Education & Certification
IBWP certified childbirth educators teach in hospitals, birth centers, and in independent settings. Their goal is to provide a comprehensive consumer-based class that will enable women and their partners to prepare for a positive, safe and joyful birth experience. The ALACE Childbirth Educator training program as offered by IBWP was developed by midwives and is recognized for its holistic, women-centered approach. IBWP childbirth classes provide evidence based information about the birth process and provide the tools to empower women and their partners to make informed choices throughout pregnancy and birth. Childbirth Educator Training Manual – CBE- $795.00
Overview of CBE Program
Here is a quick overview of our Childbirth Education Training and Certification Program. This is a home study program that does not require attendance at a workshop. In the past we have offered a workshop, Empowering Women in the Childbearing Year, to enhance the self-study experience. However, the workshop is being revamped and we are not planning any until spring 2010.
When you enroll in the program, you will receive a training manual in a three-ring binder that is over 650 pages long. It is broken up into eight sections or modules. In addition to reading the manual, each module requires outside reading from a required reading list. Many books can be found at a library, but some would be harder to find at a library and you may either borrow them from another childbirth professional or purchase them.
Each module includes learning activities and written assignments to be completed and mailed to the Director of Childbirth Education who will evaluate your work and return it to you with her feedback. As you work through the manual, you are entitled to unlimited email and telephone support from the director. There is also a yahoo study group set up (yahoogroups/ibwpchildbirthedgroup) where you can receive peer support.
Once you have completed the first six modules you will take an at-home, open-book exam. Upon successful completion of the final exam you are provisionally certified; you will begin teaching classes and will continue on to the eighth and final module, which is devoted to teaching techniques. The final certification requirements are to submit six positive evaluations from students you've taught, complete the module 8 written work and learning exercises, audit a childbirth class series, and complete the required reading list. The average time it takes most people to work through the program is 8-12 months, but there is no maximum time limit to complete the program.
The cost of the program is $795. This includes everything except the cost of the books. You are not required to own the books; feel free to buy them or borrow them from a library or perhaps another birth professional. But you may find yourself wanting to own several of them, both for your own reference and use, and for your clients. Many childbirth educators find it useful to offer a small lending library to their clients. You don't need any prior training in any field in order to become a childbirth educator with IBWP.
To purchase your ALACE/IBWP Childbirth Educator Training and Certification Program and join the many students who are on the path to become a certified CBE through a time-tested program that is valued by women, families, nurses, doctor’s and newborns around the world, click below. You will receive an immediate confirmation from pay pal. Then within three days an email confirmation from our office and finally your complete program will be mailed and received within 5-10 days.
If you’d like to receive an invoice via email to purchase your CBE program, just email us at or call: 1.877.334.IBWP (4297)
Click here for the CBE Training Manual Table of Contents and here for a sample of the curriculum.
Click here for the CBE Training and Certification Reading List.
CBE Payment Plan
We do have payment plans. The standard $795 program requires an initial deposit of no less than $300 and 5 monthly payments of $103. This cost includes your ALACE/IBWP membership for one year at $50, your participation in the CBE training program with manual and personalized instruction at $745 and a $20 payment plan fee.
Although we require a minimum deposit of $300. Most people start somewhere between $300-$500. then a monthly payment contract will be established committing you to monthly payments of approx. $100 per month for a few months depending on how much you start off with.
example:
$300 deposit = 5 consecutive payments of $103.00 per month. You can pay it off early and you can start the doula training while completing the Childbirth educator program (CBE program) should one come to an area near you and you're ready to get started on that.
I can email an invoice you. This is the fastest way to get started. Here's how it goes, in short.
1) You express interest
2) I draft a contract for you based on your specified deposit amount.
3) I email you the contract
4) At the same time, I email you a pay pal invoice.
5) You click the pay now button and complete the deposit payment right from your email.
6) You mail me the contract via USPS using a tracking/delivery confirmation number. Then, email us the tracking number. If you are planning to pay by check for your monthly payments, you would post date your monthly checks and send them along with your contract. We can also invoice you on the first of every month if it is most convenient for you.
7) Once the pay pal payment and the contract are received, we mail your complete CBE program via USP with a tracking number so you can determine your delivery time.
8) You receive your program and you're on your path to become an ALACE/IBWP Certified Childbirth Educator!
From the point of receipt you will be an ALACE/IBWP member and very soon a CBE!
We can break the deposit up further, however, we would not send the training manual until we receive the initial $300 deposit. We never want money to be the reason why someone with a real passion for this work is unable to do it, so please call the office if our standard payment plan doesn't work for you and we can talk about other payment options that would work for you. Please call or email if you would like to set up a payment plan.
Again, thank you for choosing The ALACE CBE program offered by IBWP and we look forward to assisting you on your path to become an ALACE/IBWP Certified Childbirth Educator. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to call us at 1.877.334.4297 or email
