Why choose the BACE Childbirth Educator Training Program?

• BACE has been training childbirth educators for 70 years and our educators have an excellent reputation in the local birth community

• Our faculty members are active members in the field of maternal/child health, and in reputable birth-related organizations like Partners in Perinatal Health, MACHW, and others

• We offer a flexible ready-to-teach curriculum that you will customize to suit your preferences and audience. Certification and current membership with BACE will also grant you access to the library of images through The Educated Birth

• We've got a program for you!

  • Our traditional program offers considerably more training hours than other programs (40!) and each student will have a mentor to support and coach her through certification

  • Our BACE+ program was designed to meet the needs of birth professionals who are ready to make an educational difference, by accelerating the program's content and style​

 

Which program is right for me?

• BACE+ is conducted in the Fall, for:

  • Those with current or prior certification as childbirth educator, with other organizations

  • RNs with MCH background/experience

  • Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM) or Certified Professional Midwives (CPM)

  • Certified birth doulas, with minimum 25 births attended and current CEUs

• BACE Traditional Childbirth Educator Program is conducted in the Spring for those without those qualifications, but with a high interest in gaining the content knowledge to be a successful and impactful childbirth educator

  • This session may also be attended by those with the above qualifications, who choose not to wait until the Fall session

Do I need to be a nurse or have other specific qualifications in order to apply?

• No. You do not need to be a nurse to become a BACE Childbirth Educator. A high school diploma is required and a college degree is preferred. We will consider a combination of experience, education, interest and commitment

• This course is ideal for those who already have a solid understanding of pregnancy, childbirth and newborns and want to learn how to teach a comprehensive childbirth education curriculum

• If you are new to this field, you will need to devote extra time to the requirements – carefully read the required books, acquire Evidence Based Birth Professional Membership, complete the prerequisite assignments, observe other childbirth education courses and become comfortable with the information shared on the designated websites

  • Note: Evidence Based Birth offers partial scholarships for Professional Membership. Please see their site for parameters and qualifications, as well as to apply​

 

How do I apply and what is the deadline?

• After reading the program description and FAQ’s, review which program is best for your qualifications (BACE or BACE+) and apply for the appropriate workshop

• Request recommendations from 2 people (see application form for guidelines)

• Registration closes 2 weeks prior the start date listed

 

What is the value of the program and when are payments due?

Our well-respected programs include a great number of hours of instruction and personal interaction you will have with the training team, a customizable curriculum, and ongoing mentorship. This is an investment in your future! 

• Tuition is due upon acceptance to the program; payment plans may be requested by emailing bace.nmc@gmail.com

• Cost is comprised of:

  • ​Tuition: $1700 for both BACE Traditional and BACE+ Accelerated programs

    • If utilizing our 0% interest payment plan, tuition must be paid in full by the time of certification or within 18 months of the start date of your program, whichever comes first​

  • Material costs:

    •  

      $12.95 for the required text Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn

       

    • Current monthly fee for Evidence Based Birth Professional Membership. EBB offers partial scholarships based on their own qualifications

  • Certification series fee of $250 is due at the time the student is ready to teach the certification series

• See refund information below for more details

 

When will I hear about my application?

• Once we receive your personal application, your interview will be scheduled promptly. We will need your recommendations before acceptance can be granted, so please send them soon as possible

 

How long is the program?

• The BACE Traditional CBE Workshop is 10 weeks of 4-hour sessions (40 hours total). A trainee typically takes about 6-8 months to complete the coursework and additional requirements for certification. Although this may seem like a long time, we firmly believe that this information cannot be taught in a self-study format, weekend seminar or intensive program. The course, including the start of the certification series, must be completed within 18 months of completion of sessions

• BACE+ consists of three 8-hour sessions. An accelerated participant has an additional 18 months to complete the same requirements as BACE Traditional CBE enrollees

 

Where are the classes held?

• At this time and to increase access for all, our sessions are planned to be held virtually through Zoom

• BACE and BACE+ may also be held on the Newton Wellesley Hospital campus. Newton Wellesley is T-accessible by the Green Line

 

What if I need to miss a training session?

• When sessions are held virtually, they will be recorded and uploaded to a private YouTube channel

• Contact faculty if you know you will need to miss a training session to discuss how to make up any presentations, teachbacks, discussions or in-class work assignments

 

Do you offer financial aid or scholarships?

• 0% interest payment plans are available for those who cannot pay the entire amount of tuition at one time

• We offer some partial scholarships for those that intend to work with populations facing health inequities; click here to apply for a scholarship of up to 50%

 

What is the refund/withdrawal policy?

• Withdrawal from BACE after acceptance, but before the start of sessions, must be stated in writing

• Candidates who have paid in full, and are requesting a refund before the start of the course will receive the tuition paid less a $250 fee

  • ​For BACE: Prior to the fourth session the maximum refund is $750, provided tuition has been paid in full. There will be no refunds after that date, however candidates may defer completion of the program for up to 18 months due to pregnancy or serious hardship

  • For BACE+: Prior to the second session the maximum refund is $750, provided tuition has been paid in full. There will be no refunds after that date, however candidates may defer completion of the program for up to 18 months due to pregnancy or serious hardship

• Candidates who have been accepted, but have not paid in full at the time of withdrawal are responsible for tuition/fees as follows:

  • Prior to the start of sessions = $250​

  • For BACE: $750 if withdrawing before the fourth session. If after the fourth session, tuition is due in full. There will be no refunds after that date, however candidates may defer completion of the program for up to 18 months due to pregnancy or serious hardship

  • For BACE+: $750 if withdrawing before the second session. If after the second session, tuition is due in full. There will be no refunds after that date, however candidates may defer completion of the program for up to 18 months due to pregnancy or serious hardship

 

How can I prepare for the training program?

• Register for Evidence Based Birth's Professional Membership monthly plan. Partial scholarships are offered by EBB

• Enroll in the Google Classroom and start working on assignments in order!

• Schedule your observation of a childbirth education class series

​​

Does completing the training program guarantee that I will become certified?

• No, neither being accepted into the Childbirth Educator Training Program or completion of the training guarantees certification as a BACE Childbirth Educator. You must complete all sessions and all requirements, as well as submit a childbirth education curriculum for consideration to teach. Once observed for Certification Series, you are recommended for certification

 

How long is BACE Certification good for?

• BACE Certification is good for 3 years, the cost of recertification is low and we do not require that you obtain CEU’s from us directly, though we offer CEU workshops and access to Advanced Courses with CEU availability. Contact our office for a copy of the Recertification Checklist

 

Does BACE hire graduates?

• BACE does not currently employ any childbirth educators and cannot guarantee that graduates will find employment. However BACE Educators are currently teaching in area hospitals, health centers, maternity and parenting businesses and other professional locations, as well as independently

 

What does the NMC in your logo stand for?

• NMC stands for Nursing Mothers’ Council, which is the breastfeeding support and education arm of the organization. While the legal name of the organization is The Boston Association for Childbirth Education, Inc., we recognize the importance of NMC by referring to ourselves as BACE-NMC

 

How can I find out more or get help deciding if the BACE program is right for me?

• Please contact Shari McBurney at shari@deepseeddoula.com, or reach out through our BACE-NMC Facebook page

 

 

We welcome applicants of all gender, familial, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds.

 

We will make every effort to help you locate appropriate alternative materials in your primary language, offer oral rather than written completion of portions of the training, and assist you in finding an appropriate mentor.