ALACE or Birth Works?

[seoul_mama]

I'm considering becoming certified as a childbirth educator. I'm wondering if anyone is either certified through ALACE or Birth Works. Which of the 2 would you recommend and how long did it take to become certified.

TIA!

[nimblemama]

I don't know much about Birth Works, but I am training through ALACE. I started my manual in Feb. of this year and just finished the learning activities last week. Now I need to take the exam and will be "provisionally" certified and can teach classes. There are a few more requirements I have to fill then I will be fully certified. Total time that many invest in the whole process is 12-24 months. Just depends on your life cirumstances. There is no time limit either, so it is all up to you.

[seoul_mama]

Originally Posted by nimblemama

I don't know much about Birth Works, but I am training through ALACE. I started my manual in Feb. of this year and just finished the learning activities last week. Now I need to take the exam and will be "provisionally" certified and can teach classes. There are a few more requirements I have to fill then I will be fully certified. Total time that many invest in the whole process is 12-24 months. Just depends on your life cirumstances. There is no time limit either, so it is all up to you.

Hi niblemama, thanks for your reply. So how do you like the curriculum? Has the program helped you feel prepared, knowledgable, and confident about teaching? Are there aspects of the program that you don't like?

Thanks for your help. Good luck finishing up!

[nimblemama]

I have really enjoyed the program. The manual and required reading is full of everything you ever wanted to know, and more. The manual has lots of other resources/handouts/etc. and other suggested reading. The only "drawback" is that since there is so much info, it is a bit overwhelming. You get to make your own teaching outline and choose what is most important to cover for your students. It has been a lot of work and I have more to do, but it has been very good and also teached you how to be supportive of pregnant women and their choices.