The NFPTA Teacher Training Course is for those who want to understand fertility awareness deeply and learn how to teach it responsibly. Through structured distance learning, you will explore the sympto-thermal method in depth, build confidence in chart interpretation, and develop the knowledge needed to support individuals and couples with care and accuracy.
Whether you are passionate about body literacy, women’s health, natural family planning, or helping others understand their cycles, this course offers a thoughtful and practical route into teaching.
Train to teach the sympto-thermal method with clarity, confidence and purpose
This is a structured training programme designed to teach you how the female fertility cycle works and how to use that knowledge to achieve or avoid pregnancy naturally. You will build real understanding of fertility management and how to teach it well.
Across 12 weeks, you will study:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Hormones and glands
- The HPO axis and menstrual cycle
- The four signs of fertility
- Chart interpretation
- Research and teaching materials
- Fertility after childbirth
- Fertility after contraception
- Menopause
- Teaching practice and assessment
From the beginning of the course, you will also start charting your own cycle and working through a large number of course charts to build practical confidence. You will be supported by your own individual mentor throughout the course and have access to ongoing peer support.
Why train with NFPTA
Why this training matters
The sympto-thermal method of fertility awareness which is covered in the course gives women a clearer understanding of their bodies, their cycles and their choices. For many, it can be life-changing, empowering knowledge. Training to teach it means taking that knowledge one step further.
This course is ideal for women who want to:
- Deepen their understanding of the female fertility cycle
- Learn the sympto-thermal method in a structured way
- Help other women understand their fertility signs
- Support informed choices around reproductive health
- Become part of a tradition of teaching rooted in care, knowledge and responsibility
A profession with purpose
Fertility awareness used as a method of birth control is no longer a niche interest. More women are actively looking for evidence-based alternatives to chemical and physical methods and clearer ways to understand their cycles.
At the same time, access to trained Fertility Awareness Methods (FAM) teachers remains limited. This course bridges that gap.
In just four months, participants can train towards becoming certified FAM teachers — equipping them with the knowledge and structure to support others with accuracy, confidence and care. For some, this becomes a professional pathway. For others, it is the foundation for education, coaching or community work. Either way, it answers a real and growing need.
Who this course is for
This course is suitable for those who are:
- Interested in fertility awareness and body literacy
- Already charting and want a deeper level of knowledge to share with others
- Drawn to women’s health education
- Already working in women’s health and want to add more information to their work — for example nurses, midwives, doulas and medical consultants
- Considering future work in teaching or supporting others
You do not need to be loud, polished or “expert-looking” to begin. You do need curiosity, commitment and a willingness to learn carefully. There is no requirement to be medically trained in order to undertake the NFPTA course.
What you’ll study
A scientifically based course built around real learning.
| Weeks 1–2 | Foundations of fertility You’ll begin with the building blocks: history, glossary, anatomy and physiology, hormones and glands, the HPO axis, and the menstrual cycle. When you start the course you will also begin charting your own cycle. |
|---|---|
| Weeks 3–4 | Fertility signs, chart work and informed understanding You’ll study the four signs of fertility, premenstrual tension, the advantages and disadvantages of natural family planning, and key research materials. You’ll also begin working through chart sets to start to recognise the variations of different women’s cycles and the different scenarios that affect the fertile signs and influence when ovulation happens. |
| Weeks 5–8 | Practical chart interpretation and applied learning This part of the course deepens your practical skills. You’ll mark up charts, with videos to look at the nuances of each one and start to apply the sympto-thermal rules to the examples. Each week you submit completed chart work, and explore topics such as infertility, new technology, how using fertility awareness is a lifestyle, and exam preparation. |
| Week 9 | Formal assessment The Part 1 exam includes both a written exam and a chart exam, each lasting 1½ hours. Once completed you will be certified to teach the sympto-thermal method to clients. |
| Weeks 10–12 | Fertility through life stages The final stage of the course covers return of fertility after childbirth — Lactational Amenorrhea Method, fertility after stopping contraception, and peri-menopause. |
| After the course | Case studies and Part 2 assessment Once you have completed the 12 weeks you will take on three case studies for three cycles each. You will then have a final oral assessment with your tutor to confirm your learning and receive your Part 2 completion certificate. At this stage you are certified to teach the method for all scenarios. |
How is this course assessed?
Part 1
The course is assessed via a written exam and chart assessment in week 9. When completed, the student is certified to teach the sympto-thermal method.
Part 2
Once the student has taught three separate case studies who have tracked three cycles each, there is an oral exam to complete Part 2. This certifies that the student is ready to teach all scenarios for the sympto-thermal method including post-partum, post-pill and peri-menopause.
Three years’ NFPTA membership is included in the course fee. Continued professional development is provided via a yearly training day for members and past students — this must be completed for continued membership.
Teach knowledge that matters
There is something quietly powerful about helping women understand what their bodies are already saying.
For some trainees, this course is about professional development. For others, it begins with something more personal: wanting to understand their own cycle more fully, then realising how valuable that knowledge could be for someone else too.
If fertility awareness has changed the way you see your body, your health or your choices, teacher training could be the next natural step.
Frequently asked questions
The weekly programme is structured as a distance learning course. The course is 12 weeks long, the work is released weekly and you will be allocated your own mentor who will support you throughout the twelve weeks and through your case studies to completion of Part 2.
It includes both. Alongside anatomy, hormones and fertility theory, the programme involves substantial chart work, practical submissions, exams and a final oral assessment.
We recommend up to 10–14 hours per week, especially in the middle weeks when you are learning to chart with lots of examples for application.
Yes. In week 1, trainees are asked to buy a thermometer and start their own chart.
The course covers anatomy and physiology, hormones, fertility signs, the fertility cycle, infertility, return of fertility after childbirth, contraception transition, peri-menopause and teaching-related materials.
The distance learning format makes it suitable for a wider audience, including international learners, though the organisation is UK-based.
Ready to take the next step?
If you feel drawn to fertility awareness education and want to learn how to teach with confidence, care and accuracy, the NFPTA Teacher Training Course could be the right next step.
Course fees and payment options
The NFPTA Teacher Training Course is a structured, 12-week programme designed to provide both theoretical understanding and practical teaching skills.
Total course fee: £800
This includes:
- Full access to all course materials
- Weekly structured learning content
- Chart sets, videos and supporting documents
- Assessment (written, chart and oral)
- Guidance throughout the programme
To make the course more accessible, payment plans may be available. The cohorts run in February and July each year. If you’d like to join please email info@nfpta.org.uk.