Get Certified as a Pregnancy Fitness Educator
Overview
In order for candidates to be eligible for CAPPA certification they must sign and agree to the following forms - Code of Conduct and Social Media Policy, Grievance Policy, Mission Statement, CAPPA Approach / Philosophy Statement, Vision Statement, and Scope of Practice. We reserve the right to withhold certification to those candidates that do not meet the requirements set forth. We also reserve the right to withhold certification based on all contact with candidates for certification, including, but not limited to phone calls, e-mails, and certification materials. An understanding of CAPPA standards of professionalism, our scope of practice, and code of conduct must be demonstrated by candidates at all times and in all communications. Failure to demonstrate an understanding of the aforementioned may result in CAPPA withholding certification. This is rare. CAPPA reserves the right to change prices and requirements at any time.
While 92% of candidates do obtain certification, CAPPA cannot guarantee certification will be obtained by entering our program. In the event a candidate fails to pass certification requirements, the candidate will be contacted by the director of the program with further instructions.
Please allow approximately six weeks for CAPPA to grade and process your certification materials* once we receive them. CAPPA receives a high volume of certification requests, and each certification request is given individual attention. Upon successful completion of any of the CAPPA certification programs, you will receive a CAPPA certificate. CAPPA certified pregnancy fitness educators may use the letters "CPFE" after their names.
You must be at least 18 years old to certify with CAPPA.
* When submitting your certification materials, please do not send originals. Please do not send your certification materials to CAPPA in a way that requires us to sign for them. CAPPA staff retrieves the CAPPA mail after Post Office hours. We cannot sign for mail!
*Our website reflects the most recent updates to our programs. While you should use the certification checklist included in your packet to ensure that you've completed all the steps, you are certainly welcome to request an updated checklist from your program director if you wish to complete the more up-to-date certification steps. Please remember that your certification packet expires two years from date of purchase (and your training also expires two years from the date you trained). If you do not complete your certification requirements within your deadline, you will be required to complete the most up to date program steps for certification.
The Purpose of the CAPPA Pregnancy Fitness Educator
The Pregnancy Fitness Educator provides training sessions for pregnant women on various safe exercises to be performed during pregnancy. Included is information on relaxation, comfort measures, breathing techniques, and encouraging the students to communicate with their caregivers. Medical advice is not given, but referrals to appropriate studies and published books are within the pregnancy fitness educator's scope of practice. The pregnancy fitness educator will work with pregnancies which do not fall into the high risk category. They will not work with women who develop complications during their pregnancy. Pregnancy fitness educators will also be trained in appropriate exercises for the postpartum period.
Distance Certification
7 CEUs are awarded upon completion of the distance program.- You must be at least 18 years old.
- Be a member of CAPPA. All CAPPA certified professionals are required to maintain continuous membership. A lapse in your CAPPA membership will result in a $50.00 reinstatement fee and all overdue membership dues must be paid. CAPPA certified professionals who let their membership lapse more than 120 days must pay a $100.00 reinstatement fee plus all past due membership dues. In order for CAPPA to issue a certificate of certification or recertification you must have a minimum of 120 days remaining on your current CAPPA membership. If you have less than 120 days remaining on your membership you will need to renew prior to your certificate being issued.
- Enter certification program by purchasing the distance pregnancy fitness educator program which includes the manual, certification packet, and a DVD. This is located in our shop.
- Read the Pregnancy Fitness Educator manual and five books from the CAPPA required reading list.
- View the exercise video provided with your packet and practice all the postures.
- Complete the study guide.
- Attend a childbirth education series as an observer. The class must be taught by a certified childbirth educator and must be at least 10 hours in total length (proof required). A detailed outline of topics, group dynamics, course structure and adult learning principles is required. If no class is available, ask CAPPA about video option.
- Attend a local breastfeeding class (proof required). If no class is available, contact CAPPA for substitute.
- Attend a local nutrition counseling session (proof required). If this is not available, contact CAPPA for substitute.
- Conduct ten Pregnancy Fitness Classes, private or group, at least one hour in length. Submit ten good evaluations (Form F). These evaluations must be from ten different clients, and from ten separate sessions.
- Write two essays on topics assigned by the Director of the Pregnancy Fitness Educator Program.
- Submit two letters of recommendation from a certified doula, certified childbirth educator, nurse-midwife, doctor, or lactation consultant (IBCLC).
- Submit class outline and curriculum, including all handouts.
- Pass the test on pregnancy fitness topics included in your packet. The test is an open book test and the answer sheet must be submitted with your final certification. An 85% passing grade is required.
