Postnatal Educator Certification

The ICEA postnatal educator certification program allows the postnatal educator to design, implement, and evaluate educational programs that respond to the learning needs of families as they make the transition into parenthood (birth to one year).

If you currently are an ICEA Certified Childbirth Educator (ICCE), your steps to certification are:

1. Provide verification of twenty hours teaching postnatal classes within twenty-four months of applying to take the examination.
2. Submit all required materials, apply for and pass the certification examination.

Postnatal topics taught in a childbirth preparation class may be used for these hours. Verification forms are included in the study guides.

If you are not currently certified by ICEA as a childbirth educator, your steps to certification are:

1. Verify twenty hours teaching postnatal classes within twenty-four months of applying to take the examination. Postnatal topics taught in a childbirth preparation class may be used for these hours.
2. Have six hours of teaching postnatal classes evaluated by another educator.
3. Verify six ICEA approved contact hours. ICEA sponsored alternate contact hours may be used to meet the contact hour requirement. Forms for verification of prerequisites are included in the study guides.
4. Submit all required materials, apply for and pass the certification examination.

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 contain extensive appendices and are divided into the following eight subject areas:

• Module I - Postpartum as a Process and the Role of the Postnatal Educator
• Module II - Physical Restoration
• Module III - Emotional Exploration of Pregnancy, Birth and Role Change
• Module IV - The Work of Attachment
• Module V - Assumption of the Care Taking Role
• Module VI - Parenting the Growing Baby: Development and Temperament
• Module VII - Redefinition of Relationships in the Family
• Module VIII - Childbearing Losses and the Developmental Work of Postpartum

Each module contains key concepts, overview, learner objectives and content outline, references, and required reading.

Estimated Costs for ICEA Certification

• ICEA membership - $75 per year
• Enrollment - $100
• Evaluated teaching series (some evaluators will volunteer their time; others will charge a fee) - $125-$250
• Contact hours - $250-$400 (approx)
• Required readings - $125 (approx)
• Certification examination fee - $200

Required readings for this program are:

• Maternity and Women's Health Care, by Lowdermilk, Perry and Bobak (ND0408) $88.95
• The Scientist in the Crib: What Early Learning Tells Us About the Mind, by Gopnic, Meltzoff, and Kuhl (EP2501) $14.00
• Touchpoints, by Brazelton (ID9310) $18.95

Purchase the required readings at the ICEA Bookcenter and receive a discount on the bundled set.

Regular Price: $125.90
Sale! $108.00

Forms And Guidelines: