What Does It Really Cost to Set Up as an Antenatal Teacher in the UK?
One of our educators Atosa with a group of expectant parents
It's one of the most common questions we get asked, and for good reason. Before you invest in antenatal teacher training, you need to know what you're getting into financially. Let me break down the real costs of becoming an antenatal educator in the UK.
The Initial Investment: Antenatal Teacher Training
The biggest upfront cost is your antenatal teacher course. Quality antenatal educator training in the UK typically ranges from £1,200 to £2000, depending on the depth of the program and what's included.
When you're looking at antenatal teacher training courses, here's what you should expect in that price:
Comprehensive training on pregnancy, birth, and the early postnatal period
FEDANT accreditation (this is important for insurance and credibility)
Live teaching sessions with expert educators
Self-paced learning modules
Ongoing mentoring and business support
A complete course manual & resources you can teach from
Some programs offer payment plans, which can make the investment more manageable. At The Perinatal Academy, for example, students can spread the balance to hopefully make it more accessible.
Budget for training: £1,500
Accreditation and Insurance
Once you've completed your antenatal educator qualification, you'll need professional insurance. If your training is FEDANT-accredited (like ours yay!) you can access public liability insurance through them.
Budget for insurance: £130 annually
Setting Up Your Antenatal Classes: The Essentials
Website and Online Presence
Obvious but you need a website. Parents searching for "antenatal classes near me" or "pregnancy classes [your area]" need to find you online. You have a few options:
DIY website builder (Squarespace, Wix, Go Daddy): £18–£30/month - this is easier than it looks and we would support you with this also.
Custom website from a designer: £500–£2,000 one-off cost
You'll also want to invest TIME in SEO (Search engine optimisation) so pregnant people can actually find you when they search for antenatal teachers in your area. If you choose The Perinatal Academy we have training on how to set this all up and develop it.
Teaching Resources and Materials
You'll need physical resources for your antenatal course BUT you don’t have to have these before you launch! Let your bookings pay for your equipment and build on it over time:
Printed handouts and workbooks for clients - you can also send these digitally to save on costs. Most antenatal teachers buy second hand printers and sign up to a ink subscription service which is a lot cheaper than professional printing, though if you print in bulk it can be cost effective.
Visual aids (birth ball, pelvis model, etc.)
Stationery and admin supplies
Budget for resources: £250 (including printer cost)
Venue Costs
This is where costs can vary wildly. Your options:
Teach from home: £0 (but consider space and boundaries)
Hire a community hall or yoga studio: £15–£50 per session
Online classes: £0 for venue, but you might want better tech
Budget for venue: £0–£250/month depending on your model
Marketing Your Antenatal Classes
You can't just qualify as an antenatal teacher and expect clients to appear. You need to market yourself, and that costs either time or money (usually both).
Essential Marketing Costs
Social media presence: Free, but time-intensive
Business cards and flyers: £50
Canva Pro for graphics: £10/month
Honestly, when you're starting out, focus on organic marketing through SEO, local networking, and social media.
Budget for marketing: £10 a month
Ongoing Professional Development
The perinatal world is constantly evolving. To be an effective antenatal educator, you need to stay current with:
New research on pregnancy and birth
Changes in NHS guidance
Cultural safety and inclusivity
Topics you may want to specialise in (caesarean birth, breastfeeding, mental healthetc.)
Many antenatal teacher training programs - like ours - include ongoing workshops and mentoring in their communities, which adds massive value. But you won’t need to worry about this in your first year as decent training companies should give you enough education and support to get you going confidently for the first 12 months at least!
The Hidden Costs of Becoming an Antenatal Teacher
Let's talk about what people don't always mention:
Time Investment
Before you earn your first penny, you'll spend time completing your antenatal educator training, building your website, and marketing yourself. It’s time you're investing in building something meaningful that's truly yours.
So What's the Total Cost to Become an Antenatal Teacher?
The initial cost you will need to qualify is around: £1800 - everything else can come once your bookings start coming in.
Can You Actually Make Money as an Antenatal Educator?
Yes absolutely. But it does takes time to build.
Most antenatal teachers charge £200–£350 for a full antenatal course (usually 4–6 sessions). If you run one course per month with 6 couples each thats between £1200 - £1800 a month. Plus that isn’t the only thing you will be able to offer, you can host workshops, pregnancy circles, postnatal meet ups and more.
But in your first year? Expect it to be slower. Many new antenatal educators take 6–12 months to build a sustainable income.
Is Antenatal Teacher Training Worth the Investment?
Only you can answer that, but if you're passionate about supporting pregnant people, if you want flexibility and purpose in your work, and if you're willing to put in the effort to build a business, becoming an antenatal educator can be incredibly rewarding.
The investment isn't small, but compared to many career changes, it's relatively accessible. And the impact you'll have on families? That's priceless! It’s an incredible foundation too to build on, you can have a strong robust birth business in your community offering a whole range of services.
Ready to Become an Antenatal Teacher?
If you're serious about starting your journey as a childbirth educator, make sure you choose antenatal teacher training that gives you:
Comprehensive, modern, evidence-based content
FEDANT accreditation
Ongoing business support and mentoring
A community of fellow antenatal educators and birth workers
The Perinatal Academy's Antenatal & Early Postnatal Diploma includes all of this, plus ongoing support through The Perinatal Collective community. We offer payment plans to make the investment manageable, and we're with you every step of the way.
Want to learn more about becoming an antenatal educator? Download our free guide