New Directions

Take a new direction – train with NCT!

Do you want to help parents find their way through pregnancy, birth and life as a parent? Are you looking for a new vocation to fit in with family life? If you answered yes to the above, then you could help support mums and dads and start a new career with the NCT. 

Studying for a new career with NCT can help you to make the most of your experiences as a parent, as well as help us to continue to support thousands of mums and dads every year. At the end of  your training you will gain not only an NCT Licence to Practice as a specialist  worker in your chosen field, but also a Diploma of Higher Education awarded by the University of Bedfordshire. We have a range of opportunities for people who want to make a difference. You can train with us to become a: 

• Antenatal teacher
• Breastfeeding counsellor or
• Postnatal leader

The fees for training for breastfeeding counsellors are usually fully subsidised by the NCT through fundraising and grants and mums must have breastfed for six months themselves. Training for antenatal and postnatal students is open to mums, or dads, and is subsidised, through funding, usually by up to 75 per cent. Students are normally expected to cover their own expenses.  Studying takes two to three years, part time via a local tutor, and students graduate with a diploma from the University of Bedfordshire. Currently, the charity has over 900 students in training.

The NCT is well-known for providing specialist workers to run antenatal and postnatal classes, and breastfeeding support. Since the NCT’s inception in 1956, the charity has trained thousands of specialist workers to support and prepare parents for pregnancy, labour and life with a baby. 

Read Helen, Jenny and Sabrina's (available for media interviews) stories below.

To request your info pack today to find out more about studying to work with NCT and start a new career with parents, please complete the form

Helen’s story

I decided to train as a breastfeeding counsellor because I was so surprised and disappointed when I had my first baby at just how difficult breastfeeding was. If it hadn’t been for the support of my local counsellor and the rest of the girls who I attended my NCT antenatal course with, I would not have continued beyond the first couple of days. 

When my local NCT branch asked me if I was interested in training, I didn’t hesitate to take up the opportunity. Since completing my training and actually practicing as a breastfeeding counsellor, I have seen first hand how gentle education and support can make the world of difference to women. Just a little bit of practical and emotional support really can be the difference between stopping when they really don’t want to or continuing and enjoying all the medical and emotional benefits.   

Although I didn’t intend it to be when I started training, this has been a career change for me. I now teach antenatal classes, run support groups, work with Sure Start and on the NCT breastfeeding helpline and can still be there to pick my 3 children up from school. It has turned into the perfect flexible career. 

Helen, breastfeeding counsellor, North Yorkshire   

Jenny’s story

I think the NCT courses are incredibly positive in enabling mothers to study to a diploma level, in a subject which interests and motivates them. It allows me to ‘give back’ and support other new parents, whilst also being available for my own family in their early years.  

It was hard to start with, to know quite what I was doing, but once I made some time to get to grips with what was required, I have enjoyed most of the assignments and found them relevant and useful, both to my future role as a Postnatal Leader, and personally for me as a parent.

Jenny, student postnatal leader, Kent   

Sabrina’s story

Whilst pregnant with my first baby, I had a thirst for information and read every book and website I could find. When I attended my NCT antenatal course, I decided that I would love to continue sharing these conversations and to maintain my enthusiasm for the subject by becoming a teacher myself.  

As an added bonus I found out that the course is University accredited and I could gain an official qualification by training. Having not done any academic work since leaving school at sixteen, I was reassured to find that the tutors are extremely supportive.  

Since qualifying as a teacher I have taught classes continuously and find that it is a juggling act between my office job, family and NCT. I always find it so much fun and so rewarding that it’s worth juggling for.

Sabrina, antenatal teacher, Horsham

Please note: other case studies are available on request.