Get Certified

The only parental leave coach certification in the world.

Become certified in the RETAIN Coaching methodology, the first and only evidence-based approach to parental leave coaching, and join the global network of practitioners growing this field.

Join the Waitlist

There’s no cohort open right now. Get ahead of the next one.

RETAIN Coach certification runs in cohorts, not continuously.
There’s no current scheduled start date, but the next cohort will open,
and the waitlist is how you make sure you’re first to know when it does.

Apply now to join the waitlist. It costs nothing and commits you to nothing. It just means you won’t miss it.

Who it’s For

Changemakers and trailblazers like you.

If you’re already supporting people through major life transitions, as a coach, therapist, doula, HR professional, or leave specialist, and you want a proven, evidence-based framework specific to parental leave, this certification gives you what you’ve been looking for. You’ll leave with the language, the research, the timeline, and the tools to support parents and managers through one of the most consequential transitions of their professional lives, with confidence, and with the parental leave focus that no other certification in the world can give you.

What You’ll Be Certified In

The RETAIN Coaching methodology, the 3 Phases of Leave™, and the 10A Transition Touchpoints™, plus the PLTA and PLTA-MQ.

Certification trains you in the full RETAIN Coaching methodology, the same framework behind every coaching session, every Hub resource, and every tool on this site. You’ll learn to guide parents and managers through all three phases of leave using the 10A Transition Touchpoints™ framework, grounded in 35+ years of research and built by the person who created this field as well as be certified to administer the PLTA and PLTA-MQ.

This isn’t a general coaching credential with a parental leave module bolted on. It’s the only certification built specifically and entirely for this transition at work, at home, and within.

One Program, Two Paths to Practice

Whether you coach in-house or in private practice, you go through the same certification.

Certified RETAIN Coaches work in both settings, some inside organizations as in-house coaches, others independently in private practice. Both paths go through the same rigorous certification program. What differs is the coaching agreement you’ll use once certified, not the training itself.

The credential is the same. The standard is the same. The methodology is the same.

FOR HR

We’re exploring a certification path built specifically for HR professionals.

So far we have found that combining internal and external practitioners in the same cohort provides an unsurpassed network for each to rely on when they encounter something outside their own toolbox. The diversity of thought and experience in our RETAIN Graduate Community is unmatched.

However, if you’re an HR professional who wants deep expertise in parental leave without the full coaching certification, we’re exploring a dedicated track built specifically for you. It doesn’t exist yet, but your interest helps shape whether and how it gets built.

This is a separate interest form from the general certification waitlist above. Joining it doesn’t sign you up for coaching certification, it tells us you want something different, and that matters.

What’s Included

Everything you need to confidently become a practicing RETAIN Parental Leave Coach.

Certification includes the full RETAIN Coaching methodology training so you’re completely comfortable with the complete toolkit you’ll use with every client:

Grounded in research. Built by the person who created the field.

Dr. Amy Beacom, Founder and CEO of the Center for Parental Leave Leadership, began creating the field of parental leave coaching and consulting in 2006. Her RETAIN Coaching methodology and 10A Transition Touchpoints™ framework are grounded in 35+ years of research and experience. She believes deeply that everyone should have access to their own RETAIN Parental Leave Coach, so she created this certification to train the next generation of practitioners to carry this work forward.

From the coaches who’ve been through it.

Working with CPLL was a breath of fresh air. They were there to help me and my company every step of the way as we navigated improvement areas to our parental leave experience. With every road block I brought, they were there with proactive solutions that were practical to implement. CPLL sets themselves apart from other consultants with their extensive experience and personal approach that always leads with caring.

Jessica D.

Working with CPLL was absolutely crucial to our process of developing a paid family and medical leave policy and approach. They brought deep expertise to the process and supported us in balancing different interests and coming to an agreement that the entire team put their full support behind. We’ve been able to better achieve our mission and live out our values because of CPLL’s leadership in this area.

Kelsa S.

Chief Operations and Impact Officer, Habitus Incorporated

Ready to join us as we all work to expand this field?

Join the waitlist and be first to know when the next cohort opens.