Childbirth Education Certification Options

GS – Great Starts Birth & Family Education, Seattle

Lamaze – Lamaze International

ICEA – International Childbirth Education Association

CAPPA – Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association

Chart updated on 2/15/10

Name	Great Starts	Lamaze	ICEA	CAPPA	CAPPA distance
Enrollment cost.	$75	Study Guide $125 for Lamaze members	Enrollment: $100	Packet: $35	$400 for packet and videos
Class	Either the Great Starts training (24 hours of classtime in 4 days for $500), or Childbirth Educator Training at Seattle Midwifery School (48 hours over 6 days). $859	Attending a Lamaze educator seminar. $395 – 645.	16 ICEA contact hours. Professional Childbirth Educator Workshop costs $250 - 500	CAPPA approved training workshop (after completing readings and observations) $350 - 400. 2 days: 16 hours	Watch video workshop series. (fee above)
Exam	Closed book. 60 questions (multiple choice, short answer, essay). 85% to pass. $75. Schedule and location at your convenience.	Exam. 150 multiple choice. Given at a computerized-testing location (700 in the U.S.) two times per year. $250	Closed book exam. 250 multiple choice questions. 70% to pass. $99 at conference, $200 elsewhere.	Open book test. 85% to pass. $75 processing fee	Open book test. 85% to pass. $75
Study Guide?	Comprehensive study guide to accompany training	Study guide – online or printed	Study modules.	Pre-workshop study guide	Childbirth educator manual
Readings	3 recommended books	Several recommended	Required (7 books)	Required (5 books.)	Required (5 books.)
Observations	Required: Observe 14 hour series with one instructor. Recommended: 3 hours each with 2 other instructors	None required.	None required.	Observe 1 birth series: 10+ hours. 1 breastfeeding class, 1 newborn care.	Observe 1 birth series: 10+ hours. 1 breastfeeding class, 1 newborn care.
Student Teaching	(Recommended: Co-teach a 14 hour series.) Required: observed and evaluated teach of 14 hour series	Designing a curriculum. Documentation of practice teaching experience with a mentor.	Evaluated teaching series, 12+ hours, with an ICEA certified instructor. Some evaluators do this free, some charge up to $250.	15 minute topic at workshop; Two student teaching hours, observed by certified instructor	Submit video or audiotape of yourself teaching at least 2 hours of a childbirth series. Submit class outline and handouts. $75 for eval.
Births	Observe 2 births.	Observe births?	Observe 2 births.	Observe 2 births.	Observe 2 births.
Other Requirements					2 letters of recommendation
Annual Dues		$95	$75	$45	$45
Total Cert. Fees (including class & dues)	$650 or 1009, depending on training choice	$865 - 1315	$525 - 1125	$505 - 555	$595

Other options: ALACE (Assoc. of Labor Assistants and Childbirth Educators), Birthing from Within, Birthworks

Accelerated Certification Options for Experienced Professionals

Chart has not been updated – Great Starts is current, but all other info may be out of date

Name	Great Starts	Lamaze	ICEA Experienced	CAPPA accelerated
Fee	Enrollment: $75		Enrollment: $100	Packet: $35
Pre-Requisite	Must have completed a childbirth educator training by a recognized organization. Must have 75 hours teaching experience.	144 hours of teaching in past 5 years AND You are licensed health care professional OR have BA OR have completed a childbirth educator training AND You have 30 hours of continuing education in past 3 years	25 months and 150 hours of teaching experience.	RN or midwife with one year experience. OR certified, experienced doula. OR have 60 hours experience as a childbirth educator.
Training?	Not required	See above	5 ICEA contact hours. Cost varies: $30 – 100.	Full workshop, as above. $350
Exam	Yes. (see above) $75	$195 for members ($95 dues) or $325	Exam $200	Open book test. 85% to pass. $75
Study Guide?	Optional study guide.	Recommended  - $95	Study modules.	Pre-workshop study guide
Readings			5 books.	5 books.
Observations	Observe 2 instructors for 3 hours each.
Teaching	Observed teaching of two hours worth of a class series			Teach 15 minutes on assigned topic at training.
Births	Observe 2 births.
Other Requirements
Annual Dues			$50	$40
Total Cert. Fees (inc. dues)	$150	$290 minimum	$380 - 450	$500