Not all midwives are alike, and not every woman is a candidate for midwifery care.
The public has come to trust the multiple levels of testing for knowledge and competence inherent in a formal college-level education and the standards for safety required by federal and state licensing agencies. Because standards for the education and practice of midwifery might vary, ACNM urges consumers to carefully evaluate credentials. However, it is possible to be a competent practitioner without a college education, especially if one has apprenticed for a long time with another experienced provider.