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 $1,995 — OR —
- Pay over time
(You’ll be able to preview available payment plans at checkout.)
Before you know it, you could be building your own childbirth education and doula support business.
You’ll receive immediate access to our online training program and be paired with an experienced Mentor Teacher who will guide and support you throughout your training. You’ll be on your way to becoming a Certified Bradley® Childbirth Educator and Professional Bradley® Doula—and you may begin teaching and earning in as little as three months.
The Teacher Training Program is designed to be completed in approximately 9–12 months when you devote about 10 hours per week to your training.
We know that our Candidates have full lives. Many are raising children. Others are balancing careers, families, and other responsibilities while completing their training. Some move more quickly, while others need additional time.
That’s 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.
And when you’re finished, you decide what this work will look like in your life. You may build a primary childbirth education and doula support business, create a rewarding side business alongside another career, teach a series or two each year while raising your family, or grow your business over time.
However you choose to use your training, becoming a Bradley® Professional gives you the opportunity to do meaningful work, continue learning, and make a difference for expectant families.
Your Path to Becoming
A Bradley® Professional
Your training is a step-by-step process that combines comprehensive education, practical teaching experience, mentorship, and assessment. Each part builds on the one before it, helping you develop the knowledge, skills, judgment, and confidence you’ll need as a Bradley® Professional running your own childbirth education and/or doula support business.
PART I: The Candidate Course + Live Teacher Training Workshop
Suggested Timeline: Approximately 3 Months
Part I includes two important components: the Candidate Course and the live Teacher Training Workshop. You may complete them in either order.
Together, they provide a strong foundation in pregnancy, childbirth, coaching, labor support, childbirth education, and teaching adults. Throughout your training, you’ll also have the guidance of an experienced Mentor Teacher who can answer questions, encourage you, and help you apply what you’re learning.
Academic Requirements
You’ll 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, and attend and report on a Bradley Method® class. You’ll submit your assignments through our easy-to-use training portal.
Online Coursework
Our online coursework brings the material to life through instructional videos, informative readings, quizzes, and thought-provoking questions. You’ll explore a wide range of topics while building the knowledge and confidence you’ll need to educate and support expectant families.
Learn from the Pioneers—and Stay Current
One of the distinctive parts of your training is the opportunity to learn from 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.
At the same time, your training includes updated lessons, contemporary research, and carefully selected resources. You’ll learn the history and principles behind The Bradley Method® while developing the current knowledge you’ll need to educate and support families today.
Live Teacher Training Workshop
Your live, interactive Teacher Training Workshop is a one-day online event where you’ll learn directly from experienced Bradley® Professionals and connect with other Candidates moving through the program alongside you.
You’ll explore the curriculum in greater depth, ask questions, build essential teaching skills, learn techniques for working with adult learners, practice principles of effective public speaking, and continue developing confidence as you prepare to teach your own Bradley Method® classes.
Workshops are offered throughout the year, giving you flexibility in choosing a date that works with your training schedule.
Your Personal Program Plan
After you enroll, you’ll receive a Personal Program Plan outlining your individual requirements and helping you see the path ahead.
Candidates who do not meet one or more of the program’s usual entrance qualifications may be assigned additional preparatory work to help provide the experience and foundation they need to succeed.
By the end of Part I, you’ll have built a strong educational foundation and be ready to begin putting what you’ve learned into practice.
PART II: Provisional Affiliation—Teaching Your First Classes
Suggested Timeline: Approximately 4 Months
This is where your training becomes real. During Provisional Affiliation, you’ll prepare for and teach your first Bradley Method® class series while continuing to receive guidance and support from your Mentor Teacher.
You may begin charging for your classes during this part of the program, allowing you to start building your childbirth education business while you continue developing your skills as a Bradley® Professional.
Everything You Need to Teach
We’ll provide the tools and resources you need to get started, 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.
Mentorship & Weekly Evaluations
You won’t be figuring it out on your own. Your Mentor Teacher continues to guide you as you move from learning the material to actually teaching it.
Throughout your first class series, you’ll submit weekly evaluations so we can follow your progress, see how your classes are going, answer questions, and provide guidance when needed.
These evaluations also give you an opportunity to reflect on each class, recognize what worked well, identify areas you’d like to strengthen, and continue developing your skills and confidence as a Bradley® Professional.
Moving Forward
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. A second series can give you additional experience and confidence before completing the program.
When you’re 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 brings together everything you have learned through your academic work, online coursework, Teacher Training Workshop, and practical teaching experience.
Before completing the Teacher Training Program, you are required to successfully complete a comprehensive online Final Exam. The exam is designed to assess your knowledge, judgment, understanding and application of Bradley Method® principles, and readiness to educate and support expectant families as both a childbirth educator and doula.
A Comprehensive Assessment
The Final Exam consists of eight essay sections covering different areas of the Bradley Method® curriculum, including childbirth education, labor support, and doula knowledge and skills.
Successful completion of the Final Exam is required before completing the program and becoming fully affiliated as a Certified Bradley® Childbirth Educator and Professional Bradley® Doula.
Most Candidates spend approximately 10–12 hours completing the exam, and you’ll have one month to submit it after you begin.
You may work through the exam one section at a time throughout the month or set aside a day or two to complete it more quickly.
You’ll continue submitting weekly evaluations for any classes you teach until you have passed the Final Exam.
Evaluation, Feedback & Support
Your exam is evaluated by a team of graders, including your Mentor Teacher. Grading may take up to four weeks, and you’ll receive detailed feedback highlighting your strengths and identifying anything you may have omitted or misunderstood.
If additional work is needed, your Mentor Teacher will provide guidance and additional resources. You’ll then have the opportunity to revise that portion of the exam and demonstrate your understanding.
The purpose isn’t simply to evaluate what you know. We want to make sure you understand the material and are prepared to apply it well when educating and supporting families.
Becoming a Fully Affiliated Bradley® Professional
After successfully completing the Final Exam and all remaining program requirements, you’ll be ready for Full Affiliation as a Bradley® Professional—a Certified Bradley® Childbirth Educator and Professional Bradley® Doula.
You’ll leave the training with more than a certificate. You’ll have studied the material, learned from experienced professionals, taught real families with mentorship and feedback, and demonstrated your understanding through a comprehensive assessment that includes both childbirth education and doula support.
And you won’t be on your own after graduation. As an affiliated Bradley® Professional, you’ll continue to be part of the Bradley® community, with professional resources and support available as you continue teaching and supporting families.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the qualifications for the Teacher Training Program?
Our ideal Candidates have taken a full series of Bradley Method® classes during pregnancy and experienced a Bradley® birth. We prefer applicants who have had a natural childbirth, completed the Bradley Method® Student Workbook, read Husband-Coached Childbirth, and attended at least one breastfeeding support group meeting.
We also welcome applicants who have not had this level of personal experience. If your application is accepted, additional requirements may be assigned to help provide the background and preparation you’ll need to succeed in the training program.
If you’re excited about becoming a Bradley® Professional but aren’t sure whether your background meets the qualifications, we encourage you to apply. We’ll review your experience and let you know what, if any, additional preparation will be needed.
How long does the Teacher Training Program take?
Most Candidates complete the Bradley Method® Teacher Training Program in approximately 9–12 months when devoting about 10 hours per week to their training.
Some Candidates move more quickly, while others need additional time because of work, family responsibilities, teaching opportunities, or unexpected life circumstances. Your enrollment includes up to 24 months of training access, giving you plenty of time to complete the program while fitting your training into the rest of your life.
And you don’t have to wait until you complete the program to begin putting your training to work. You may be ready to begin teaching and earning as a Provisional Affiliate in as little as three months.
Can I really do this while raising children or working another job?
Yes. The program was designed with busy adults in mind. Many Candidates complete their training while raising children, working professionally, or managing other responsibilities.
Much of your training can be completed on your own schedule, and you have up to 24 months of training access. Your Personal Program Plan and Mentor Teacher will help you keep moving forward, even when life gets busy.
Once you’re affiliated, you also decide how much you want to work. Bradley® education and doula support can become your primary business, an exciting and fulfilling side business, or something you do on a smaller scale during a busy season of life.
Will I have someone to help me during training?
Absolutely. You’ll be paired with an experienced Mentor Teacher who will guide and support you throughout the program.
Your Mentor Teacher will help you understand and apply the material, answer questions, encourage you as you begin teaching, and help you continue developing your knowledge and skills. Your Mentor Teacher also participates in the evaluation of your Final Exam and provides additional guidance if follow-up work is needed.
Mentorship is an important part of Bradley® training. You won’t simply complete coursework and then be expected to figure everything out on your own. You’ll have an experienced Bradley® Professional supporting you as you learn, begin teaching, and work toward Full Affiliation.
Can I complete the Candidate Course and Teacher Training Workshop in either order?
Yes. The Candidate Course and live Teacher Training Workshop are both required components of Part I, but you may complete them in either order.
This gives you greater flexibility in planning your training around available Workshop dates and your own schedule. You do not have to finish the Candidate Course before attending your Teacher Training Workshop.
What if I can’t attend the next Teacher Training Workshop?
Teacher Training Workshops are offered regularly throughout the year. If the next Workshop doesn’t work with your schedule, you can continue making progress on your Candidate Course and attend a later Workshop.
When can I begin teaching and earning?
Once you have completed Part I, you’ll become a Provisional Affiliate. At that point, you can begin planning and offering your first series of Bradley Method® classes. You can charge a fee to your students and begin to recoup your training expenses. Many Candidates reach this point within about three months of beginning the program.
This is one of the exciting parts of Bradley® training: you begin gaining practical experience while you are still receiving mentorship and support. You can start building your childbirth education business, working with real families, and developing your confidence as a Bradley® Professional while you continue toward Full Affiliation.
What happens during Provisional Affiliation?
During Provisional Affiliation, you’ll prepare for and teach your first Bradley Method® class series—and you’ll have plenty of support along the way.
We provide 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.
Throughout your first class series, you’ll submit weekly evaluations so we can follow your progress, see how your classes are going, answer questions, and provide guidance when needed.
The evaluations also give you an opportunity to reflect on each class, recognize what worked well, identify areas you’d like to strengthen, and continue developing your skills and confidence as a Bradley® Professional.
How will I find students?
Once you become a Provisional Affiliate, families will be able to find you through the Directory of Bradley® Professionals at BradleyMethod.com.
We’ll also provide practical ideas and resources to help you promote your classes and doula services. Building a business takes time, consistency, and personal effort, and you’ll learn ways to introduce your services to families and other birth professionals, promote upcoming classes, and respond effectively to inquiries.
We can’t guarantee students, clients, or income, but you won’t have to start from scratch without guidance. We’ll provide resources, ideas, and support as you begin building your business.
Do I have to take the Final Exam immediately after teaching my first class series?
No. After completing your first class series, you may move into Part III and prepare for the Final Exam, or you may choose to teach a second class series with continued support before taking the exam.
Some Candidates are ready to move forward right away. Others appreciate having another class series to gain additional experience and confidence. You can choose the path that works best for you.
When you’re ready to move forward, we’ll complete a graduation check to confirm that you have met the requirements to begin Part III.
The Final Exam — What to Expect
The Final Exam is the final step in bringing together everything you’ve learned and practiced throughout your training. Before completing the program, you are required to successfully complete this comprehensive online assessment, made up of eight essay sections covering different areas of the Bradley Method® curriculum, including childbirth education, labor support, and doula knowledge and skills.
You’ll respond in full, narrative-style answers—think of it as teaching the material in your own voice rather than giving short or bullet-point responses. You’re welcome to use the resources you normally use when teaching, including your outlines, Student Workbook, and class materials, but your answers must be your own work and written in your own words. AI tools are not permitted.
The exam gives you an opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of the material, your ability to apply what you’ve learned, and your ability to communicate clearly and effectively as a Bradley® Professional.
Successful completion of the Final Exam is required before you complete the program and become fully affiliated as a Certified Bradley® Childbirth Educator and Professional Bradley® Doula.
Once you receive access to the exam, you’ll have one month to complete it. Most Candidates spend approximately 10–12 hours total. You can work through it in several focused sessions over a couple of weeks or set aside a day or two to complete it more quickly—whichever approach works best for you.
Your exam is evaluated by a team of graders, including your Mentor Teacher, and grading may take up to four weeks. You’ll receive a detailed assessment highlighting your strengths and identifying anything you may have omitted or misunderstood.
If an area needs additional work, your Mentor Teacher will provide guidance and additional resources. You’ll then have the opportunity to revise that portion of the exam and demonstrate your understanding. This process helps ensure that you understand the material and are prepared to apply it well when educating and supporting families.
If you are teaching classes while completing the exam or waiting for your final assessment, you’ll continue submitting weekly evaluations until you have successfully passed the Final Exam.
What happens after I complete the program?
Successfully completing your Final Exam and all remaining program requirements brings you to an exciting milestone: Full Affiliation as a Bradley® Professional.
You’ll be a Certified Bradley® Childbirth Educator and Professional Bradley® Doula, prepared to continue building your own independent childbirth education and doula support business.
And completing your training doesn’t mean losing your connection to Bradley®. You’ll become part of a community of Bradley® Professionals, with professional resources and ongoing support available as you continue educating and supporting families.
What if I only want to teach classes or offer doula services, but not both?
That’s absolutely fine. You’ll be trained in both, but you decide which services you want to offer.
One of the distinctive advantages of the program is that your training prepares you for two complementary professional roles: Certified Bradley® Childbirth Educator and Professional Bradley® Doula. You may choose to focus on childbirth education, doula support, or offer both as part of your business.
Can I teach both in-person and online classes?
Yes. Bradley Method® classes are always taught live, with real-time interaction between the Bradley® Professional and students. Classes may be offered in person or live online, following current Bradley Method® class standards and affiliation requirements.
Both formats allow you to teach, answer questions, interact with students, and provide the personal guidance and support that are important parts of Bradley® education. Bradley Method® classes are not offered as prerecorded or self-paced courses.
Your training will help prepare you to organize and teach effective, engaging classes in either live format and support families throughout their preparation for birth.
Will I be an employee of the Bradley Method® Childbirth Academy?
No. Bradley® Professionals operate as independent professionals rather than employees of the Academy.
That gives you considerable flexibility in deciding how this work fits into your life. You can determine your schedule, the number of classes or clients you accept, and whether your Bradley® work becomes your primary business or complements another career or your responsibilities at home, while following current Bradley® affiliation standards.
What is the cost of the program?
The Teacher Training Program is $1,995. You may make a one-time payment or choose from available payment options at checkout.
And because you can begin charging for your classes once you reach Provisional Affiliation, you may begin recouping your training investment while you are still completing the program.
Are there additional training expenses?
There are no hidden program fees. In addition to the training fee, you’ll be responsible for required reading materials and any supplies you choose for organizing or teaching your classes. You may purchase the required books or borrow them from a library or another source.
Once you begin teaching, you’ll also purchase the required Student License for each student couple and doula client.
Are there ongoing requirements after I complete my training?
Yes. Becoming a Bradley® Professional is an ongoing professional commitment. To maintain your Affiliation, you’ll renew annually, complete required continuing education, and review and sign the current Bradley Method® Statement of Policy.
Continuing education helps Bradley® Professionals keep learning, stay current, and continue developing their knowledge and skills as childbirth educators and doulas.
Annual renewal also includes Affiliation dues. The current annual dues are $350 when paid on time. If you become affiliated between annual renewal dates, your initial dues are prorated for the remainder of that renewal period.
Bradley® Professionals are also required to purchase a Student License for every student couple and doula client. The current Student License is $25 and provides families with access to the Bradley Method® Student Center, including the Online Student Workbook, childbirth education videos, and additional resources for preparing for labor and birth.
Maintaining your Affiliation keeps you connected to the Bradley® professional community and allows you to continue offering approved services as a Bradley® Professional.
What professional standards do Bradley® Professionals follow?
Bradley® Professionals are expected to follow the standards and responsibilities established in the Bradley Method® Statement of Policy. Affiliates review and sign the current Statement of Policy as part of maintaining their annual Affiliation.
The Statement of Policy is publicly available through the Bradley Method® website so prospective students, clients, and other professionals can understand the standards expected of affiliated Bradley® Professionals.
What if someone has a concern about a Bradley® Professional?
We take concerns about the professional conduct of Bradley® Professionals seriously. Our website provides a way for students, clients, and others to report concerns about an affiliated Bradley® Professional.
Concerns may be reported to compliance@BradleyMethod.com.
Can my spouse participate in the training with me?
We welcome spouses who want to participate and learn alongside the Candidate. There is no additional charge for a spouse to participate with you in designated portions of the training.
If a spouse wants to receive an individual certificate or teach independently, they will need to apply separately, complete the program requirements, and pay the applicable training fee.
What does it mean to be a Professional Bradley® Doula?
Your Bradley® training includes preparation in labor support and doula skills and qualifies you to offer services as a Professional Bradley® Doula while maintaining your Bradley® Affiliation.
Your understanding of labor support and doula knowledge and skills is also assessed as part of the required comprehensive Final Exam that must be successfully completed before Full Affiliation.
Professional Bradley® Doula is a Bradley® professional designation; it is not a state-issued license or state certification. Requirements for doula practice, state programs, registries, protected titles, insurance reimbursement, or Medicaid participation vary by jurisdiction and may require additional training, examination, certification, registration, or other steps.
Bradley® Professionals are responsible for learning and meeting any additional requirements that apply where they intend to practice.
Are there special requirements while I’m a Provisional Affiliate?
Yes. While you are a Provisional Affiliate, you’ll identify yourself as such to prospective students, follow the Bradley Method® Statement of Policy, and use approved Bradley® materials for your classes and advertising.
You’ll also continue submitting weekly evaluations for the classes you teach until you have successfully passed your Final Exam.
These requirements allow you to begin gaining experience and earning while still benefiting from the guidance and oversight built into the training program.
What makes Bradley® training different from a short childbirth educator or doula workshop?
Bradley® training is much more than a single workshop. It is a professional development process that gives you time to learn, practice, teach, receive feedback, and demonstrate what you know.
You’ll complete academic study and engaging online coursework, participate in a live Teacher Training Workshop, and work with an experienced Mentor Teacher throughout your training. Then you’ll put your knowledge into practice by teaching a complete Bradley Method® class series during Provisional Affiliation, submitting weekly evaluations, and receiving continued guidance as you gain experience.
Finally, you’ll successfully complete a comprehensive Final Exam—including assessment of childbirth education, labor support, and doula knowledge and skills—before receiving Full Affiliation.
By the time you complete the program, you won’t have simply finished a course. You’ll have studied the material, learned from experienced professionals, worked with real families, received mentorship and feedback, and demonstrated your ability to understand, apply, and communicate what you’ve learned.
That’s the preparation behind becoming a Bradley® Professional.
What Bradley® Professionals
Say About the Training
“This training is wonderful. It’s clear that you have fine-tuned it over the years and are still growing, learning, and sharing.”
— Georgia
“I want to thank you for making my life richer. I had a wonderful birth due in large part to my Bradley classes… 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
“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
Ready to Begin?
Becoming a Bradley® Professional can be the beginning of an entirely new career—or a meaningful, flexible business that fits alongside the life and career you already have.
You can start small and grow over time. You can teach while raising your family. You can add childbirth education or doula support to work you already do. Or you can build a business centered around helping expectant families prepare for one of the most important experiences of their lives.
You don’t have to put the rest of your life on hold to get started.
If this is something you would love to do—something you could find meaningful, fulfilling, and rewarding—we’d love to help you become a Bradley® Professional.