Understanding Midwifery in Oklahoma
Midwives are highly trained healthcare professionals who provide care and support healthy pregnancies, birth, postpartum, and newborn care. Understanding credentials, education pathways, and regulation helps families make informed decisions.
TERMS & DEFINITIONS
Three credentials, one profession
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CNM
Certified Nurse-Midwife
A registered nurse with graduate-level midwifery education. Certified by AMCB and licensed in Oklahoma as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse through the Oklahoma Board of Nursing. Practices across hospitals, birth centers, and homes.
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CM
Certified Midwife
A midwife with graduate-level midwifery education through a non-nursing pathway. Certified by AMCB with the same core midwifery training and standards as CNMs.
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CPM
Certified Professional Midwife
A midwife credentialed by NARM, with specialized training in community birth settings such as homes and birth centers. Licensed in Oklahoma through OSDH.
IMPORTANT TO KNOW
Oklahoma does not require all individuals who provide midwifery services to hold a state license or national certification. As a result, a person practicing as a “lay or traditional” midwife may have widely varying levels of education and training.
Types of Midwives
Learn about the different midwifery credentials, scopes of practice, education requirements, and certification pathways.
Midwifery Pathways
Compare the education, certification, and licensure pathways for Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs) and Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs).
Oklahoma licensure & regulation
Midwifery practice in Oklahoma is governed by state laws and administrative rules. These resources provide information about licensure requirements, professional standards, and regulatory oversight.
Payment, reimbursement & accreditation
Payment & reimbursement in Oklahoma
Payment and insurance coverage for midwifery services may vary based on the type of provider, practice setting, health plan, and individual circumstances. In hospital settings, CNMs may participate in Medicaid and commercial insurance networks. For out-of-hospital care, contact your midwife directly to discuss fees, insurance coverage, and reimbursement options.
↗ Oklahoma Health Care Authority · oklahoma.gov/ohcaBirth Center Accreditation
Birth Center Accreditation is a voluntary process that demonstrates a birth center's compliance with nationally recognized standards for quality and safety. The Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers (CABC) is the national accrediting body for freestanding birth centers. Currently, Oklahoma has no CABC-Accredited birth centers.
↗ Learn more · birthcenteraccreditation.orgVerify a midwife's credentials
Before choosing a healthcare provider, families may wish to verify a midwife's professional license or certification status.
Certified Professional Midwife
CPMs practicing in Oklahoma are licensed through the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH).
Certified Nurse-Midwife
CNMs are licensed as Advanced Practice Registered Nurses through the Oklahoma Board of Nursing and certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB).