The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is the representative organization of physicians who are qualified specialists in providing health services to women. ACOG is committed to facilitating access to women's health care that is both safe and high quality. One method of attaining this goal is to assure that providers of care meet educational and professional standards of a certification process. ACOG recognizes the educational and professional standards currently used by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB)* to evaluate and certify midwives. While ACOG supports women having a choice in determining their providers of care, ACOG does not support the provision of care by lay midwives or other midwives who are not certified by the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) or AMCB.

*The American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB), formerly known as the ACNM Certification Council (ACC), was incorporated in 1991. The AMCB develops and administers the national certification examination for Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) and Certified Midwives (CMs). CNMs are registered nurses who have graduated from a midwifery education program accredited by the American College of Nurse-Midwives Division of Accreditation and have passed a national certification examination administered by AMCB. Certified midwives also have graduated from a midwifery education program accredited by the American College of Nurse-Midwives Division of Accreditation, have successfully completed the same requirements, have passed the same AMCB national certification examination as certified nurse-midwives and adhere to the same professional standards as certified nurse-midwives.

Approval by the Executive Board February 2006
Amended February 2007