FitPro Education

Explore how childbirth has evolved since the days of our ancestors. Understand the practices of early peoples to learn strategies for how you can best prepare and support your clients through this most complex and taxing journey.

Learn how applying the evidence-based principles of performance-based program design can help your clients better manage the specific stresses placed on their bodies and emerge even stronger.

Understand the stresses and demands placed on the body during pregnancy so you know how to prepare your clients to manage them. Learn about 8 key changes that have the greatest implications for your work with your clients.

Discover what happens during childbirth, including the key factors that influence success and implications for your prenatal program design. Then, explore the (very physical) demands of new parenthood and why it is so important to begin training for these demands during pregnancy.

With the information you learned in modules 3 and 4 (exploring the demands of pregnancy, childbirth, and parenthood), you will see how this all comes together into a 3-Stage Prenatal Performance Training Framework. This module introduces you to the framework at a high level, then covers Stage 1 (Foundation) in detail.

After building a solid foundation of alignment, deep core activation, and movement mechanics in Stage 1, now learn how to progress your clients through Stages 2 and 3 (Strength and Birth Prep). Discover how to help your clients safely and effectively build strength to mitigate pains and injuries, then prepare for birth and early postpartum recovery.

Now that you have an understanding of the prenatal programming framework, you’ll learn how to assess your pregnant clients so that you know exactly how to progress each individual through it. Learn a 3-step process to comprehensively assess your new client while providing value and setting the stage for a long-lasting relationship. This module provides an overview of the 3-step process, and includes a fillable intake form for you to use with your clients.

One component of the 3-step assessment process is the Movement Assessment, but this warrants its own module. Discover a unique and powerful goal-based assessment strategy that will give you deeper insight into how your clients move in real life so you get more accurate information. We also show you how to adapt this assessment for virtual settings and provide a fillable checklist for both in-person and virtual assessments.

Before we get into the detail of prenatal program design (in Module 10), it’s important to first understand the common pregnancy-induced pains & injuries because the movements you select will play a significant role in either helping your client mitigate these or exacerbating them – and we want to ensure you’re doing the former.

This module begins by discussing the three primary causes of most pregnancy-induced pains & injuries (and therefore the three key management strategies), then goes into detail on 8 of the most common issues: low back pain, diastasis recti, pelvic floor dysfunction, sacroiliac (SI) join dysfunction, sciatica, symphysis pubis dysfunction, round ligament pain, and carpal tunnel. Understand the key causes of each, and how to prevent or manage.

Modules 5 and 6 provided an overview of our Prenatal Programming Framework. Now, learn how to take that framework and design a comprehensive training program for different client types – from the overarching program (macrocycle), to the smaller skill-based stages (mesocycles), and the individual sessions (microcycles). You will also learn movements to avoid or regress by trimester.

By the time you’ve completed Module 10, you will have all the info you need to design effective prenatal training programs for clients of all fitness levels and stages. Modules 11 and 12 will cover some additional information to help you effectively coach and support your pregnant client.

Gain foundational knowledge on pregnancy weight gain, caloric needs by trimester, and nutrition. Learn how to support your clients in a manner that fits within your scope of practice, with some additional resources included to share with your clients.

Our final prenatal module focuses on pregnancy psychological considerations and coaching strategies. While no two pregnancies are the same, there are some general changes by trimester that are somewhat universal. Learn how to support your clients in the best way as they navigate this major life transition, and how to manage the difficult situation of a pregnancy loss.

This is the first postpartum module. Learn about the physical considerations of the body after birth – from the implications of various labor experiences (vaginal and cesarean), to weight loss, and skin and fascia healing. Understand what the “postpartum checkup” is (and what it’s not), and come away with tips to help expedite your client’s recovery.

While a new baby brings many wonderful changes, it also brings challenges – a massive life transition, immense physical changes, a potential loss of self, and more. Learn effective coaching strategies for working with postpartum clients and get tips for managing some of the common challenges you might encounter. This module also includes an overview on Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders (PMADs), including how to spot and manage a client who might be experiencing one.

This module begins the postpartum programming modules. It follows the same 4-step process as prenatal, but it goes much faster because so much of the groundwork has already been laid.

Similar to prenatal, in this module you will learn the 3-Stage Postpartum Programming Framework, then dive into Stage 1 (Foundation) in detail. The primary focus will be on learning the Core Recovery Protocol that you will take all postpartum clients through to help rebuild the core after birth and heal from diastasis recti and/or a cesarean birth.

With a solid foundation of alignment, core strength, and movement mechanics built, learn how to progress your clients through Stages 2 and 3 (Strength and Performance) – from core progressions, to increasing strength, to a step-by-step process to safely introduce impact and other higher intensity work.

The postpartum assessment process is nearly identical to prenatal, but adds in one additional assessment — the Diastasis Recti (DR) Check. Learn how to check for DR in a manner that improves your testing accuracy and gives you a clearer understanding of your clients’ core integrity. Just as with prenatal, we also include a fillable new client intake form for you to use with your postpartum clients.

Finally, just like module 10, learn how to take the postpartum training framework and design a comprehensive program for different client types (macrocycle, mesocycles, and microcyles). You will also learn where to use caution as clients are still healing, and how to spot when a movement is not appropriate for your client.

At the end of the course, there is a 2-hour timed exam that you take at home on your computer or device (no testing center). The exam consists of 80 multiple choice questions. You must receive an 85% (68 questions correct) to pass.

Upon successful completion, you receive your certificate as a Pre/Postnatal Performance Training Specialist and CECs. If you do not pass on the first try, exam re-tests can be purchased for $35 (see additional details in FAQs).

There are no prerequisites for this course. Anyone interested in a highly comprehensive, and updated approach to pre and postnatal education will benefit form the information. You do not need a fitness certification.

To receive your Certificate and CECs, you must pass a final exam at the end of the course.

This a 2-hour timed exam that you take at home on your computer or device (no testing center). There are 80 multiple choice questions. You must receive 85% to pass (68 questions correct). You can use any notes you want, but you must complete the exam within the 2-hour time limit.

If you do not pass, you can purchase an exam re-test for $35. But don’t worry, we give you plenty of tips on how to prepare for the exam so you pass on the first try! And if you do need to retake it, it’s the same test again, so you just need to review the questions you answered incorrectly.

After registering for the course, you will have 1-year access to complete the course. The course is estimated to take about 30 hours, but some people complete it in less time.

All written materials (module PDFs, self-check answer sheets, course downloads, and the electronic textbook of entire course) are available for you to download and keep.

If you are a PPN member, you will have lifetime access to the latest course materials. You still need to complete the course and take your exam within 1 year, but after that, you will always be able to access the latest course materials (and a summary of updates made) in your membership dashboard.

Upon successful completion of the course, you will earn the title (and your certificate) as a Pre/Postnatal Performance Training Specialist. Everyone who passes the exam receives this title (there are no prerequisite requirements other than passing).

There are no renewal requirements. This is a one-time program to receive your certificate. If, however, you’d like to be featured on our website in our Find a Professional Directory, then you must remain enrolled in our PROnatal Professional Network, as we want to ensure that the professionals we endorse are committed to consistently growing their knowledge and expertise.

Yes, typically the process is that you reach out to your certifying agency and ask them for a CEC petition form. You complete the form. If you need any additional information about the course, you can submit this Course Overview to your agency. We are also happy to provide your reviewer course access, or any other materials requested. Please reach out to us at info@pronatalfitness.com for any of this information.

This course is approved for the following CECs already:

• ACE 2.8
• ACSM 28.0
• NASM 1.9
• AFAA 15.0
• CANFITPRO 4.0

The curriculum was developed by PROnatal Fitness Director of Education, Carolyn Appel, and Founder, Brittany Citron. PROnatal Advisory Board members also contributed to the course in their respective areas of expertise – including physical therapy, physiatry, childbirth education, nutrition, and psychology.

Because we update this course so frequently, we do not include a printed textbook. However, each module contains a downloadable PDF with all the detailed text. In addition, at the beginning of the course there is a master PDF of the entire course (with a table of contents that includes hyperlinks to each module). You can download the entire course as one file, then print it and put it in a binder, separated by tabs for each module if you like.

Once you pay for your membership, it is good for an entire year. We cannot offer partial refunds for cancelling part of the way through your membership.

However, if you are worried about being charged again, you can adjust your subscription preferences to not auto renew. When you do this, you will get an email when your subscription expires asking if you want to renew. Your subscription will be put on hold until you choose to renew or cancel. We recommend this strategy vs. cancelling because it gives you the option to renew if you want. If you cancel, your subscription will automatically cancel at the end of the period without the option to renew.

A payment plan is available for U.S. customers. When you go through the purchase process, you will see an option to do a payment plan (provided by Affirm) just below the credit card options.

When you click on the payment plan option, it will take you to Affirm’s website where you will be asked to create an account and provide some information for Affirm to check your credit score. Note, this process is considered a soft credit check. It does NOT impact your credit score.

After inputting your information, Affirm will provide you three different payment plan options (3, 6, or 12 months) based on your credit. For each payment option, you will see the monthly payments, as well as your total payment with interest broken out, so you will have complete transparency. Just choose the option you’d like, purchase, and you’re done. The entire process takes less than 5 minutes.

If you have any issues, please contact us at info@pronatalfitness.com. 

We are happy to answer any questions you have!  Email us at Info@pronatalfitness.com or give us a call at 516-778-9468.