Setting the standard for professional care education.
ICPCAS independently accredits the programs that train doulas, newborn care specialists, lactation educators, menopause coaches, end-of-life doulas, and other non-clinical care professionals — so families, employers, and students know a credential means something.
An independent accreditor for the care professions.
ICPCAS is a nonprofit commission that evaluates professional care education programs against published standards — and makes every decision public.
Independent
Governed by commissioners with no financial interest in the programs under review. Public members take part in every accreditation decision.
Peer-reviewed
Every program is evaluated by trained site visitors drawn from the profession, following a written self-study and an on-site or virtual review.
International
Standards written for multilingual, multi-country delivery. Programs may be reviewed in English, Chinese, or Spanish.
What we accredit
Non-clinical professional care education across the lifespan — from before birth and early childhood through midlife and the end of life.
Before birthFertility & Preconception Support
Non-clinical support along the fertility journey
PregnancyChildbirth Educator
Prenatal and labor preparation classes
Birth & postpartumDoula
Continuous support through labor, birth, and the fourth trimester
NewbornNewborn Care Specialist
Infant care education for new families
PostpartumLactation Educator
Non-clinical breastfeeding support
Infancy & childhoodInfant & Pediatric Sleep Consultant
Healthy sleep habits from newborn through early childhood
PerinatalPerinatal Mental Health
Non-clinical peer and support roles
PerinatalPrenatal & Postpartum Fitness
Movement and recovery education
MidlifeMenopause Coaching
Midlife health and lifestyle coaching
MidlifeFamily Caregiver Coach
Support for those caring for aging or ill family
Later lifeSenior Care Companion
Non-medical companionship and daily-living support
End of lifeEnd-of-Life Doula
End-of-life and bereavement support
Photos via Unsplash: Age Cymru, Dave Clubb, Dominik Lange, Eduardo Barrios, Fanny Renaud, Jem Sahagun, Kelly Sikkema, Nathan Dumlao, Paul Hanaoka, Vitaly Gariev, freestocks.
How accreditation works
A structured, transparent review. Most programs complete initial accreditation in 9–14 months.
Eligibility review
Confirm your program meets baseline requirements.
Self-study
Document how your program meets each standard.
Site visit
Trained reviewers verify the self-study on site or virtually.
Commission decision
Accredit, defer, or deny — with written findings.
Ongoing compliance
Annual reports and a full review every five years.
Accreditation shows the difference between a rigorous program and a weekend PDF.
For programs
For students & families
Verify a program before you enroll or hire.
Every accreditation action is dated and published. If a program isn't listed in our directory, it isn't accredited by ICPCAS.
Every listing shows
Seven domains. One public standard.
Our standards are published in full and revised through open comment. Every program is evaluated against all seven domains.
