Teacher Training Program Information
HOW CAN I BECOME A BRADLEY® TEACHER?
By completing the Bradley Method® Teacher Training Program.
With an investment of under $2000 and the completion of our 12-month training program, you’ll become a Certified Bradley® Childbirth Educator and Professional Bradley® Doula. Before you know it, you could have your own Childbirth Education and Doula Support Business.
The American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth® is dedicated to training independent Bradley Method® Childbirth Educators who teach prospective parents about healthy pregnancy and natural childbirth.
To find an instructor, go to BradleyMethod.com and select FIND A TEACHER.
- To become a teacher yourself, select BECOME A TEACHER
- To contact us directly, email infor@aahcc.com or call 818 788-6662
DO I QUALIFY FOR THE TRAINING?
We’ve always found that families who have taken Bradley® Classes and had Bradley® births make the best teachers. Our training is designed for those who have taken a full series of classes during their pregnancy. The ideal candidate will have had a natural childbirth, completed the Bradley Method® Student Workbook, read the book Husband-Coached Childbirth, and attended at least one La Leche League or other good breastfeeding support group meeting. If you do not have this level of personal experience, you can still apply. Additional requirements will be assigned if the application is accepted.
THE BRADLEY® TEACHER TRAINING IS A-3 PART PROCESS
PART I
Academic Requirements
Time Allotted: 3 months
The program begins with academic requirements designed to give you a strong foundation in childbirth education and labor support. You will read and report on a list of books, compile a Parent Education Survey, complete Hospital/Birth Center Evaluations, and observe and report on a breastfeeding support meeting (La Leche League or similar) as well as a Bradley Method class. You’ll submit your assignments on our training portal.
PART II
Training Workshop and Online Coursework
Time Allotted: 3 months
Part II includes a 1-day Teacher Training Workshop which will be presented live on Zoom. It also involves watching online videos and completing online coursework. Once you have completed it, you’ll take the Online Training Exam. You must successfully complete Parts I and II before starting Part III…but take a look at Part III – you get to start teaching!
Teacher Training Workshop Schedule
Get ready to share your energy and enthusiasm in our dynamic new teacher training program! These one-day live Zoom workshops are designed to connect you with others in your cohort who are currently in training, just like you. Together, you’ll build essential skills, explore proven techniques for teaching adults, and gain confidence in public speaking. It’s an exciting step in preparing to become a Bradley teacher—and it’s required during Part I or Part II of your training. This is your opportunity to grow, connect, and get inspired.
You will need to attend ONE of these while you are in Part I or Part II of your training.
Here’s the schedule:
Summer – Saturday, August 2, 2025
Fall – Saturday, November 1, 2025
Winter – Saturday, February 7, 2026
Spring – Saturday, May 2, 2026
Summer – Saturday, August 1, 2026
PART III
Teaching Your First Classes (Provisional Affiliation)
Time Allotted: 7 months
During this phase, you’ll begin preparing for and teaching your first one or two series of classes. We’ll provide you with detailed lesson plans, topic outlines, teaching aids, and a wealth of other valuable resources. You’ll also receive guidance on how to find students, set your rates and policies, and manage communication—whether through phone calls, emails, or messages from prospective students.
As your classes progress, you’ll submit weekly evaluations to help track your teaching experience and development. After completing your first series, you’ll have the option to either move directly to your Final Exam or teach a second series with continued support before taking the exam.
When you’re ready, you’ll take the Final Exam—a comprehensive assessment designed to measure your overall understanding and teaching readiness. The exam typically takes 8–10 hours to complete. You’ll continue submitting weekly evaluations for all classes taught until you successfully pass your Final Exam.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Now it’s time to celebrate all your hard work! You’ll receive official notice confirming that you are a fully affiliated Bradley® Instructor and Professional Bradley® Doula. From here, we encourage you to continue sharing your knowledge and passion by teaching your own inspiring childbirth classes.
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A FULLY AFFILIATED BRADLEY® INSTRUCTOR
The terms Bradley® and The Bradley Method® are registered trademarks. Only individuals who are trained and currently affiliated with the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth® (AAHCC) may use these terms in connection with childbirth education.
In other words, not just anyone can teach The Bradley Method®. To become and remain an affiliated instructor, you must:
- Qualify for training.
- Complete the AAHCC Instructor Training Program.
- Renew annually, which includes:
- Paying annual dues
- Completing continuing education requirements
- Signing and upholding the Statement of Policy
- Purchase Student Center Access for every student in every class.
If you ever encounter someone claiming to teach The Bradley Method® who is not affiliated with AAHCC, please let us know.
COMMON QUESTIONS
We hope that the following information will help you decide to become a Bradley® teacher. We look forward to getting you trained and teaching the wonderful classes that expectant parents are looking for.
Q. What is the cost of the program?
A. The 9-12 month program is priced at $1,995. For less than $2,000, you can embark on the journey to establish your own childbirth education and doula support business.
Q. How soon can I expect to recoup my investment?
A. Consider the cost of a comprehensive childbirth education course in your area, as well as the fees doulas charge to attend births. In most cases, you can expect to recover your investment after teaching just a few class series or after supporting a handful of births and because you’ll begin charging for classes in Part 3 of the training, as a Provisional Affiliate, you might even recover your costs while still in training!
Q. Do you offer credit or financing options?
A. YES! We offer financing through Klarna – you’ll be able to see more information and all your options when you click “apply” on our website. We also accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover cards if you wish to spread your payments.
Q. What is your refund policy?
A. We do not provide refunds for registration or application fees. No refunds will be issued for non-attendance or failure to complete the course, including online workshops or the entire program.
Q. Are there any additional fees in the training program?
A. There are no hidden fees in the training program. The only additional cost is for the required reading materials. You may choose to purchase these books or borrow them from a library or another source.
Q. Are there fees to maintain my certification after my training is completed?
A. Yes. There are two ways you will continue to support the Academy after completing your training.
- Annual Dues: We strive to keep dues below the average cost of a Bradley® class. For example, in 2025, the average Bradley® class fee is $400–$500, while annual dues are $299.
- Student Licenses: Each Bradley® teacher is required to purchase a Student License for every student couple and doula client—no exceptions. The current fee is just $25. Each license provides your students access to the Bradley Method® Student Center, an exclusive online hub that includes a digital version of the Student Workbook, over a dozen childbirth videos, and additional resources to support their preparation for labor and birth.
Q. Is there a demand for more teachers?
A. Absolutely! We advocate for small class sizes (3 to 8 couples), and in many areas, there is a significant shortage of teachers to meet the growing demand.
Q. Can my spouse teach with me?
A. We really encourage teaching couples and invite spouses to view any or all of the online sessions. There are no extra requirements or additional costs for spouse participation. The primary requirement is enthusiasm for sharing something they, themselves, have experienced. The additional first name may be put on the certificate with the primary instructor, if desired. If a spouse wants to have a certificate in their own name, or teach separately, they will need to apply separately, fulfill all the same requirements, and pay a separate fee.
Q. How will I get students?
A. Although we do not guarantee students, we help by listing you on the National Directory of Bradley® Instructors. Check it out by going to www.BradleyMethod.com. While youʼre there, imagine what it will be like when your name is listed there, too😊! (We also offer suggestions for other ways that you can find students.)
Q. What does it mean to be a Professional Bradley Doula.
A. When your training is done, your certificate will recognize your completion of AAHCCʼs training program for doula support skills. It is not a state license or state certification. Requirements for practice, state-specific programs (including state registries or use of state-protected titles like “State-Certified Doula”, and Medicaid reimbursement) vary by state and may require additional training, examination, certification, registration, or other steps not provided by this program. Graduates are responsible for researching and complying with the requirements of any jurisdiction or program in which they intend to work or participate.
Q. The Online Teacher Training Course was unavailable in 2024. Why?
A. The Bradley Method® is a family business, and we recently experienced a loss in the family. At that time, we stopped accepting new applicants and focused on helping those who were in training get finished and teaching. We have now reorganized as an LLC and are in the process of updating our materials. We spent some time taking a close and careful look at what we have to offer and found that though some of our materials look a little dated, they are still very relevant and important. In fact, we believe our childbirth education classes are the gold standard. So, we are dedicated to updating the look and highlighting the materials which are filled with rich and wonderful resources that expectant parents today can learn so much from. We have great respect for the legacy which we have been handed. These techniques work! This method is tried and true. And we are so grateful to those who came before us who made family-centered childbirth the norm. Back when all this started, you couldnʼt even find a hospital that would allow a couple to stay together during labor and birth. Weʼve come a long way. We invite you to continue the journey with us. Thereʼs so much more we can do for the good of the birthing community!
Q. Are there any restrictions on Provisional Affiliates?
A. During your time as a Provisional Affiliate, you must identify yourself as such to prospective students. You must adhere to the Academy “Statement of Policy” and may only use pre-approved materials in class and for advertising. They must continue to submit weekly evaluations for all classes taught until they pass their Final Exam.
Q. What is the Bradley Method® Statement of Policy?
A. It is the annual contract listing the guidelines and expectations for all affiliated Bradley Method® instructors. You will have the chance to review it during the application process.
Q. What if I don’t pass one of the exams?
A. We are committed to your success and understand that not everyone learns the same way. If you don’t pass one of the exams, you’ll be given remedial work and the opportunity to take it again or to accomplish the task in another way.
Q. What if I can’t finish on time?
A. We understand that many of the candidates in our training program are parents of young children. Things may come up that cause delays. If this happens to you, please apply for an extension. We will do our best to accommodate you and your needs. We are happy to provide the time you need, but we do require that the training be completed within 2 years of starting it.
Q. What if I’m not available on the date of the next Live on Zoom Teacher Training Workshop?
A. They are offered quarterly. So, if the next date is more convenient for you, you can select to attend then. We are interested in keeping you moving through the training process. These workshops will be recorded. So, another option would be to watch the recording, spend some time with a Mentor Teacher, and complete the assignments you missed by not attending in person.
Q. Can I begin working on online videos and coursework before the Live on Zoom Teacher Training Workshop?
A. Yes. We encourage you to keep making progress even while waiting for your Teacher Training Workshop date.
THINK ABOUT IT
· Do you have the desire?
· Do you have the drive?
· Do you want to make a real difference?
· Do you want to share what you’ve learned and help others?
· Even if you only teach one series at a time, and have 5 couples per series, you’ll positively affect 20 births a year.
· You can be part of the miracle of birth.
· Are you that person?
· If so, Sign up today!
Babies deserve the best birth possible, and you can help.
The world needs more Bradley births.
Thank you for caring!
COMMENTS FROM TEACHERS
This training is wonderful. It’s clear that you have fine-tuned it over the years, and are still growing, learning, and sharing.
– Georgia
In my career as an actress, I have participated in many workshops. This is the first time I have encountered a group that looked at my strengths. I am so pleased that you are making a positive impact on the world of birthing.
– California
I want to thank you for making my life richer. I had a wonderful birth due in large part to my Bradley classes and feel this helped my son, my husband and me to start off on the right foot. Now I have the intense pleasure of helping others to do the same. My life has taken many new turns because of your dedication to this cause, and I thank you.
-Ohio
In teaching my class I realized just how much I have learned in this process. At one time I was like my students, knowing very little, but eager to know very much. The Teacher Training has continued to fill my need for knowledge about the process of birth.
-Illinois
I am very pleased to see how much I have learned in this teacher training process. I feel we are ready to be affiliated Bradley Method teachers. I sure couldn’t have said that 10 months ago.
– Guam
As a career woman I have attended many workshops. This is by far the best organized, most inspiring workshop I have ever been at. Keep up the great work.
– New York
Thanks so much for such a great training! You are very motivating and knowledgeable, and it makes one want, very much to become a Bradley educator.
– Massachusetts
I’m so thankful for the method I teach and especially for the way it’s organized. I can’t imagine the amount of work and time the Hathaway’s must put into this job of updating curriculum and keeping instructors abreast of vital, new information to pass along to their couples.
– Ohio
The Bradley Method® Childbirth Education
because every family deserves the best!
Become a teacher. Sign up today,
and join in celebrating so many Happy Birth-Days!