Alternate Credits
Alternate credit is an experience, or a combination of experiences, that help you grow your skills as a childbirth educator, but isn’t necessarily an educational course. You can earn alternate credit from a single category of activities or a combination of multiple categories.
Note that a maximum of 10 of the 25 contact hours submitted can be in the alternate category. In some cases, more than 10 hours may be reviewed and approved on a case-by-case basis.
Examples of Alternate Credit (Click here to view)
Continuous Presence During Labor and Birth
Earn one hour of alternate credit for each hour of a labor and birth that you are continuously present during. A completed birth observation form must be kept in your records and presented upon request.
Class Observation
Earn one hour of alternate credit by observing another childbirth educator in a class setting.
Education or Certification Committee Service
Earn alternate credit by serving on a Lamaze council or committee (e.g. Education Council). The Lamaze Administrative office will verify service hours.
Publication
Earn up to 10 hours of alternate credit for the first-time publication of a book, book chapter or an article directly related to childbirth education.
Earn up to five hours for considerably editing or rewriting a publication.
Item Writing
Earn alternate credit by writing and submitting questions for the Certification Exam. One hour of alternate credit is awarded for every question that is approved. Be sure to review the Item Writing Instructions, and submit your questions with the Item Writing Submission form.
Lecture/Presentation
Earn one hour of alternate credit for each hour of a lecture or presentation that you give at the undergraduate or graduate level. You can also give a presentation at a conference or within a university. All lectures or presentations must be childbirth education-related, and alternate credit will only be awarded for first-time presentations. An outline of the lecture or presentation must be submitted with the alternate credit form.
Following the Competencies
Credits submitted must be related to the Lamaze Competencies.
Acceptable Continuing Education Topics
- Pregnancy, Labor and the Postpartum Period
- Increasing Women’s Confidence in Labor
- Promoting Healthy Birth for Optimal Outcomes
- Promoting, Supporting and Protecting Breastfeeding
- Teaching Adult Learners
Unacceptable Continuing Education Topics
- Neonatal Resuscitation
- Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring
- Menopause
- Breast Cancer
- Health issues NOT directly applicable to pregnancy, labor or the postpartum period
Providing Documentation
You don’t need to provide supporting documentation unless you’re audited. Lamaze randomly audits 10 percent of recertification applications submitted. If you’re audited, you’ll be asked to submit supporting documentation for each continuing education program listed on your application. We recommend that you save both a digital and hard copy of your documents for your own records and in the event that you are selected for a random audit. In the event that there is not sufficient evidence to support the completion of the required continuing education the application will be denied and the credential revoked.
Recertification by Exam
In addition to recertifying with continuing education contact hours, you have the option of renewing your certification by retaking and successfully passing the Lamaze Certification Exam (offered annually every spring and fall). The fee for recertification by exam is $255.