Michigan Certified Nurse-Midwife license renewal and CE requirements
Michigan nurse-midwives must complete 25 contact hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the Michigan Board of Nursing (Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Professional Licensing).
Michigan does not issue a separate nurse midwife license. It grants a nurse midwife specialty certification that sits on the registered nurse license, and R 338.10405a(1) states that specialty certification renewal must correspond with the same schedule as the license renewal. Nursing licenses expire biennially on the issue date under R 338.7001a and are renewed every two years through MiPLUS. LARA sends a renewal notification postcard and email roughly 90 business days before expiration, but failure to receive it does not excuse a late renewal. There is a 60 day grace period after expiration during which the license can still be renewed with a $20 late fee instead of going through relicensure. A license carrying a limitation may be renewed for a term shorter than two years. Suspension or revocation of the registered nurse license automatically voids the specialty certification. On the renewal application the specialty box is pre-checked, and keeping it checked attests that the nurse currently holds national certification from an approved specialty organization; unchecking it means the specialty is not renewed and only the registered nurse license is billed.
Summary
Michigan nurse-midwives must complete 25 contact hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the Michigan Board of Nursing (Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Professional Licensing). Michigan does not issue a separate nurse midwife license. It grants a nurse midwife specialty certification that sits on the registered nurse license, and R 338.10405a(1) states that specialty certification renewal must correspond with the same schedule as the license renewal. Nursing licenses expire biennially on the issue date under R 338.7001a and are renewed every two years through MiPLUS. LARA sends a renewal notification postcard and email roughly 90 business days before expiration, but failure to receive it does not excuse a late renewal. There is a 60 day grace period after expiration during which the license can still be renewed with a $20 late fee instead of going through relicensure. A license carrying a limitation may be renewed for a term shorter than two years. Suspension or revocation of the registered nurse license automatically voids the specialty certification. On the renewal application the specialty box is pre-checked, and keeping it checked attests that the nurse currently holds national certification from an approved specialty organization; unchecking it means the specialty is not renewed and only the registered nurse license is billed. Michigan also mandates specific subjects. Pain and pain symptom management: 2 contact hours every renewal cycle (every applicant for nursing license renewal, including a nurse midwife; the rule is not scoped to prescribers). Implicit bias training: 2 contact hours every renewal cycle (every individual applying for license or registration renewal, reregistration or relicensure under article 15 of the public health code, except those licensed under part 188, which includes nurses). Training in identifying victims of human trafficking: a one-time requirement (every individual licensed or seeking licensure under the nursing rules, including a nurse midwife). Opioids and other controlled substances awareness training: a one-time requirement (only a nurse who also applies for a Michigan controlled substance license).
Michigan Certified Nurse-Midwife renewal and continuing education rules
"Not stated" means the board's pages and rules we read do not address it. We do not fill in typical values.
| Renewal cycle | Two-year (24 months) |
|---|---|
| Renewal deadline | Tied to the original issue date |
| Continuing education required | Yes |
| Hours per cycle | 25 contact hours |
| Self-study or online cap | No cap stated |
| Carryover to next cycle | Not stated |
| First renewal exempt | No |
| Other accepted activities | Obtaining or maintaining specialty certification as a nurse midwife, credited as the full 25 hours of continuing education including the 2 hours for pain and symptom management (R 338.10602(2)(c)); an audited licensee submits proof of certification or recertification; Academic courses related to nursing practice from a board approved or nationally accredited program, credited at 5 hours per semester credit hour or 3 hours per quarter credit hour; Successful completion of a national nursing specialty examination, 10 hours in the year of a passing score, maximum 20 hours per renewal period, no credit for repeating the same examination in a period; Initial publication of a chapter or article related to nursing or allied health in a nursing or healthcare textbook, peer reviewed textbook or peer reviewed journal, 10 hours per publication, maximum 10 hours per renewal period; Independent reading of articles or viewing or listening to media related to nursing practice without a self-assessment component, 1 hour per 50 to 60 minutes, maximum 4 hours per renewal period; Participation on a healthcare organization committee dealing with quality patient care or utilization review, 1 hour per 60 minutes, maximum 4 hours per renewal period; Presenting an academic or continuing education program that is not part of the applicant's regular job description, 3 hours per 60 minutes of presentation, maximum 6 hours per renewal period; Serving as preceptor for at least one nursing student or a new employee undergoing orientation, minimum 24 preceptor hours at a 1 to 1 ratio, 24 preceptor hours equals 1 continuing education hour, maximum 5 hours per renewal period; Nursing orientation, nurse residency or new nurse educator orientation learning experiences, minimum 24 hours, 24 hours equals 1 continuing education hour, maximum 5 hours per renewal period |
Michigan sets no separate hour count for the nurse midwife specialty certification, so the figure is the shared nursing figure and matches the state's registered nurse, nurse practitioner and nurse anesthetist records. R 338.10601(1) requires an applicant for license renewal who has been licensed for the two year period immediately before expiration to accumulate not less than 25 hours of board approved continuing education during those two years, and 10601(2) requires that not less than 2 of the 25 be in pain and pain symptom management. Nurse midwife continuing education is therefore not stacked on the registered nurse requirement and does not replace it; there is one 25 hour requirement at the registered nurse level, and the specialty adds a certification condition. The practical route for a nurse midwife is that certification: R 338.10602(2)(c) credits obtaining or maintaining certification as a nurse midwife with the full 25 hours including the 2 pain hours. That is an acceptance of AMCB recertification in lieu of state hours, not an adoption of AMCB's own credit totals; Michigan's number stays 25 hours in 24 months and the five year AMCB Certificate Maintenance Program clock does not line up with it. Separately, R 338.10405a(2) conditions renewal or reregistration of the nurse midwife specialty certification on having obtained recertification or maintained certification from the American Midwifery Certification Board or a successor organization within the two year period immediately before the application. No more than 12 credit hours may be earned during any 24 hour period, and a licensee may not earn credit for a program identical to one already credited in the same renewal period. The American College of Nurse-Midwives is named in the rule as an approving organization for acceptable continuing education, and a program is approved regardless of the format in which it is offered, so Michigan sets no general cap on online or self-study delivery; the caps that exist are per activity type. Implicit bias training may be counted toward the 25 hours, but human trafficking training may not. LARA states that a nurse whose initial Michigan license was issued on or after May 8, 2024 must complete continuing education for the first renewal, so the first renewal is not exempt for those licensees.
Required CE topics for Michigan certified nurse-midwifes
State-specific subject mandates. Where a mandate applies only to some licensees, the scope is listed.
| Topic | Hours | Frequency | Applies to | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain and pain symptom managementAt least 2 of the 25 hours in each renewal period. The rule says the content may include courses in behavior management, psychology of pain, pharmacology, behavior modification, stress management, clinical applications, and drug interventions as they relate to professional practice. A nurse midwife who claims the 25 hours through specialty certification is credited with these 2 hours as part of that block. | 2 contact hours | Every renewal | Every applicant for nursing license renewal, including a nurse midwife; the rule is not scoped to prescribers | R 338.10601(2); MCL 333.16204 |
| Implicit bias trainingThe rule states a minimum of 1 hour of implicit bias training for each year of the applicant's license or registration cycle, which is 2 hours on the nursing profession's two year cycle. Unless prohibited by the code or rules the training may be used to satisfy other training or continuing education requirements for renewal, and the nursing rules expressly allow it to count toward the 25 hours. Hours may not be carried forward from one renewal cycle to the next, and identical or substantially identical training may not be counted twice in the same cycle. Content must relate to reducing barriers and disparities in access to and delivery of healthcare services, must cover at least one of the listed topic areas, and must include strategies to reduce disparities and pre and post test implicit bias assessments. Submission of the application is the certificate of compliance, documentation is retained 6 years, and LARA may audit. | 2 contact hours | Every renewal | Every individual applying for license or registration renewal, reregistration or relicensure under article 15 of the public health code, except those licensed under part 188, which includes nurses | R 338.7004(2) |
| Training in identifying victims of human traffickingA one time training, required for licensure since January 6, 2022 and certified on the application. Content must cover understanding the types and venues of human trafficking in this state or the United States, identifying victims in healthcare settings, identifying the warning signs in healthcare settings for adults and minors, and identifying resources for reporting suspected victims. Acceptable providers include a nationally or state recognized health related organization, a state or federal agency, a board approved educational program, a college or university, or reading a qualifying article in a peer reviewed, healthcare, professional or scientific journal. The rule sets no hour count, so hours is null, and R 338.10602(1)(b) says continuing education credit may not be earned for the human trafficking requirement. | Not stated | One time | Every individual licensed or seeking licensure under the nursing rules, including a nurse midwife | R 338.10105; MCL 333.16148 |
| Opioids and other controlled substances awareness trainingA one time training meeting the standards of the Board of Pharmacy controlled substances rule R 338.3135, certified on the renewal application. R 338.10601(3) scopes it to an applicant for license renewal who also applies for a controlled substance license, so it reaches a nurse midwife only where that applies, even though R 338.10401(1)(c) describes the nurse midwife as prescribing pharmacological interventions within the specialty role. The nursing rule states no hour count, so hours is null. | Not stated | One time | Only a nurse who also applies for a Michigan controlled substance license | R 338.10601(3); R 338.3135 |
Documentation and audit
| Proof submitted at renewal | No, attestation only |
|---|---|
| Keep records for | 4 years |
| Board audits compliance | Yes |
| Approved providers | Continuing education is approved regardless of format if it is offered for continuing education credit by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, the American College of Nurse-Midwives, the American Medical Association, the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the American Osteopathic Association, the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists, the National Association for Practical Nurse Education and Service, the National League for Nursing, another state or provincial board of nursing, or a board approved nursing education program. Submission of the renewal application is the licensee's certification of compliance and nothing is submitted with it. The board conducts a random audit after each renewal period, selecting a percentage of licensees who renewed and requiring evidence of continuing education, and separately requiring evidence of current national certification from specialty holders. A nurse retains continuing education documentation for 4 years after applying for renewal, an applicant for the nurse midwife specialty certification retains evidence of compliance with R 338.10405a for 4 years after the date of application, and implicit bias documentation is retained 6 years. If audited for continuing education the licensee submits a letter or certificate of completion showing name, hours earned, sponsor or approving organization and date; if claiming the certification route the licensee submits proof of certification or recertification. LARA has partnered with CE Broker to help licensees track credits. |
Common questions
- How many CE hours does a Michigan CNM need to renew?
- Michigan nurse-midwives must complete 25 contact hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the Michigan Board of Nursing (Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Professional Licensing). Michigan sets no separate hour count for the nurse midwife specialty certification, so the figure is the shared nursing figure and matches the state's registered nurse, nurse practitioner and nurse anesthetist records. R 338.10601(1) requires an applicant for license renewal who has been licensed for the two year period immediately before expiration to accumulate not less than 25 hours of board approved continuing education during those two years, and 10601(2) requires that not less than 2 of the 25 be in pain and pain symptom management. Nurse midwife continuing education is therefore not stacked on the registered nurse requirement and does not replace it; there is one 25 hour requirement at the registered nurse level, and the specialty adds a certification condition. The practical route for a nurse midwife is that certification: R 338.10602(2)(c) credits obtaining or maintaining certification as a nurse midwife with the full 25 hours including the 2 pain hours. That is an acceptance of AMCB recertification in lieu of state hours, not an adoption of AMCB's own credit totals; Michigan's number stays 25 hours in 24 months and the five year AMCB Certificate Maintenance Program clock does not line up with it. Separately, R 338.10405a(2) conditions renewal or reregistration of the nurse midwife specialty certification on having obtained recertification or maintained certification from the American Midwifery Certification Board or a successor organization within the two year period immediately before the application. No more than 12 credit hours may be earned during any 24 hour period, and a licensee may not earn credit for a program identical to one already credited in the same renewal period. The American College of Nurse-Midwives is named in the rule as an approving organization for acceptable continuing education, and a program is approved regardless of the format in which it is offered, so Michigan sets no general cap on online or self-study delivery; the caps that exist are per activity type. Implicit bias training may be counted toward the 25 hours, but human trafficking training may not. LARA states that a nurse whose initial Michigan license was issued on or after May 8, 2024 must complete continuing education for the first renewal, so the first renewal is not exempt for those licensees.
- How often does a Michigan CNM license need to be renewed?
- Certified Nurse-Midwife licenses in Michigan renew every two years. Michigan does not issue a separate nurse midwife license. It grants a nurse midwife specialty certification that sits on the registered nurse license, and R 338.10405a(1) states that specialty certification renewal must correspond with the same schedule as the license renewal. Nursing licenses expire biennially on the issue date under R 338.7001a and are renewed every two years through MiPLUS. LARA sends a renewal notification postcard and email roughly 90 business days before expiration, but failure to receive it does not excuse a late renewal. There is a 60 day grace period after expiration during which the license can still be renewed with a $20 late fee instead of going through relicensure. A license carrying a limitation may be renewed for a term shorter than two years. Suspension or revocation of the registered nurse license automatically voids the specialty certification. On the renewal application the specialty box is pre-checked, and keeping it checked attests that the nurse currently holds national certification from an approved specialty organization; unchecking it means the specialty is not renewed and only the registered nurse license is billed.
- What specific CE topics are required for Michigan nurse-midwives?
- Pain and pain symptom management: 2 contact hours every renewal cycle (every applicant for nursing license renewal, including a nurse midwife; the rule is not scoped to prescribers). Implicit bias training: 2 contact hours every renewal cycle (every individual applying for license or registration renewal, reregistration or relicensure under article 15 of the public health code, except those licensed under part 188, which includes nurses). Training in identifying victims of human trafficking: a one-time requirement (every individual licensed or seeking licensure under the nursing rules, including a nurse midwife). Opioids and other controlled substances awareness training: a one-time requirement (only a nurse who also applies for a Michigan controlled substance license). Citations: pain and pain symptom management (R 338.10601(2); MCL 333.16204), implicit bias training (R 338.7004(2)), training in identifying victims of human trafficking (R 338.10105; MCL 333.16148), and opioids and other controlled substances awareness training (R 338.10601(3); R 338.3135).
- Do Michigan nurse-midwives have to submit CE certificates at renewal?
- Licensees attest to completion at renewal rather than submitting certificates, the board audits a sample of renewals and asks for documentation, and records must be kept for 4 years. Continuing education is approved regardless of format if it is offered for continuing education credit by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, the American College of Nurse-Midwives, the American Medical Association, the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the American Osteopathic Association, the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists, the National Association for Practical Nurse Education and Service, the National League for Nursing, another state or provincial board of nursing, or a board approved nursing education program. Submission of the renewal application is the licensee's certification of compliance and nothing is submitted with it. The board conducts a random audit after each renewal period, selecting a percentage of licensees who renewed and requiring evidence of continuing education, and separately requiring evidence of current national certification from specialty holders. A nurse retains continuing education documentation for 4 years after applying for renewal, an applicant for the nurse midwife specialty certification retains evidence of compliance with R 338.10405a for 4 years after the date of application, and implicit bias documentation is retained 6 years. If audited for continuing education the licensee submits a letter or certificate of completion showing name, hours earned, sponsor or approving organization and date; if claiming the certification route the licensee submits proof of certification or recertification. LARA has partnered with CE Broker to help licensees track credits.
- Is the first Michigan CNM renewal exempt from CE?
- No. Michigan applies the continuing education requirement to the first renewal as well.
Sources
Last verified September 10, 2026. Every value above was read from one of these.
- Michigan Administrative Rules for Nursing, R 338.10101 to R 338.10705, rendered as HTML (R 338.10105 human trafficking, R 338.10401 definitions, R 338.10404a and R 338.10405a nurse midwife specialty certification, R 338.10601 and R 338.10602 continuing education)Statute or administrative rule, accessed September 10, 2026
- Michigan Administrative Rules, General Rules of the Bureau of Professional Licensing, R 338.7001 to R 338.7005, rendered as HTML (R 338.7001a biennial renewal on the issue date, R 338.7002 triennial renewal including midwifery, R 338.7004 implicit bias training standards)Statute or administrative rule, accessed September 10, 2026
- Nursing Licensing Guide and FAQs, Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (25 hour requirement, 2 pain hours, grace period, specialty certification attestation, first renewal continuing education, audit, CE Broker)State board page, accessed September 10, 2026
- Nursing, Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory AffairsState board page, accessed September 10, 2026
Michigan treats nurse midwifery as a nursing specialty certification on the registered nurse license rather than as a separate advanced practice license, so the regulator is the Board of Nursing within LARA and there is no joint board and no medical board role. That the rules read govern the nurse midwife and not another kind of midwife was established from the rule text itself: R 338.10401(1)(c) defines nurse midwife as an individual licensed under part 172 of the public health code as a registered nurse who is certified by the board to use the title nurse midwife, and R 338.10404a grants the specialty certification only to a registered professional nurse who holds a current and valid Michigan nursing license and holds current American Midwifery Certification Board certification. Michigan separately licenses midwives who are not nurses: R 338.7002(3) lists Midwifery as its own license type on a three year cycle, which is the Board of Licensed Midwifery credential, and none of its rules were used here. AMCB certification is both a renewal condition and an accepted substitute for state hours, which is unusual enough to state twice. R 338.10405a(2) conditions specialty certification renewal on AMCB recertification within the preceding two years, and R 338.10602(2)(c) separately credits obtaining or maintaining nurse midwife certification as the full 25 continuing education hours including the 2 pain management hours. AMCB's own five year Certificate Maintenance Program totals are not recorded in hours_per_cycle. Scope was checked topic by topic rather than inherited from the nurse practitioner or nurse anesthetist records. Pain management and implicit bias reach every renewing nurse. Human trafficking reaches every licensee and may not be counted as continuing education credit. The opioids and controlled substances awareness training is scoped by R 338.10601(3) to a renewal applicant who also applies for a controlled substance license, so it is recorded with a conditional applies_to even though the nurse midwife definition includes prescribing. No suicide prevention, ethics, jurisprudence or infection control requirement was found in the nursing rules. First renewal is recorded as not exempt because LARA states that a nurse whose initial Michigan license was issued on or after May 8, 2024 must complete continuing education for the first renewal; the state's nurse anesthetist record leaves that field null, which is a gap rather than a disagreement. Carryover is left null because the rules require the hours to fall in the two years before expiration without using the word carryover, except for implicit bias hours, which the rule expressly forbids carrying forward. The administrative code URLs look like PDF file paths but carry ReturnHTML=True and return content-type text/html; they were read as rendered HTML and nothing was downloaded. The two michigan.gov pages return HTTP 403 to some automated clients and were read as rendered HTML markup.
Provided for general reference. Requirements change through legislative sessions and rulemaking, so confirm with the Michigan Board of Nursing (Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Professional Licensing) before relying on them for a renewal. Spot something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.