
Are you passionate about family-centered perinatal care? Do you believe in a person's freedom to make informed decisions based on knowledge of alternatives? Our childbirth educator certification program will give you the training and experience you need to make a difference in the lives of expecting families. Our ICEA Certified Childbirth Educators are trained professionals recognized by across the US and around the world. We equip parents with the knowledge they need to advocate for their best birth possible and to work well with their chosen birth team.
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Overview
The ICEA Professional Childbirth Educator Certification Program verifies that childbirth educators have the necessary education and skills to enable them to facilitate expectant parents’ mental and physical preparation for pregnancy, labor, birth, and parenthood.
The program promotes the concept of the childbirth educator as an advocate of the natural process of childbirth and the right of the expectant parent to make informed decisions based on knowledge of alternatives. The program sets a common standard that improves the quality of teaching by individual childbirth educators, protects the consumer by ensuring minimum qualifications, and provides the basis for establishing childbirth education as a recognized profession. This program does not exclude an otherwise qualified person for reason of teaching method or educational or professional background. No qualified, presently certified instructor will be excluded from entering the ICEA Childbirth Educator Certification Program.
Curriculum
- Part I – Introduction into ICEA
- Part II – Reproduction and Healthy Lifestyles
- Part III – Labor and Birth
- Part IV – Comfort Measures
- Part V – Postpartum and Newborn Care
- Part VI – Teaching Skills
- Part VII – Business for the Birth Professional
The ICEA Certified Childbirth Educator is expected to further a wider understanding of ICEA’s mission and philosophy among health professionals and the public.

Have questions?
We’re here to help determine what certification and path is right for you and answer any questions you have along the way.
This pathway for certification is the right choice for you if you have little or no experience as a childbirth educator, and/or you hold no current childbirth certifications and haven’t for the last 2 years. You may even be a nurse or a doula who wants to expand your services.
Steps to Certification

Have questions?
We’re here to help determine what certification and path is right for you and answer any questions you have along the way.
This pathway for certification is the right choice for you if you are currently certified or have been certified with another recognized childbirth educator organization, such as DONA or CAPPA or Lamaze or Bradley, and have been actively teaching for a minimum of two years.
If you have been certified as a childbirth educator within the last two years, but your certification has expired within the last two years, please apply.
Steps to Certification
The following steps must be completed within two years of enrolling in the program. Candidates must FIRST enroll in the certification program before completing the other steps.
ICEA is dedicated to maintaining a rigorous standard of excellence, and thus all ICEA certifications are valid for three years. At the completion of the three years, all ICEA Certified Childbirth Educators must apply for recertification.
ICEA believes that as teachers, certified childbirth educators are continually educating themselves and learning from their clients. Recertification validates commitment to the profession and ensures the continuation of receiving the benefits of ICEA affiliation.

Start your path towards becoming a certified childbirth educator today.
Expand your skill set and gain your clients' and employers' trust with our industry-leading ICEA certification today.