Childbirth Educator Program

Childbirth Educator Program

The Douglas College Childbirth Educator Training Program provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to prepare families to give birth in Canada. With an emphasis on evidence based information, students will learn a wide variety of activities and teaching strategies to make their prenatal classes informative and memorable.

The Childbirth Educator Program requirements for completion include:

1. Online theory modules

Students will complete learning activities and tests online and receive personal one-on-one feedback from their instructor. Given two years to complete twenty-two modules and it covers all aspects of the childbearing year from pre-conception to early parenting. Beyond learning about each topic, the "You, the Educator" sections in every module apply the academic information to real-life teaching situations.

When students have completed all the modules, they will also have prepared learning activities and created lesson plans so that they will feel prepared and ready for their teaching practicum. The self-reflective questions after each module and the midterm exam will give students a better idea of how they are progressing in the program and what to expect in the final exam. The final exam can be written when the modules have been completed and students are ready. Students have two years to complete all the requirements for the program. Course Outline and Completion Requirements

2.  Birth observations:  Arrange to observe three births.

3.  Prenatal class observations:  Observe a prenatal 12 hours series or equivalent. Observing an experienced educator lead the class will help to prepare you for your teaching practicum. Ideally, you would observe the instructor who would later be your mentor for your teaching practicum.

4.  Teaching skills workshop (required with separate fee)

The two-day Teaching Skills workshop will give students the hands-on skills and techniques to become excellent, engaging childbirth educators.

With the goal of creating classes that decrease fear and encourage confidence this workshop will give you the tools and activities to present even the most challenging topics in a reassuring, evidence based way.

The in person workshop provides many opportunities for discovering and practicing new ways to teach with a view to designing classes that actively engage with the adult learner. You will learn many tools to help you reduce lecturing and increase active participation in your classes. View the course outline

Teaching practicum

The teaching practicum will allow students to gain confidence as they co-teach with an experienced instructor and receive helpful feedback on their teaching,

Upon successful completion of all the program requirements, students will receive an official certificate and transcript from Douglas College.

Fee(s):

*Required to complete the workshop within the program. Registration in workshop is separate to registration in Childbirth Educator Program online theory portion. Workshop is hosted multiple times a year and student must register when they are ready.  It is recommend you register for this workshop when you have completed most of the modules. When registering with the StrongerBC future skills grant, students will automatically be registered in a workshop. 

Please note: There is no text book for the course however, students may have extra fees related to purchasing books for the required reading. Preview the book list here.

Registration

Program offered through online learning.  Start anytime!

View and print Registration form

There are no pre-requisites for this program.

Email application to:  ce_perinatal@douglascollege.ca 

For those applying for StrongerBC future skills grant: 

Applications are open starting Monday, July 20th. Seats will be available for September 2026 course start or January 2027 course start. You have one year to complete the program after you start. Grant seats are available on a first-approved, first-served basis. Course requirements are slightly different when students register with the grant. Please note some very important differences about the program for grant students:

• You have one year to complete the program (all assignments, observations, teaching skills workshop and teaching practicum). There are no exceptions or extensions available when funding is provided from the future skills grant. You have two years without the grant. Extensions are available without the grant. 
• You will be registered in a teaching skills workshop, and you must attend the entire workshop in order to complete the program. We usually recommend attending the workshop after completing most of your assignments. After the grant is processed, you will be registered in the workshop available. No exceptions are available to attend a different workshop date. You can register in any workshop without the grant, and move workshops if needed. 
• The grant will provide funds to cover most of your required reading. Some of the books are available through our bookstore. Some resources are available for free online. There may be some books that you may need to purchase privately at your own cost. You can contact our Bookstore to order the books available after your FSG application is approved and funded. 
• This is a self-paced course. There are no deadlines. It is up to you as a student to manage your time and assignments. Your instructors are available for support and guidance over email and in the course messages. We host online meetings periodically over Teams to connect with students and answer any questions you may have and help keep you motivated. This also provides the opportunity to connect with other students!

1. Review your eligibility for the grant before applying here.
2. When emailing your application to the Childbirth Educator program please add FSG application in subject line (see registration form above).
3. Please include when you'd like to start (Fall September 2026 or Winter January 2027) and what teaching skills workshop you'd like to attend. See chart below.

Upon reviewing program application, we will connect to discuss the program and FSG in further detail.

For further information about the program and application process please contact:

Christine Sexauer 
Perinatal Program Coordinator
Email Christine