ACED Certification Requirements

Our blended-learning combines both online education including regular interactions, support and feedback from your Mentor, with face-to-face classroom experiences in the workshop, as well as you actually offering childbirth preparation classes. Our professional programs include transformational self-development work and training that is evidence-based and holistic – after completion you will be confident and highly-trained to be a fabulous, successful BWI professional.

• Certification cost is $1100 (including Mentoring during your 30-month training period). *Refunds are offered within 30 days of receipt of payment minus a $95 processing fee.
• Your workshop, one of the certification requirements costs $600-700
• You can do the Workshop first OR you can start your Certification work first – that is up to you!
• Refund Policy – when you pay for Certification, you will be emailed a Certification Packet outlining all detailed requirements. You have 30 days to review the packet, after which there are no refunds. If within 30 days, you chose not to certify, a refund minus $95 admin fee is given. Workshop – if you cancel up to 30 days before the start date of the workshop, a refund minus $95 admin fee is given. If you cancel within 30 days of the start date, there are no refunds.

• FREE BirthWorks Membership during your 30-month training period!  ~ $175 Value
• Your BirthWorks ACED Certification Packet with all detailed requirements
• Your comprehensive BirthWorks Childbirth Educator Training Book
• Our highly-acclaimed BirthWorks Childbirth Educator Manual of over 550 pages — one of the most comprehensive, well-researched manuals available today, periodically reviewed and updated, and filled with evidenced-based current information.
• Access to the BirthWorks Childbirth Preparation Curriculum and permission to purchase BirthWorks Childbirth Preparation Workbook given to parents when you teach your classe
• Your BirthWorks Doula Journal Workbook for inspiration, personal reflection and deep learning
• Your Doulas of Love: A Guidebook for Doulas and Birthing Parents useful during the workshop
• Access to BirthWorks online learning platform to work toward certification from home any time you want. There you will access online resources, upload assignments, see your progress, and stay in communication with your Mentor. 
• Your personal BirthWorks Mentor offers any guidance and support needed (throughout your 30-month training period) and also reviews and comments on your work (as you upload assignments) through our online learning system. You can reach out to your Mentor any time!
• International recognition as a dual-Certified BirthWorks Childbirth Educator & Birth Doula from a highly-respected organization
• Professional listing in BirthWorks online directory for referrals
• Ability to set up your own small business, determine your own fees and keep all revenues
• Opportunity to become a BirthWorks Mentor and a BirthWorks Ambassador to promote BirthWorks in your area and earn extra money!
• Be part of an inspiring, passionate global network and community of birthworkers who are working together for a great cause!

BirthWorks Childbirth Educator certification is set up to take 30 months – but it is flexible! You can choose to complete all requirements more quickly. If you need more time, just purchase an annual extension. Then, when all your work is complete, pay a mentoring fee for your final review and certification.

*Ideally, all written assignments and attendance at the Childbirth Educator Workshop should be completed within 18-24 months, so you have 6 months to study the manual, take your exam, and teach your practicum BirthWorks classes.

You chose what is best for you! Start with the workshop – some people take it first then do the other requirements. You can also being with your reading and written requirements, then do the workshop later. (The workshop is good for three years toward your Certification if you want to spread out costs.)

*Ideally, you attend the ACED Workshop early in your training, so you have time to study the Childbirth Educator manual, take your exam, and teach your practicum BirthWorks classes.

• Complete all steps and questions
• Write up your Autobiography including Birth Experiences and Birth-related Events (750 words)
• Write your essay (500 words) on the purpose and value of a birth doula
• Read 15 books from our reading list and do book reports for each (500 words)
• Tour maternity floors in two local hospitals and complete a Survey of Maternity Services for each. Interview a homebirth midwife then write a summary of both (500-750 words)
• Complete your Doula Journal Workbook
• Read Doulas of Love, ideally before taking the workshop
• Attend all hours of the BirthWorks ACED Workshop and receive your Certificate of Attendance and BirthWorks-Inspired status
• Attend two births and provide relevant documentation – client confidentiality forms, birth record forms and evaluations (from the mother and a professional member of the birth team). Also write 1-2 page Birth Essays with a description of each birth, mothers’ emotional response, the support you provided and what you learned. (Births count toward certification after you attend the workshop.)
• Fulfill the requirement for breastfeeding preparation – attend a program such as a LLL meeting, lactation consultant or other breastfeeding class, watch the Breast is Best film, review the Primal Health article, and report on what you learned (1250 words)
• Critique two Medical Studies on VBAC 
• Write three topic papers on physiological effects of safety, impact of nutrition in the primal period, and one of your choice
• Take the open-book Comprehensive Essay Exam based on the BirthWorks Childbirth Educator Manual 
• Teach your Childbirth Education Practicum Classes for at least two birthing couples, ask evaluations from participants and record one hour of your teaching.

Yes! It is important you learn to condense information into the most significant points – for that iw what you need to do when teaching class to avoid “information overload”.

If you can not find one, your Mentor can give prior approval to substitute a different book on the same topic.

Yes – it is an open-book Comprehensive Essay Exam based on the BirthWorks Childbirth Educator Manual. You work on it at home, on your own timeline. The process will give you so much knowledge and understanding of all key topics you can cover in your classes.

You receive this status after all of the following:

• Full participation in all hours of the BirthWorks ACED Workshop – afterward you are sent a Certificate of Attendance and you are granted BirthWorks-Inspired status for both programs
• Successful completion of all BirthWorks Childbirth Educator Certification requirements, including the Exam, except for your Practicum (and related documentation)
• Successful completion of all BirthWorks Birth Doula Certification requirements, except for the birth experiences (and related documentation)
• Ongoing good standing with BirthWorks, with all certification (and if needed extension) fees paid in full

Provisional Certification brings you credibility to teach childbirth classes and offer birth doula services — because you can show support from an internationally-respected certifying organization. BirthWorks can provide a professional letter saying you may begin offering childbirth preparation as well as birth doula services and are almost completed with final certification. Provisional status may give you access to teach in or attend more client births in venues where pandemic-related policies are limiting access.

After you are certified, you can Mentor others. Also you can become an Ambassador helping host local events or market workshops and earn a percent of the income. Some of our birth professionals join our Board of Directors and others become BirthWorks Trainers! Be Involved