There’s something sacred about the work labor and delivery (L&D) nurses do every day. They help usher new life into the world while keeping moms calm and safe through one of the most intense experiences they’ll ever have.

Getting there takes a clear plan, though. If you’re wondering how to become a labor and delivery nurse, it helps to know that the path builds directly on the broader path to becoming a registered nurse, with a few extra specialty steps layered on top, like earning your degree, passing your licensing exam, building clinical experience, and gaining additional certifications.

Below, we’ll walk through each step.

What does a labor and delivery nurse do?

Before exploring how to become a labor and delivery nurse, it’s important to understand what L&D nurses do. Labor and delivery nurses provide specialized care to pregnant patients before, during, and after childbirth, closely monitoring the health of both mother and baby. It’s hands-on, high-stakes work that blends clinical precision with genuine compassion.

Day to day, responsibilities include administering medications, tracking vital signs and fetal heart rates, assisting with deliveries (including C-sections), and offering emotional support to patients and their families. L&D nurses also spend time educating new parents on what to expect.

Typical work settings for L&D nurses

Most L&D nurses work in hospital labor and delivery units, as well as birthing centers and, occasionally, home birth settings. Wherever you land, you can expect to work 12-hour shifts, nights, weekends, and on-call requirements, so it’s worth considering what work-life balance looks like for you before diving in.

Step 1: Earn your nursing degree (ADN or BSN)

The foundational requirement for any nursing career, L&D included, is an associate degree in Nursing (ADN), typically a two-year program, or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), which usually takes about four years.

Both pathways lead to RN licensure, but major hospitals increasingly prefer a BSN, which can open doors to leadership roles and specialty positions more quickly.

Before diving into nursing coursework, you’ll need to complete prerequisites like biology, chemistry, and anatomy, which are part of the core coursework built into most accredited ADN curricula. Choosing a properly accredited program matters, too, since it affects your eligibility for the NCLEX-RN and how easily your credits transfer down the line.

ADN vs. BSN: Which path is right for you?

The two options differ in time, cost, curriculum depth, and career advancement potential. An ADN gets you into the workforce faster and more affordably, while a BSN dives deeper into leadership, community health, and research, positioning graduates for higher-level roles sooner.

So, can you become an L&D nurse with an ADN? Yes; plenty do, and plenty also complete an RN-to-BSN bridge program later, once they’re already working and earning. That said, some hospitals, particularly Magnet-designated facilities, prefer or require a BSN, so it’s worth researching expectations at hospitals in your area first.

Goodwin University’s Nursing programs

Goodwin offers both routes: an ADN program built around flexible scheduling for students juggling work and life, and pathways to complete your BSN through strong clinical partnerships and dedicated student support services.

Explore Nursing programs at Goodwin University

Step 2: Pass the NCLEX-RN and obtain your RN license

Once you’ve completed your nursing degree, you’ll need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) to become licensed. It’s a computerized adaptive test, meaning each question’s difficulty shifts based on how you answer the previous one, all designed to confirm you’re ready to provide safe care.

Practice exams, study groups, and review courses all help you prepare. Once you’ve passed, you’ll apply for licensure through your state’s board of nursing to officially become an RN.

Step 3: Gain clinical experience as a registered nurse

Here’s something a lot of guides skip over: most L&D positions require one to two years of general RN experience before you can specialize, often in related areas like medical-surgical, postpartum, or mother-baby units. It’s not a formality; that time builds foundational clinical skills, time management, and comfort with high-acuity situations that you’ll lean on heavily in L&D.

So where do you actually start? Apply to new graduate residency programs, seek mentorship early, and make your interest in women’s health known from day one. Nurse managers remember who raises their hand.

How to transition from general nursing to L&D

Once you’ve built up some experience, start networking with L&D nurses directly, shadow in a labor and delivery unit if you can, and apply for internal transfers as openings come up. Pursuing certifications early also makes your application more competitive, showing you’re serious about the specialty.

Step 4: Obtain specialized certifications for L&D nursing

A handful of certifications come up again and again in L&D nursing, including Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP), and Electronic Fetal Monitoring (EFM). None are typically required for entry-level roles, but they’re often preferred and demonstrate your commitment to the specialty.

Down the line, once you’ve logged around 2,000 hours of L&D experience, you’ll also become eligible for advanced credentials like the Inpatient Obstetric Nursing Certification (RNC-OB), a longer-term goal worth working toward once you’re settled into the specialty.

Advanced certification: RNC-OB

Offered by the National Certification Corporation (NCC), the RNC-OB credential requires a current RN license and roughly 2,000 hours of hands-on inpatient obstetric experience. The exam covers fetal assessment, complication management, and newborn care, and it comes with real career benefits, including higher pay, leadership opportunities, and professional recognition among your peers.

How long does it take to become a labor and delivery nurse?

All told, plan for about four to six years. That includes two to four years for your nursing degree, time to study for and pass the NCLEX, and another one to two years of general RN experience before you move into L&D specifically. Your actual timeline depends on your degree choice, whether you study part time or full time, and how the job market looks when you’re ready to specialize.

It’s a real investment of time, but it pays off. With a median RN wage of $93,600 and 5% projected job growth through 2034, nursing remains a secure, well-compensated path in healthcare.

Labor and delivery nurse salary and job outlook

L&D nurses specifically average closer to $75,000 a year. Your exact number will vary based on where you live and whether you work in a hospital or a smaller birthing center.

The job outlook backs up the investment, too. RN openings are projected at 189,100 annually through 2034. Demand for skilled nurses, including L&D specialists, isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

Salary by experience level and location

Pay scales meaningfully with experience; entry-level L&D nurses earn less than those with five or more years under their belt, and certifications like the RNC-OB tend to push earnings higher across the board. Location matters too, since urban and higher cost-of-living areas typically pay more than rural regions.

Skills and qualities of a successful L&D nurse

Clinically, successful L&D nurses need strong skills in fetal monitoring, IV insertion, medication administration, and emergency response; things can change in an instant, and there’s no room to hesitate.

Just as important are the soft skills, like emotional resilience, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to communicate clearly with anxious, sometimes frightened, family members.

Career advancement opportunities for L&D nurses

Learning how to become an L&D nurse is just the beginning, since the specialty offers plenty of room to grow from there. Many nurses move into charge nurse or nurse manager roles, while others pursue clinical education, high-risk obstetrics, or lactation consulting as their careers progress. With advanced education, becoming a nurse practitioner is also an option.

Continuing education also plays a role. Advanced degrees like an MSN focused on nursing leadership open doors to management-track roles, and membership in professional organizations like the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) keeps you connected to the latest research and best practices in the field.

Why choose Goodwin University for your nursing education?

Goodwin University is committed to accessible, career-focused nursing education, with flexible scheduling, hands-on clinical training, and strong employer partnerships across Connecticut and beyond. From day one, you’ll have access to student support services, NCLEX prep resources, and a clear pathway from ADN to BSN if you decide to keep advancing your education while you work.

If labor and delivery nursing feels like the right fit after everything above, it’s worth taking a closer look at what studying nursing at Goodwin could look like for you.

Learn more about nursing programs at Goodwin University to see if labor and delivery nursing is a good career choice for you.