Lamaze International offers three flexible pathways to certification, making certification accessible and achievable. Lamaze International welcomes those new to childbirth education; experienced childbirth educators; and health professionals, such as doulas, nurses and midwives; to enroll in the Lamaze childbirth educator program or to attend a training seminar.

Choose the pathway that's right for you!

Pathway 1: You Are New to the Childbirth Education Field
Lamaze International offers childbirth education training programs at various locations throughout the world. The Lamaze Childbirth Educator program is mainly a self-study program. Most of
the program components can be completed at home or in the local community, except for a three-day training seminar which can be held at various locations through out the world. The process begins when the candidate selects and enrolls in a Lamaze Accredited Childbirth Educator Program. Candidates are not required to have a medical background or experience in the field of childbirth education.

Although completion time varies, candidates should expect to spend 6-12 months working toward completion of the program and preparing to sit for the Lamaze certification exam. The length of time depends primarily on how quickly a candidate is able to complete the various components of the program. Some requirements may be modified or waived by the Program Director depending on the background and experience of the individual student.

Pathway 2: You Are an Experienced Childbirth Educator
Experienced childbirth educators are eligible to sit for the Lamaze Certification Exam if they meet the following criteria:

• Documentation for teaching 144 hours of childbirth education classes in the last five years. Childbirth education may include pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, sibling and postpartum classes.
• A licensed health professional (i.e., RN, PT, MD), or hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, or have successfully completed a formal course on teaching childbirth education (i.e.,
  Lamaze, ICEA, Bradley, BEST, Birthing from Within, Birth Works, CAPPA).
• Documentation of 25 contact hours of continuing education in the past three years. Continuing education courses must be applicable to childbirth education, the Lamaze Philosophy of Birth and the Competency Statements for LCCE educators. 

Experienced educators are welcome to attend a Lamaze Childbirth Educator Seminar for review and to earn 20 Contact Hours toward their exam eligibility. Contact hours also are available through a variety of other programs offered by Lamaze International. Visit the following page for a current list of approved providers of continuing education.

Pathway 3: You Are a Midwife or a Midwifery Student
With the knowledge and experience gained through midwifery training, midwives and midwifery students are eligible to prepare for the Lamaze Childbirth Educator Certification Exam by attending a special one-day workshop, the “Fast-Track for Midwives” seminar. Lamaze International offers a limited number of “Fast-Track for Midwives” seminars each year. Midwives and midwifery students are welcome to attend a traditional three-day Lamaze Childbirth Educator Seminar sponsored by one of the accredited Lamaze Childbirth Educator Training Programs to accelerate the process, enabling them to sit for the Lamaze Certification Exam.