Plan your family in accordance with God’s plan
Helping married couples deepen conjugal love and achieve responsible parenthood is part of the pastoral ministry to Catholic spouses. Thus, the Natural Family Planning (NFP) courses presented here offer youmore than a basic understanding of a couple’s fertility, or even the possibility to learn a Fertility Awareness-Based method (FABM).
Taking to heart our Church’s call of “instilling conviction and offering practical help to those who wish to live out their parenthood in a truly responsible way“ (Familiaris Consortio, 35), Step 5 of the Diocese of Phoenix’ marriage preparation process includes both pastoral care and education in Natural Family Planning (NFP).
Participation in full NFP formation is not a condition for marriage in the Church, but courses offered here are meant to offer you, our couples in marriage preparation, the means, knowledge, and information that is required to make a sound and pray-full discernment about planning your family in accordance with God’s Plan. It is for this reason that we strongly recommend that couples register for these courses only after they have conferred with their pastor and sought his guidance.
NFP helps couples understand and respect their combined fertility. To ensure you have the tools to plan your family effectively and in accord with God’s plan for marriage, you will have the opportunity toregister to lean a full method of Natural Family Planning.
If the method you wish to learn is not here, or if you would like to learn it in another language other than English or Spanish, please contact us: we can help!
NOTE that courses have varying requirements of time commitment. Those are clearly stated.
The Full NFP Course instruction is offered in several formats:
- In- person, or Hybrid (combination of in-person & virtual sessions); Fully virtual, live;
- Fully Self-paced online, and Hybrid Self-paced with live coaching online.
- Stand-alone NFP Introductory courses are In-person, with an online option in the works!
All Full NFP courses and Stand-alone NFP Introductions presented here are taught by professional instructors with certification in their respective methods.
The NFP Full course curriculum will teach couples how practice a natural method for spacing or seeking a pregnancy as part of their commitment to responsible parenthood. The method’s Introduction acquaints couples with both masculine and feminine physiology, to better understand the scientific bases of the method and recognize the signs of fertility in a woman’s body. Because all modern methods of NFP include private sessions, your instructor will be able to adjust the guidelines to your own situation.
Full NFP Course methods require an average of 10 to 12 weeks to complete, and 4 to 6 sessions, depending on the method chosen, since each methodology has different teaching protocols.
Course Options
In-Person Courses
Here you will find our schedules for Intro-Only courses, In-person Full Courses, and Hybrid Courses(a combination of in-person and virtual meetings).
- We rely on the generous help of our volunteer instructors! As their schedules become available, more classes are opened.
- If you wish to learn a specific method and it is not found here, to be placed in our waiting list, if you would like to know if we offer courses in another language, or for any other questions, write to us atnfp_admin@dphx.org We can help!
Register here for in person or hybrid
Online Courses
NFP Sympto-Thermal (ST) Method, fully self-paced course.
The course takes approximately 10–12 weeks, includes assignments, quizzes, and fertility charting. Registration fees includes access to Sympto Pro’s teaching platform for 120 days. If the course is not completed within that time frame, an additional fee may be charged. Please contact your ST instructor for more information.
GOOD TO KNOW: A good option for couples who live in different cities and/or time zones; those in the military or with hectic work schedules.
Although the course is completely self-paced, our couples have recourse to a local, diocesan instructor to help them along.
The “More Information” segment will cover this method’s specifics. Please read before registering,
Greetings! We are here to help make the online class experience as helpful as a live class. To begin, we would like to share some important information about how the online NFP course is managed, just so there are no surprises later.
- The online series should start, as much as possible, in tandem with God’s Plan for Joy-filled Marriage Seminar. We will confer with you about this, please let your Marriage prep coordinator know.
- The entire series takes between 10-12 weeks to complete, depending on the couple’s completion of assignments and understanding and passion! You are given 120 days in the online class system once your order is complete. If you don’t finish in 120 days, then you can purchase more time if you desire.
- This course is fully self-paced, that is, although your instructor will send you reminders, you are responsible for opening the learning modules, studying them and finishing on-time. Not to worry, an instructor will be assigned to you answer questions and review work.
- Also, this course if for the couple to take together. Both fiancées or spouses must complete all assignments, either together or by logging in separately at different locations.
- Couples are expected to chart the biomarkers learned in the classes and the charts are shared with their instructor through secure, encrypted emails for learning assessment.
- Classes are spaced so that assignments can be completed without stress, and so that charting of fullmenstrual cycles can occur. This is not something you can do all at one sitting on a free afternoon or evening! Please plan to spend approximately 2-3 hours per class.
- Quiz grades and time taken to complete are monitored and red flagged as problematic if quizzes are not passed and time spent on each question is low. Red flagging helps us to spot problems early and couples who need extra help will be referred to the NFP Coordinator for in-person class transfer.
- Each couple is assigned a certified NFP instructor. She will work with you via emails and doesn’t keep regular office hours. She can’t respond to questions immediately but always within a 3 business days window. General NFP questions can be answered by calling the NFP Office at the Diocese of Phoenix which is open 8:30-4, M-F.
NFP Neo Fertility via Chart Your Cycle: Engaged (CYCE)
NEO FERTILITY, taught through Chart Your Cycle: Engaged (CYCE) is a 12-week Full NPF course. It is a fully online fertility-awareness coaching program for engaged couples. It fulfills Step 5 of the Diocese of Phoenix marriage preparation process. Using Neo Fertility principles, couples learn to chart fertility through cervical mucus observations, basal body temperature, and optional urine hormone testing. The program includes a self-paced foundational course, three required group coaching sessions with chart reviews, optional weekly support sessions, and access to the secure Chart Neo App.
A 12-week online fertility awareness coaching program for engaged couples
Chart Your Cycle Engaged is a 12-week online coaching and implementation program designed for engaged couples seeking to incorporate Natural Family Planning into their marriage. Created by a Registered Nurse and National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach, this program offers a flexible, practical approach tailored to today’s busy couples.
Grounded in the principles of Neo Fertility, this program uses evidence-based charting principles while supporting your unique journey toward marriage. You’ll learn how to confidently chart your cycle using a multifactorial approach—including cervical mucus observations, basal body temperature (Tempdrop-compatible), and optional urine hormone testing.
What is included?
- Self-paced Chart Your Cycle Engaged Foundations online course
Foundational training in Fertility Awareness-Based Methodology (FABM), designed for engaged couples preparing to integrate charting into married life. - Three required 45-minute group coaching sessions
Join live sessions for expert guidance, real-time support, and a required chart review during each session you attend. - Ongoing opportunities for support
Weekly group coaching sessions are available—attend as many as you’d like during the 12-week program for additional feedback and encouragement. - Access to the Chart Neo app
A secure, HIPAA-compliant digital platform for tracking and sharing your fertility chart as a couple.
Flexible learning, built for busy schedules
Learn at your own pace while receiving structured support when you need it most
Coaching Calls (Central Time):
- 1st Tuesday of the month – 7:30 PM CT
- 2nd & 4th Monday of the month – 8:30 PM CT
- 3rd Tuesday of the month – 6:00 PM CT
Note: Coaching times may vary. A monthly calendar is provided for planning.
To make the most of your coaching calls, please complete at least 2 weeks of charting in the Chart Neo app before your first session.
Additional Info:
- Program duration: 12 weeks (with an optional 4-week extension available for purchase)
- Both partners are expected to complete the online course and attend the coaching sessions together