Policies

Code of Conduct

  • CAPPA certified professionals are at all times held to the code of conduct, the scope of practice, and the grievance policy. In order for candidates to be eligible for CAPPA certification, they must sign and agree to the CAPPA code of conduct, the scope of practice, and grievance policy.
  • CAPPA certified professionals should treat all colleagues in an ethical, professional, and respectful manner at all times. CAPPA certified professionals should strive to promote ethical conduct within the profession.
  • CAPPA certified professionals should demonstrate integrity and ethical standards in their personal and professional conduct. This extends not only to clients but to colleagues in their field and to medical and other caregivers with whom the CAPPA professional may interact.
  • CAPPA certified professionals will make every effort to honor agreements and contracts for professional services, and to provide without fail the services that they agree to provide. CAPPA certified labor and postpartum doulas are strongly urged to use signed contracts for all services agreed upon and provided.
  • CAPPA certified professionals will not divulge confidential information received in a professional capacity from their clients, nor compromise clients' confidentiality either directly or through the use of internet media such as Facebook or blogs.
  • CAPPA certified professionals will not say or do anything to undermine a client's confidence in her caregiver. They may, however, refer the client to published studies and books, as well as provide information as requested by clients. The client can then form her own opinion.
  • CAPPA certified professionals are not permitted to give medical advice, nor practice outside their specific scope of practice. If requested they can refer clients to the published article, research, and scholarly works.
  • CAPPA certified professionals should make every effort to encourage their clients to assume personal responsibility for the decisions they make during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
  • CAPPA certified professionals must be available via communication/mobile device at all times when they are contracted to be so. CAPPA certified professionals are expected to provide timely response to all communications from clients, whether phone or email and to provide clients with means to reach them in a timely manner.
  • CAPPA certified professionals should pursue continuing education to further their knowledge in the childbirth and postpartum professions.

Social Media Policy

We live in a technology-rich, internet-driven world. This provides CAPPA members the opportunity for networking with birth professionals of varying levels of experience. It is important to remember that our conduct on the internet (social networking sites, blogs, chat rooms, email groups, etc.) can have far-reaching repercussions. CAPPA members should keep the CAPPA Code of Conduct in mind when interacting with others, not just in real life, but also in the virtual forum.

CAPPA members are required to conduct themselves in a professional manner in all online communications that are accessible by other professionals and the public. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:

  • Client confidentiality should be maintained at all times.
  • Any pictures of clients should be posted ONLY with the express, written consent of the client.
  • Respect for colleagues, institutions, and other professionals (whether general categories or specific persons) should be maintained at all times.
  • Credit is to be given when featuring or sharing content from others, including a tagging the originator, and whenever possible, a link to the evidence behind the content and the author of the original content.

Grievance Policy

The grievance policy was created to ensure that CAPPA professionals demonstrate professional behavior and ethics according to our code of conduct, standards of practice, and grievance policy at all times. It also is designed to protect our professional members, the families they serve, and the integrity of our professions. This grievance policy and the system is essential to our organization.

All grievances against CAPPA certified professionals must be submitted in writing to CAPPA with a detailed account of the event(s) or behavior(s) in question, the name of the certified professional, the location and date(s) of the behavior(s) in question, written and notarized statements from any witnesses, and any other pertinent evidence. CAPPA reserves the right to request additional information/documentation to complete the grievance filed prior to notifying the certified professional. All requested information must be submitted within 30 days. Incomplete grievances or grievances that fall outside the parameters of the grievance policy may be dismissed. The grievance must be filed within one year of the occurrence. Grievances are to be typed and signed by all parties filing the grievance and must be notarized. CAPPA expects the person(s) filing the grievance to refrain from having any further contact with the professional named in the grievance, except when required by law.

When the grievance committee receives a complete grievance against a CAPPA certified professional, the professional will be notified in writing within 30 days. The notification to the professional will include a copy of the grievance filed. The professional then has 30 days to answer the grievance with their own account of the event(s) or behavior(s) in question. Written and notarized statements from witnesses and other pertinent evidence must all be included in the response from the CAPPA professional. CAPPA reserves the right to request more information to complete the response prior to rendering a decision. The professional must submit all requested information within 30 days. The professionals involved with a grievance must not in any way contact the party filing the grievance, except when required by law. The committee will then take all evidence and accounts from both parties involved and make every effort to render a fair and impartial judgment to the best of their ability. CAPPA reserves the right to delay the decision until the legal action has concluded and to consider the outcome in the grievance proceedings.

The judgment of the committee is final. The committee has the right to decide any and all consequences of the grievance. Possible results of the grievance process may include but is not limited to the removal of credentials and certification, warnings, remedial education of the professional, or dismissal of the grievance. The outcomes of the grievance process are not public, and CAPPA reserves the right to keep the outcome of the grievance process confidential between CAPPA and the professional only. All CAPPA certified professionals must agree to this system of accountability prior to entering into the certification process and agree to abide by the decisions of the grievance committee, with no right to sue for damages.

Training Classes

In order to receive a certificate of completion for your training, you must attend and participate in the entire training. No partial credit will be given.

CAPPA certification candidates must be at least 18 years of age. No person under 18 years of age may attend CAPPA training workshops.

Requirements

Please be advised that all sales are final and policies may be changed or adjusted during the course of your certification process. By enrolling in CAPPA Academy or the CAPPA Education Center, you agree to abide by these changes and policies.

A $30.00 service fee is required for changing courses.

Each person who is seeking certification through the CAPPA distance program must buy their own training materials. No sharing tests or programs.

Please note: for certification requirements, students cannot use family members for evaluation purposes.

Be advised that all reports, essays, summaries, etc. must be typed when submitted to 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 the mail!

Please allow approximately six weeks for CAPPA to process your certification materials once we receive them. CAPPA receives a high volume of certification requests, and each certification request is given individual attention.

All certification requirements must be submitted together when turning in certification materials to CAPPA.  If incomplete materials are submitted, causing materials to be placed on hold, an Incomplete Materials Submission Fee will be owed. This fee will need to be paid, and missing requirements/documents submitted before CAPPA will proceed with processing the certification materials.

Exam Terms

DO NOT share or discuss the exam contents or your answers with anyone.

You MAY NOT discuss or share the exam content with anyone else.

All essays must be in your own words. Do not copy/paste from websites or other materials.

Sharing the exam contents or plagiarism WILL disqualify you from certification.

Certification

CAPPA members will enroll in CAPPA Academy to complete certification. Please be advised that all sales are final.

Students who do not complete the CAPPA certification program by the time specified will not earn certification.

While a majority of students 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 CAPPA with further instructions. This may involve additional fees.

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. While over 95% of students 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 CAPPA Office with further instructions. This may involve additional fees. Please be advised that policies and prices may be changed or adjusted during the course of your certification process.

Postpartum doulas must have proof of current infant and child CPR certification through the American Heart Association or the Red Cross. If you have less than 120 days remaining on your CPR certification, you must renew it prior to being issued a CAPPA certification/recertification.  You must stay current at all times on your CPR certification. It is your responsibility to keep a current CPR card on file with CAPPA. If your CPR certification is expired, your CAPPA certification is invalid.

It is against CAPPA policy for staff to issue a copy of an expired certificate or a certificate to a non-CAPPA member who previously had a certificate. We do not issue non-valid certificate copies. We also do not confirm, comment on, or validate in any way expired certifications. If a member needs a copy of their certificate of certification because they have lost their original we will issue a copy to them for a fee, provided:

  1. They are a current member in good standing (must have at least 120 days remaining on their membership)
  2. The original certificate must still be current and not expired.

All CAPPA certified professionals are required to maintain continuous membership.  Please be aware that expired CAPPA memberships invalidate any and all certifications obtained through CAPPA regardless of the expiration date of the certification.  Invalid certifications from lapsed memberships will be reinstated with the renewal of your CAPPA membership.

Membership

All CAPPA members are required to demonstrate professionalism, integrity, and respect in all communications on the CAPPA Member Center System and also in all communications regarding the CAPPA organization. When registering for CAPPA events, training and activities you are consenting to be video-graphed and/or photographed. CAPPA does not assume liability for adverse reactions to foods consumed or items one may come into contact with while eating at any CAPPA Event, Training or Activity you may attend whether inside or outside of CAPPA planned events and activities. Failure to comply with the Terms of membership may result in a suspension or revocation of membership in CAPPA. Please note CAPPA reserves the right to decline any individual of CAPPA membership at any given time.  CAPPA does not issue refunds for memberships or subscriptions purchased.

 * All fees listed are in USD.

Please be advised that policies may be changed or adjusted during the course of your certification process.

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