Parents' Coach Network
CAPPA - Childbirth Educator Program
About CAPPA Childbirth Educators
CAPPA (Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association) is an international certification organization for Doulas, Childbirth Educators, New Parents Educators, and Lactation Educators.
Since its foundation in 1998, CAPPA has certified thousands of perinatal professionals. It is one of the first and most far-reaching perinatal organizations in the world, for instance, you can find CAPPA educators’ footprints in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, India, and Israel.
CAPPA is respected for its longevity and its commitment to excellence in education, and exceptional support for students and members. Choosing an organization for your education is an important decision. CAPPA offers the stability that gives you the confidence to invest in your education and career.
What is CAPPA Childbirth Educator Certification?
CAPPA Childbirth Educator certification is a qualification to show that you are well-qualified to support expectant families. Childbirth Educators offer unbiased support, encouragement, and evidence-based information as needed. The CCCE credential allows you to teach at hospitals, community agencies, and private practices, you can also be your own boss and run your perinatal education business in Canada and the U.S.
What does a CAPPA Certified Childbirth Educator (CCCE) do?
Childbirth educators work with families and educate them through different stages of pregnancy. Their primary goal is to empower families with all the required skills from pregnancy to postpartum. Moreover, they help families evaluate and choose the best birth options. CCCEs aim to help expectant parents make informed decisions about healthy pregnancy, transition and birth, postpartum, and newborn care. More importantly, CCCEs play a vital role in healthcare systems and are well-qualified in educating families.
CAPPA Standards
Childbirth educators work within CAPPA’s standards of practice to uphold the code of conduct, grievance policy, mission statement, vision statement, organization philosophy, and social media policy. CCCEs promised to use current, evidence-based information in their practice. They maintain their knowledge and skills through continuing education and work within their individual community and region’s legal framework.
What are the requirements to become a CAPPA Childbirth Educator?
The CCCE program is for anyone over 18 years old and enjoys working with pregnant individuals and newborn babies. If you are already a doula, nurse, chiropractor, lactation consultant, or physiotherapist, becoming a CCCE will widen the spectrum of services that you provide for your existing clients.
This 18-hour training meets one of the CCCE Certification components and prepares you to work through the certification steps. This training will improve your skill-based knowledge and your perspectives on childbirth.
In addition, other requirements include reading certain books and passing multiple-choice and essay exams. Please find further details about certification here.
Also, this training allows you to earn continuing education credits for recertification in other disciplines within CAPPA.
Whether your goal is to begin a new career, enhance your current services, or for your own personal growth, this training will start you off in the right direction-
How long does it take
to get certified?
CAPPA offers the traditional stream, accelerated stream, online learning, and dual transfer. Well, how long does it take depends on how committed you are.
CAPPA allows candidates in the traditional stream to finish their program within two years, and the accelerated stream to finish their program within one year. We have trainees who complete the certification in two months! Two months, two years, your choice.
The accelerated program is for students who are:
- a Registered Nurse, Certified Midwife, or chiropractor with at least one year of clinical experience
- or a Certified Labour Doula with CAPPA or DONA
- or an experienced Childbirth Educator able to document at least 36 hours of teaching
Contact us with your qualifications to find out if you are eligible for the accelerated program.
What do I learn in the training?
A rewarding career starts with a high-quality education!
We are currently only offering virtual online training. The CCCE program includes the comprehensive Childbirth Education Manual and resources to help you succeed. Our training is designed to educate and equip perinatal professionals for a successful career.
You will enjoy the engaging and interactive experience during your training. CAPPA instructors have in-depth knowledge and follow standardized curriculums to ensure that you receive the best quality and most holistic perinatal education.
The CAPPA Childbirth Educator curriculum includes the following:
- roles and responsibilities of a Childbirth Educator
- facilitation skills for adult learners
- developing engaging prenatal classes
- innovative teaching strategies
- stages of labour
- labour support techniques
- comfort measures and pain control
- medical Interventions
- helping clients make informed-decisions and communication
- postpartum and newborn care
- infant feeding
- building a private business in childbirth education