How Long Does It Take to Become a Sleep Consultant?

When I ask new students what they’d like to know about becoming a sleep consultant, the most common question is how long will it take? Which makes sense. If you are wanting to start your career as a sleep consultant (or add to your current career) you probably want to know what the timeline will look like.

The process to become a sleep consultant for babies and toddlers is more than taking a course and receiving your certificate. It will depend on the type of training you take, how much time you have to devote to studying, how much hands-on learning is included with your training and how full your life is at the moment. There is time to take your course and then time to feel confident helping families.

As a double-certified sleep consultant, I have been able to see the process of becoming a pediatric sleep consultant play out for many of my students over the years. I can assure you it will take less time than you think. In this blog I will go over the different phases you will want to know about when moving into pediatric sleep consulting.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Sleep Consultant?

Many of our students complete the process of becoming a sleep consultant in as little as a few weeks and some take several months. Because our course with the Center for Pediatric Sleep Management (CPSM) is self-paced, there is no time frame to follow. Most of our motivated students will finish our sleep consultant certification course in 4-8 weeks. Some students may take longer depending on how full their lives are, especially if they work full time.

Remember, there is no wrong way to take your course. You can make it work into your schedule. Here are the steps you will want to know about when getting started:

Step 1: Become Enrolled in a Sleep Consultant Certification

Once you are enrolled in a sleep consultant certification, your time has started. With the CPSM, you can begin taking your course the same day you enroll, and you have access to it for life!

Step 2: Take Your Online Certification Course

You will take our online sleep consultant certification. This will include modules on infant and toddler sleep. We teach many methods of sleep training including gradual/parent in the room techniques all the way to extinction and everything in between. There will be written information as well as videos to help teach you our evidence-based curriculum.

Step 3: Take Quizzes and Case Studies

There will be quizzes and short-answer questions to test your knowledge. We also offer case studies that allow you to apply what you have learned in our course to realistic family situations.

Step 4: Write Sleep Plans

You will be asked to write sleep plans for case studies. I will review these and allow you to resubmit if needed. This is where students really learn.

Step 5: Help Families

After you complete your course, you are a certified sleep consultant. It will take time to gain experience as you work with families. You will continue to learn from families and it can take months to feel comfortable.

What Factors Affect How Long It Takes to Become a Sleep Consultant?

Everyone will take different amounts of time to complete the course and begin working with clients, because no one size fits all. A few things can affect how fast you can complete your certification:

How Much Time You Devote to Studying

If you study every day you will be able to complete the course faster. If you only have time once a week to study you will take longer. Neither of these are bad options; it just depends on how much time you can give.

Type of Training

A self-paced online certification will allow you to go at your own speed. This is one of the many reasons our course appeals to so many women.

Experience With Babies and Toddlers

If you already have some knowledge on infants and toddlers, from your career as a nurse, doula, newborn nurse or just your children, you will know some of the information.

Hands-On Learning

It will take time to complete the case studies and write sleep plans. Don’t rush these as they will help you become a better sleep consultant.

What Does Sleep Consultant Training Involve?

Some people think that you can become a sleep consultant by taking a course in one weekend. Sleep consultant training takes much longer than that. Here is what you will learn along the way:

Coursework

We have many modules that will teach you about child development and behavioral sleep. Behavioral sleep is central when you are trying to understand why babies and toddlers are having trouble sleeping (0-4 years old).

Learning About Babies

Learning about infant sleep is a must for any sleep consultant. We teach you about what babies should be doing at each stage of life. This will help you determine if babies have a sleep issue.

Case Studies

Case studies will help you learn which method may work best for families you may come across.

Sleep Plans

You will learn how to write sleep plans for babies and toddlers. This is what you will be providing families when they hire you. Sleep plans are great because they will help the family reach their goal and get emotional support as well.

How Do You Choose a Sleep Consultant Certification Program?

There are many things to consider when looking for the right sleep consultant certification for you:

Curriculum

Find a certification that has great coursework. We teach many different methods of sleep training that you will want to learn.

Support From Your Instructor

Having an instructor that you can talk to will be helpful. We offer our students access to me through our private Facebook group. We also give students access to 6 starter books by well-known infant and toddler sleep authors.

Self-Paced Course

You want to find a certification that allows you to learn on your own time. With our certification, you can complete the course whenever you want.

Practical Learning

Our program will offer you the opportunity to learn by completing quizzes, case studies and writing sleep plans.

Price

Our certification is a one-time payment of $2,700 (payment plans available). You will have access to your course for life so there is no yearly payment. If you would like to learn more about how much it costs, read my article, “Sleep Consultant Certification Cost.” Want to learn more about how to become a certified sleep consultant? Read my step-by-step guide on how to become a certified pediatric sleep consultant.

Learn more about our sleep consultant certification.

How to Become a Baby Sleep Consultant With the CPSM

So how long will it take to become a sleep consultant? As you can see, it will vary for everyone. If you are excited to become a baby sleep consultant then you are ready to take the next step.

Enroll in our sleep consultant certification and start taking your course today! Or if you have more questions, schedule a discovery call with me, Jayne Havens!

If you aren’t ready to enroll, learn more by downloading our free ebook, Launching Your Career as a Sleep Consultant.

You are going to do great.

Jayne Havens

Founder of the Center for Pediatric Sleep Management