Overview: Fellowship in the American College of Nurse-Midwives (FACNM) is an honor earned by those midwives whose demonstrated leadership, clinical excellence, outstanding scholarship, and professional achievement have merited special recognition both within and outside of the midwifery profession. FACNM represents the commitment of the ACNM to honor our own. In light of the vast wealth of expertise and collective wisdom represented within the body of Fellows, its mission is to serve the ACNM in a consultative and advisory capacity. Below is some key information regarding applying for Fellowship:

 1. The work reviewed in any category can be with many organizations (e.g., ACNM, ACME, AMCB, AABC, MANA, AWHONN, March of Dimes, National Health Service Corps, National Institutes of Health, National Advisory Committee on Nursing, AHRQ), and other organizations whose focus is sexual and reproductive health, perinatal health, women’s health, and/or health and social justice issues. Work might be with schools, community organizations, government or governmental organizations.

2. It is the applicant’s responsibility to demonstrate how the criteria were met using narrative text up to 500 words per category. Please be specific about how you think your experience qualifies for points. (Example: I served 2 years as the President of my state ACNM Affiliate in Oregon (2 points)

3. The CV/resume must be up to date and attached in the application. However, the CV/resume will not be used to identify points for the application. Meeting criteria must be conveyed in the narrative text in the appropriate category. 

4. A letter of recommendation from a Fellow of ACNM is optional.

5. First time applicants are encouraged to seek guidance from current Fellows or from their FACNM Regional Governor.

6. An accomplishment may be used to satisfy only one criterion.

7. Some language refers to positions or organizational structures that may have changed over time; this past work is still considered in the application.

8. Applicants must achieve 8 points total with a minimum of 2 points in at least 3 separate categories with a minimum of 2 points in the professional leadership category. Items in bold are worth 2 points. Items not bolded are worth 1 point. 

9. Applicants must be certified as a midwife for at least 5 years before applying for fellowship.

10. These scoring criteria are reviewed and revised annually; be sure to use the latest version of scoring criteria found on the FACNM web site.

11. There is no limit to the number of times that someone can apply.

Criteria and Scoring:

 Criteria is reviewed annually by the FACNM BOG and training sessions for interrater reliability occurs at the FACNM Board of Governors meeting prior to Fellowship scoring. Each year, the FACNM Board of Governors accepts applications for Fellowship and inducts new Fellows-at-Large from qualified applicants. In addition to being certified for a minimum of 5 years at time of application, applicants must be current ACNM members at the time of application. Points are awarded for significant contributions in the areas listed on the score sheet. Partial points are not awarded. Scores in each column are totaled. Total scores of all reviewers are averaged. This averaged score must add up to 8 points (with at least two points in the professional leadership category) to qualify for induction into Fellowship.

Select examples of work that leads to Fellowship status are presented here. This is not an exhaustive list or the only work for the indicator that is recognized

1. Preceptor: Precept midwifery students or other health professional students (at least 10) in clinical settings for a minimum of 5 years.

2. Legislative/Advocacy Work: Work with reproductive/sexual health groups, the state affiliate or ACNM national office on practice related or perinatal child health and/or reproductive/sexual health legislation.

3. Presentation, Broadcasts, Blogs, Electronic Communication: Community presentations, presentations and panels at professional meetings, blogs related to midwifery, perinatal child, and/or reproductive/sexual health, such as substantial contributions to websites, electronic newsletters or editorial staff publications.

4. International Work: Work outside the US with health care organizations, or volunteer consultation with perinatal child and/or reproductive/sexual health care projects outside of the US.

5. Work to Further Midwifery Research or Education: Work as a member of a research team, work as a member of a publication panel, member of the board of the Virtual International Day of the Midwife, Fulbright Fellowships in midwifery or perinatal child and/or reproductive/sexual health.

6. Unique Program Development: Develops a novel program that supports midwifery practice or education such as a birth center program for inner city teens, a group prenatal program for pregnant patients with gestational diabetes, a direct entry midwifery educational curriculum, a community-based midwifery curriculum, a virtual breastfeeding support group that is blog-based.

For military midwives, the following examples would apply: 

1. Leadership: Consultant or specialty leader (Naval), i.e., to the Surgeon General of the Army. Expand upon your deployment mission and contributions during deployment. Leadership on regional, state, and/or local levels: special projects and policy development, such as breastfeeding or Women in Combat Policy Working Group.

2. Clinical Excellence: Pioneering, innovative, and/or unique contributions to midwifery clinical practice, education, or care of women, birthing persons, infants, families, and communities on the local, state, regional, national, and/or international level; military services that standardize tri-service practice, humanitarian missions, and include involvement with education of midwifery students and medical students/residents.

3. Scholarship and Research: Outstanding contributions to professional growth of midwifery through precepting/mentoring, scholarly endeavors, publications, or research on the local, state, regional, national, and/or international level; same as for non-military midwives.

4. Professional Achievements: Other significant contributions to perinatal and/or reproductive-sexual health care or to health care policy on the local, state, regional, national, and/or international level; same as for non-military midwives.

Revised: 10/2020, reaffirmed 10/2021, revised 10/2022, revised 9/2023