The International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) is a professional organization that supports educators and health care professionals who believe in freedom to make decisions based on knowledge of alternatives in family-centered maternity and newborn care.
Perinatal Fitness Educator Certification
ICEA certified perinatal fitness educators are trained professionals who believe that as a mother's body-mind grows with her baby, she has an excellent opportunity to become physically fit for pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and throughout her life.
Steps to Certification
Candidates enroll in the program and must complete the following within two years:
- Verify a minimum of twenty-four hours perinatal fitness teaching experience
- Provide six perinatal fitness class evaluations
- Verify attending an ICEA Perinatal Fitness Educator Training Workshop of at least twelve contact hours
- Complete four alternate contact hours provided by ICEA
- Provide documentation of current adult CPR certification
- Submit all required materials, apply for and pass the certification examination.
Appropriate forms needed to verify teaching experience, class evaluations and required readings, and alternate contact hours are included with your study modules.
Study Modules
While completing the prerequisites for the certification examination, candidates use the modules contained in the study guides for self-paced, independent study. The modules are divided into the following ten subject areas:
- Module I - Perinatal Fitness and the Role of the Fitness Educator
- Module II - Overview of Pregnancy
- Module III - Summary of Labor and Birth
- Module IV - Physiological Adaptations During Pregnancy
- Module V - Pregnancy Discomforts and Remedies
- Module VI - Nutrition and Pregnancy
- Module VII - Mind-Body Techniques: Breath Awareness, Visualization, Relaxation and Massage
- Module VIII - Key Components to a Perinatal Exercise Class: Exercise Safety, Posture, Body Mechanics, Pelvic Floor Muscles, Kegels, and Diastatis Recti
- Module IX - Fitness Programs and Model Perinatal Exercise Class
- Module X - Postpartum Exercise
Each module contains key concepts, overview, learner objectives and content outline, references, and required reading.
Estimated Costs for Certification
- ICEA membership - $75 per year
- Enrollment - $100
- Contact hours - $300-$400 (approx)
- Required readings - $60 (approx)
- Certification examination fee - $200
Required readings for this program are:
- Essential Exercises for the Childbearing Year, by Elizabeth Noble (PB1063) $19.95
- The Anatomy Coloring Book, by Wynn Kapit and Lawrence Elson (PB2050) $20.00
- Exercising Through Your Pregnancy, by James Clapp (PB2060) $17.95
Purchase the required readings at the ICEA Bookcenter and receive a discount on the bundled set. Regularly $57.90 Sale $50.00



