Option 3: Alternate Credit

ALTERNATE CREDIT
Alternate credit activities may be used for up to 10 of the 25 contact hours necessary for recertification and may be earned from a single category of activities or a combination of multiple categories.

Alternate credit hours do not constitute official continuing education contact hours. An applicant must complete the Alternate Credit Form, section IV of the recertification application for these credits to be applied toward recertification. Additional hours may
be requested and approved on a case-by-case basis. Alternate credit activities may include:

CONTINUOUS PRESENCE DURING LABOR AND BIRTH: An LCCE educator may earn alternate credit for having continuous presence during a labor and birth. One hour of credit is awarded for each hour of the birth.

CLASS OBSERVATION: An LCCE educator may earn alternate credit by observing another childbirth educator in a class setting. One hour of credit is awarded for each hour of observation.

Earn 10 hours of alternate credit with the Childbirth Educator Observation CD, available through the Online Education Store.

EDUCATION OR CERTIFICATION COUNCIL COMMITTEE SERVICE:
An LCCE educator may earn alternate credit for service on a committee of Lamaze International’s Education Council or Certification Council. The Administrative Office, in consultation with the committee chair, will verify service hours.

PUBLICATION: An LCCE educator may earn up to 10 hours of alternate credit for the first-time publication of a book, chapter in a book or article directly related to childbirth education. Five hours of credit may be awarded for major editing or rewriting of a publication.

ITEM WRITING: An LCCE educator may earn alternate credit by writing and submitting exam questions. All item submissions must be approved by the Certification Council Chair in order to receive alternate credit. One hour of credit is awarded for each approved item.

LECTURE/PRESENTATION: An LCCE educator may earn alternate credit for lecturing at the undergraduate/graduate level or giving a presentation at a conference or within a university. Lectures and presentations must be childbirth education related and credit only may be received for first-time presentations. An outline of the lecture or presentation must be presented with the alternate credit form and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. One hour of credit is awarded for each hour of lecture
or presentation.

Has Your Certification Lapsed?

You may submit a request to the Lamaze Administrative Office at certification@lamaze.org for an extension during which time you are able to complete the continuing education requirement. Please note that there is a $25 late fee for all Lamaze educators who have let their certification lapse. You may mail a check to the Lamaze Administrative office at 2025 M Street NW, Suite 800 Washington, DC 20036-3309 with a copy of your written request for an extension. 

If more than 1.5 years have passed you must sit for the certification exam to recertify. If less than 1.5 years have passed since your certification has lapsed you may recertify by submitting the following in addition to the 25 continuing education hours required for the normal 3 year recertification cycle:

• 0-6 months- no additional continuing education hours
• 6-12 months- 5 continuing education hours
• 12-18 months- 10 continuing education hours