Certification by the International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) indicates that the person certified by ICEA has completed a rigorous set of requirements including face-to-face classroom instruction, observing several labors and births, successful completion of evaluated teaching, and successful testing of knowledge and competency in a closed multi-text, timed and supervised examination. ICEA certification does not indicate that the person certified is employed by ICEA and ICEA does not monitor nor is it responsible for the content of any classes, seminars or other presentations led or conducted by such persons or services provided by them. Rather, ICEA expects its certified members to honor ICEA philosophy and training and invites consumers to notify us if they feel a certified member has not upheld their responsibilities.

Courses taught by ICEA certified educators reflect ICEA philosophy by covering, at a minimum, the following topics:

• Normal physiological and emotional patterns of pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum
• Common variations on these usual patterns
• Labor coping skills and methods
• Maternal and infant nutrition, including breastfeeding
• Common medical interventions and procedures during labor and birth, and their alternatives

Also, throughout the certified educator's course, advocacy of the following concepts should be evident:

• The pregnant patient's right and responsibilities for making informed choices
• Legal rights and informed consent
• Effective communication and negotiation with other members of the health care circle
• Breastfeeding as the preferred means of promoting infant nutrition
• Promotion of pregnancy and birth as a significant and life-changing event
• Parent-infant bonding
• Avoidance of routine medical intervention, with the use of evidence-based medical treatment should complications arise.