There are several ways to get midwifery training on a part-time basis. Many major universities offer a nurse-midwife training program that you can attend part time. Graduates are classified as certified nurse-midwives, or CNMs. Lay midwives are trained in a variety of ways, including through private midwife training programs and apprenticeships.
A CNM is considered more qualified if she has practiced as a labor and delivery nurse for at least two years. In order to deliver in a hospital, a CNM degree is required. Lay midwives may deliver in the patient's home or a birthing center. Laws and regulations surrounding lay midwifery vary by state.
It is commonly assumed that part-time training that results in a CNM degree is superior to lay midwifery options. Private and lay midwifery schools are, in fact, often highly specialized and recognized for excellence. Some schools, including the Utah School of Midwifery and the National College of Midwifery in New Mexico, can issue degrees, including bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees.