachusetts 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Animal Breeder · Bartender / Alcohol Server
Michigan 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Body Piercer · Court Reporter / Stenographer
Minnesota 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Commercial Truck Driver (CDL) · Electrician
Mississippi 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Dental Hygienist · Esthetician
Missouri 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Cosmetologist · Electrologist
Montana 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Dietetic Technician · Farrier / Horseshoer
Nebraska 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Electrologist · Food Handler / Food Safety Certification
Nevada 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Interior Designer · Marriage and Family Therapist
New Hampshire 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) · Glazier
New Jersey 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Farrier / Horseshoer · Hearing Aid Specialist
New Mexico 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Funeral Director / Embalmer · HVAC Technician
New York 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) · Medical Lab Technician
North Carolina 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Dietetic Technician · Farrier / Horseshoer
North Dakota 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Electrician · Fire Sprinkler Installer
Ohio 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) · Medical Lab Technician
Oklahoma 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Locksmith · Nail Technician
Oregon 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Nail Technician · Pest Control Applicator
Pennsylvania 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Nail Technician · Pest Control Applicator
Rhode Island 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Veterinary Technician · Athletic Trainer
South Carolina 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Body Piercer · Court Reporter / Stenographer
South Dakota 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Casino/Gaming Dealer · Debt Collector
Tennessee 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also HVAC Technician · Licensed Professional Counselor
Texas 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Massage Therapist · Occupational Therapist
Utah 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Pesticide Applicator (Commercial) · Private Investigator
Vermont 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Respiratory Therapist · Septic System Installer
Virginia 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Paramedic · Physician Assistant
Washington 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist · Secondary School Teacher
West Virginia 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Amusement Ride Operator · Barber
Wisconsin 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Security Alarm Installer · Tax Preparer
Wyoming 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Armed Security Guard · Casino/Gaming Dealer

What to do with this

Certified Nurse-Midwife is regulated in 51 states -- here's how to use that before you act.

  • Compare Certified Nurse-Midwife's requirements against every other tracked profession. Browse all professions
  • #12 of 97 professions by number of states requiring a license -- see which states are strictest overall. State burden rankings
  • Check whether your license transfers under an interstate compact before assuming you need to start over. Reciprocity guide

Requirements are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research and verified against state board sites where possible; always confirm current rules with the licensing board before relying on any single row.

Data sources

Related

Athletic Trainer →Reciprocity guide →Strictest states →Compare states →

Data sourced from NCSL, Institute for Justice, and state licensing board websites. See our methodology for details.

Disclaimer: For informational purposes only; not professional licensing advice. Verify current requirements with your state board before making career decisions.

Every figure on PlainCredential is rendered directly from NCSL and state occupational- licensing board data, no number is typed in by an editor. Certified Nurse-Midwife requirements from NCSL and state board schedules: 51 rows, no hand-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.