Teacher Training Program Information
HOW CAN I BECOME A BRADLEY® TEACHER and DOULA?
By completing the Bradley Method® Teacher Training Program.
With an investment of under $2000 and the completion of our 10-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
THE BRADLEY® TEACHER/DOULA TRAINING IS A 3-PART PROCESS
PART I: Academic Requirements
Time Allotted: 3 months
The program begins with academic requirements that 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 two 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: 2 months
Part II includes a 1-day Teacher Training Workshop, 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 SCHEDULEGet 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 you can take it any time 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 before you enter the final phase of your training.
Here’s the schedule:
Winter – Saturday, February 7, 2026
Spring – Saturday, June 6, 2026
Summer – Saturday, August 1, 2026
Fall – Saturday, November 7, 2026
PART III: Teaching Your First Classes (Provisional Affiliation)
Time Allotted: 5 Months
In this phase, you’ll begin preparing for and teaching your first series of classes. You won’t be doing it alone—we’ll provide you with everything you need: detailed lesson plans, topic outlines, teaching aids, and a library of additional resources. You’ll also receive practical guidance on how to find students, set your rates and policies, and manage communication across phone, email, and messages from potential students.
To support your development, you’ll submit weekly evaluations that help us track your growth and teaching experience. After completing your first class series, you can choose to either:
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Proceed directly to your Final Exam, or
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Extend your training a little and teach a second series (with continued support) to build more confidence before testing.
When you’re ready, we’ll conduct your graduation check and clear you for the Final Exam—a comprehensive, online assessment that evaluates your overall understanding and teaching readiness. The exam typically takes 8–10 hours to complete and must be finished within one month. Some instructors take it one section at a time, spreading it throughout the month. Others block off a day or two to focus and get it done more quickly. You’ll continue submitting weekly evaluations for all classes taught until you pass your Final Exam.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Next, it’s time to celebrate all your hard work! You’ll receive official notice from our grading team. With their approval, we’ll confirm that you have become a fully affiliated Bradley® Instructor and Professional Bradley® Doula. After that, we encourage you to get out there and share your wonderful classes and excellent labor support, building your business and benefiting families with all you have to offer.
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 by and currently affiliated with the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth® may use the terms in connection with childbirth education and support.
In other words, not just anyone can teach The Bradley Method®.
After you complete your training and become a Bradley® Professional,
you will continue supporting the Academy in two important ways:
- By renewing your affiliation annually. This includes paying annual dues (currently $300 when paid on time), completing continuing education requirements, and signing the Statement of Policy (contract).
- By purchasing a Student License from the Academy for every student couple you teach and every doula client you support. Along with this license, your students and doula clients will get access to The Bradley Method® Student Center, an exclusive online hub with the Bradley Method® Online Student Workbook, over a dozen childbirth education videos, and other resources to help them plan and prepare for giving birth. The current cost for a Student License is $25.
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 and teaching the 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.
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 classes or after supporting your first few births. And, because you’ll start teaching during Part 3 of your training, you will begin charging for your classes and may 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.
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 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.
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Annual Dues: We strive to keep dues below the average cost of a Bradley® class. For example, in 2025, the average Bradley® class fee was $400–$500, while annual dues were $299.
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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. Although we do not guarantee students, we help by listing you on the Directory of Bradley® Professionals. 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 will also offer lots of suggestions on ways to promote your classes.)
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. 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. 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 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. 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 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 Hathaways must put into updating curriculum and keeping instructors abreast of vital, new information to pass along to their couples.– Ohio
The Bradley Method® Childbirth Educationbecause every family deserves the best!
Become a teacher. Sign up today,
and join in celebrating so many Happy Birth Days!