Quality assurance for NCT courses

NCT Antenatal Teachers, NCT Postnatal Leaders and NCT Breastfeeding Counsellors undertake a full training programme to gain a DipHE in Antenatal Education, DipHE in Postnatal Group Facilitation and DipHE in Breastfeeding Counselling respectively. These programmes are unique in the world and have been validated by University of Bedfordshire because of their rigour and innovative approach to training.

Once qualified, NCT Antenatal Teachers, NCT Postnatal Leaders and NCT Breastfeeding Counsellors gain an NCT Licence to Practise. The NCT assures quality with ongoing training and supervision.

Practitioners are required to attend study days and to keep their knowledge on research up to date, and are expected to have an in-depth knowledge of current developments in the field. The NCT supports this by providing a journal on evidence-based practice for its students and qualified teachers, counsellors and postnatal leaders (see New Digest).

The NCT maintains standards by regular reviews on each practitioner after the first year of practice, and thereafter every three years. The Licence to Practise is renewed annually only if the requisite conditions are met.

To make sure that the services are being provided by a qualified NCT practitioner, simply call NCT Parents Services on 0870 770 3236 or email enquiries@nct.org.uk and ask to see their Licence to Practise. (Please note, that Midwives and Health Visitors are qualified to provide parent craft classes and their registration can be checked at www.nmc-uk.org.)