Childbirth Instructor Certification
Childbirth instructors work for hospitals and other facilities that assist prenatal women, or they might find clients from women intending to have home births. Certification is generally not required, though certified childbirth instructors may be more likely to find jobs when certified. Certifying organizations include the Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association and the International Childbirth Education Association who have similar, but not identical, certification processes.
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Sign on with Certifying Agency
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To get certified, a prospective childbirth instructor needs to sign on with a certifying agency such as CAPPA or ICEA. If you have in mind to work for a particular employer, you may wish to see which certification that employer prefers. With CAPPA, applicants must pay fees totaling $560 plus the cost of books, as of 2011. With ICEA, the total certification costs are approximately $1,300.
Bookwork
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Certifying agencies have reading lists students must complete that include books on how to teach adults; how to give presentations; and books on pregnancy, labor, delivery and breastfeeding. Reading the required books, listed on the organization's websites, is part of the certification process. Both also have workbook materials to complete for certification.
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Childbirth Classes
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ICEA requires that certification candidates attend 16 hours of a Professional Educator Childbirth Workshop. These workshops take place around the country on various aspects of pregnancy and childbirth. The cost of the workshop is included in the cost of certification. In place of the workshops, CAPPA requires candidates attend a childbirth education series; newborn class and breastfeeding class. If none is available at a local hospital, CAPPA can provide the student with a comparable video series.
Be Present at Births
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Both organizations require candidates follow two labors and births from start to finish. ICEA requires 10 hours of labor and birth minimum.
Take Certification Test
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Both organizations have certification tests. CAPPA's test is open book. But it also requires the student submit a video of herself teaching at least two hours of a childbirth series as well as letters of recommendation from someone connected with the childbirth process such as a midwife.
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References
Resources
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