How do you become a nurse-midwifery preceptor?
The short answer
Nurse-midwifery students are precepted by certified nurse-midwives (CNMs certified through AMCB), with OB/GYN physicians for part of their experience. You need an active, unencumbered license and to attend births where you practice. Precepting counts toward your AMCB certificate maintenance: 90 or more hours precepting a student from an ACME-accredited program count for up to 10 contact hours, with or without payment.
- 5 yearsAMCB’s certification cycle
- 3maintenance modules per cycle, one in each area of practice
- 20contact hours of continuing education per cycle
- 90 → 10precepting hours into contact hours, paid or unpaid
What midwifery students practice with you
Midwifery students learn the full scope of midwifery care, in person:
- Prenatal visits and assessment through pregnancy.
- Labor support and attending births.
- Postpartum and newborn care.
- Gynecologic, sexual and reproductive health care.
- Primary care for women and families.
Who precepts midwifery students
Certified nurse-midwives precept most of the experience, in hospital labor and delivery, birth centers, midwifery and OB/GYN practices, and prenatal clinics. Midwifery education programs are accredited by ACME, and they count the births a student attends, which is why preceptors who attend births are so valuable. Midwifery hours are in person.
How precepting counts toward AMCB maintenance
AMCB certification runs on a five-year cycle. Through the Certificate Maintenance Program, a CNM completes three maintenance modules, one in each area of practice, and 20 contact hours of approved continuing education. Direct clinical supervision of a nurse-midwifery or midwifery student from an ACME-accredited program, with or without payment, counts for up to 10 contact hours for 90 or more hours spent precepting, documented by a letter from the faculty coordinator.
Precepting midwifery students with Preceptorate
We match you with midwifery students whose program fits your practice and setting, verify your license, and set up a short first call. Our team prepares the affiliation agreement and the program’s forms, and you are paid per block of hours at the rate you set.
Sources
- AMCB: Certificate Maintenance Program, continuing education policy
- National Task Force: Standards for Quality Nurse Practitioner Education, 6th edition (2022)
Checked October 30, 2026. Schools build on these standards with their own guidelines, and our team tells you exactly what your student’s school asks.