Teacher Training Program Information
HOW CAN I BECOME A BRADLEY® TEACHER and DOULA?
By completing the Bradley Method® Teacher Training Program.
Options for how you can get started today:
- Make a one-time investment of $1995 -OR-
- Pay over time (This will show you a preview of payment plans available at checkout)
Before you know it, you could have your own Childbirth Education and Doula Support Business.
You will get immediate access to our online training program and be on your way to becoming a Certified Bradley® Childbirth Educator and Professional Bradley® Doula. Begin teaching and earning in as little as three to five months.
The Teacher Training Program is designed to be completed in approximately 9 to 12 months when you devote about 10 hours per week to your training.
Some Candidates move more quickly, while others need additional time because of work, family responsibilities, teaching opportunities, or unexpected life circumstances.
That is why your enrollment includes up to 24 months of training access. You can continue making steady progress toward your goal while having the flexibility to adjust when life gets especially busy.
The Bradley Method® Childbirth Academy is dedicated to training independent Bradley Method® Childbirth Educators who teach prospective parents about healthy pregnancy and natural childbirth
THE BRADLEY® TEACHER/DOULA TRAINING IS A 3-PART PROCESS
PART I: The Candidate Course
Suggested Timeline: Approximately 3 Months
Your training begins with a combination of academic requirements, engaging online coursework, and a live Teacher Training Workshop. Together, these experiences are designed to give you a strong foundation in childbirth education, coaching, labor support, and teaching adults.
Academic Requirements
You will read and report on a carefully selected list of books, complete a Hospital or Birth Center Evaluation, observe and report on a breastfeeding support meeting such as La Leche League, and attend and report on a Bradley Method® class. You’ll submit your assignments through our easy-to-use training portal.
Online Coursework
The online coursework brings the material to life through instructional videos, informative readings, quizzes, and thought-provoking questions. You’ll explore a wide range of fascinating topics while building the knowledge and confidence you’ll need to support expectant families.
Learn from the Pioneers—and Stay Current
One of the most exciting parts of the training is the opportunity to learn from some of the people who helped shape childbirth education and The Bradley Method®. Through archival recordings and legacy materials, you’ll hear from Dr. Robert Bradley, Marjie and Jay Hathaway, Susan McCutcheon, Dr. Thomas Brewer, Dr. Arnold Kegel, and other pioneering educators and clinicians whose work helped influence the field.
You’ll also receive current information through updated lessons, contemporary research, and carefully selected resources. This combination allows you to understand the history and principles behind the method while developing the up-to-date knowledge needed to teach and support families today.
We think you’ll find this part of the training interesting, engaging, and filled with valuable information you can begin using right away.
Live Online Teacher Training Workshop
During Part I, you will attend a live, one-day Teacher Training Workshop on Zoom. This dynamic workshop gives you the opportunity to connect with other Candidates who are moving through the training program alongside you.
Together, you’ll build essential teaching skills, explore proven techniques for working with adult learners, learn principles of public speaking, and gain confidence as you prepare to teach your own Bradley Method® classes.
You may attend the workshop at any time during Part I. You will need to attend one of the following:
- Summer: Saturday, August 1, 2026
- Fall: Saturday, November 7, 2026
- Winter: Saturday, February 6, 2027
- Spring: Saturday, May 1, 2027
- Summer: Saturday, August 7, 2027
We think you’ll find Part I interesting, engaging, and filled with valuable information you can begin using right away.
After completing the academic requirements, online coursework, and Teacher Training Workshop, you’ll move into Part II—where you’ll begin preparing to teach your own Bradley Method® classes.
Personal Program Plan
After you sign up, you will receive a Personal Program Plan which will lay out all your requirements and give you insight and support to help you work through them efficiently.
Candidates who do not meet one or more of the program’s minimum entrance requirements may be given additional preparatory assignments to help ensure they have the experience and foundation needed to succeed. For example, a Candidate may be asked to observe a complete series of Bradley Method® classes rather than a single class.
Part II: Provisional Affiliation—Teaching Your First Classes
Suggested Timeline: Approximately 4 Months
In Part II, you’ll begin preparing for and teaching your first series of Bradley Method® classes. This is an exciting step in your training—and you won’t be doing it alone.
We’ll provide the tools and resources you need, including detailed lesson plans, topic outlines, teaching aids, and an extensive library of additional materials. You’ll also receive practical guidance on finding students, setting your rates and policies, organizing your classes, and communicating confidently with prospective students by phone, email, and text.
During Provisional Affiliation, you may begin teaching and charging for your classes while receiving continued guidance from your Mentor Teacher and support from the Academy.
Throughout your first class series, you’ll submit weekly evaluations that allow us to follow your progress, understand your teaching experiences, and provide guidance when needed. These evaluations are an important part of your development and help you reflect on what worked well, identify questions, and continue strengthening your teaching skills.
After completing your first class series, you may choose to:
- move into Part III and prepare for the Final Exam; or
- extend this part of your training by teaching a second series with continued support, giving you additional experience and confidence before taking the exam.
When you are ready to move forward, we’ll complete a graduation check to confirm that you have met the requirements to begin Part III.
Part III: The Final Exam
Suggested Timeline: Approximately 2 Months
Part III gives you the opportunity to bring together everything you have learned through your academic work, online coursework, workshop experience, and first series of classes.
The Final Exam is a comprehensive online assessment of your knowledge, judgment, understanding of Bradley Method® principles, and readiness to teach and support expectant families.
The exam typically takes approximately 8 to 10 hours to complete and must be submitted within one month after you begin. You may complete it one section at a time and spread the work throughout the month, or set aside a day or two to focus and complete it more quickly.
You’ll continue submitting weekly evaluations for any classes you teach until you have passed the Final Exam.
Final Exam grading may take up to four weeks. Our graders provide detailed feedback and additional instruction when needed. In some cases, you may be asked to clarify an answer, make a correction, or complete additional follow-up work before the exam is approved.
Your Mentor Teacher remains available during this part of the program to answer questions, offer encouragement, and help you navigate the final steps of your training.
What Happens Next?
After your Final Exam has been reviewed, you may be asked to revise or rewrite part of the exam, clarify an answer, or complete additional training before final approval. Our goal is to make sure you are fully prepared to teach accurately, support families responsibly, and represent The Bradley Method® with confidence.
Once your Final Exam has been approved and you have successfully completed all Teacher Training Program requirements, you will become eligible for Affiliation.
You’ll then complete a brief Affiliation Course that introduces the responsibilities, policies, resources, and benefits associated with becoming a Bradley® Affiliate. After you complete the course and satisfy the applicable Affiliation requirements, your Certificate of Affiliation will become available for download in your training portal.
At that time, your annual Affiliation dues—or a prorated portion of the annual dues—will become due. More information about dues, renewal, and Student Licenses is provided below.
Then it’s time to celebrate everything you have accomplished and begin putting your training to work. As a Bradley® Affiliate, you’ll be prepared to offer excellent childbirth education and knowledgeable labor support, develop your own independent business, and make a meaningful difference for expectant families.
What It Means to Be a Fully Affiliated Bradley® Instructor and Doula
The terms Bradley® and The Bradley Method® are registered trademarks. Only individuals who have completed the required training and maintain a current Affiliation with the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth® may use these terms in connection with childbirth education and labor support.
In other words, not just anyone may teach The Bradley Method® or offer services as a Bradley® doula.
After completing your training and becoming a Bradley® Professional, you will maintain your Affiliation in two important ways:
1. Renewing your Affiliation each year
Your annual renewal includes:
- paying the annual Affiliation dues (or a prorated portion if you become affiliated between renewal cycles)
- completing applicable continuing education requirements
- reviewing and signing the current Statement of Policy.
When you first become affiliated, the annual dues—or a prorated portion based on the time of year—will become due. After that, you will renew annually.
The current annual dues are $350 when paid on time, which averages less than $30 per month over the course of a year. These ongoing Affiliation costs are substantially lower than the Teacher Training fees. Dues and renewal requirements may change in future years.
2. Providing a Student License for every student couple and doula client
Bradley® Professionals must purchase a Student License from the Academy for every student couple they teach and every doula client they support.
The Student License gives students and clients access to The Bradley Method® Student Center—an exclusive online hub that includes:
- the Bradley Method® Online Student Workbook;
- a library of childbirth education videos
- additional materials to help families prepare for labor, birth, and the early postpartum period, including the newly released Class Strings, a 140-page resource that helps to make the subjects that weave their way through every class fun and interesting as students build skills and make progress in Bradley® classes.
The current cost of a Student License is $25. This cost may be included in your class or doula fee, but the license must be purchased and provided by the Bradley® Professional.
Maintaining your annual Affiliation and providing Student Licenses help protect the quality, consistency, and integrity of The Bradley Method® while ensuring that the families you serve receive the resources and support included with official Bradley® instruction.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
We hope that the following information will help you decide to become a Bradley® Professional. We look forward to getting you trained, teaching wonderful classes, and offering the excellent labor support that expectant parents are looking for. If you have any further questions, please contact us. Our mentor teachers will be happy to assist you!
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. (See more about payment options below.)
Q. How soon can I expect to recover 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 classes or after supporting your first few births. And because you’ll start teaching during Part 2 of your training, you can begin charging for your classes and start recovering 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.
Q. Do I qualify for the training?
A. 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 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.
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 costs are for the required reading materials, your Student Licenses ($25 per student couple), and any supplies you need to organize your materials. You may choose to purchase your books or borrow them from a library or another source.
Q. Are there ongoing fees after I complete my training?
A. Yes. Once you complete the training and become a Bradley® Affiliate, Affiliation dues will begin.
In 2026, the annual Affiliation dues were $350—less than $30 per month when averaged over a full year.
If you become affiliated between annual renewal dates, you will pay only a prorated portion of the annual dues for the remainder of that renewal period. At the next renewal, the regular annual dues will apply.
These dues allow you to maintain your Affiliation, continue using the Bradley® and Bradley Method® names in connection with your approved services, and remain connected to the Academy’s professional resources, guidance, and support.
- 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 added to 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. Once you become a provisional affiliate, we’ll help families find you by listing you in the Directory of Bradley® Professionals at BradleyMethod.com. Take a look and imagine seeing your own name and services listed there, too.
We’ll also give you practical ideas and resources for promoting your classes and doula services. However, building a business takes time, consistency, and personal effort. You should expect to share information about your services, connect with families and birth professionals in your community, promote upcoming classes, and respond promptly to inquiries.
Although we cannot guarantee students, doula clients, or income, we’ll be here to offer ideas, encouragement, and guidance as you put those ideas into action and build your business.
Q. What does it mean to be a Professional Bradley® Doula?
A. When your training is done, your certificate will recognize your completion of the 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. 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 “Statement of Policy” and may only use pre-approved materials in class and for advertising. You must continue to submit weekly evaluations for all classes taught until you pass your 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 let us know that you need 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. Another option is 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 classes, 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 attended. 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 Family must put into 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!