Birth doula training programs in America

1/1/2018

updated 2025 April 28th

If you know of any more for USA residents, please comment below. I will look into them and add them to the blog.

This list is in alphabetical order. I'm not endorsing any particular program here. I recommend you find a program that aligns with your faith and values.

Birth doula training programs

A Woman Who Serves
www.awomanwhoserves.com
Certification: yes
Length of certification: does not expire
Location: self-paced online study followed by virtual training at scheduled dates
Note: This is a Christian-based program.

BEST Doula Training
www.bestdoulatraining.com
Certification: BEST certified doula
Length of certification: 2 years
Location: workshop locations throughout the country, in-person or virtual

Birth Advocacy Doula Trainings
https://www.badoulatrainings.org/full-spectrum-doula-training
Certification: yes
Length of certification: 3 years
Location: a 12-week online program

Birth Arts International
www.birtharts.com
Certification: certified doula
Length of certification: does not expire
Location: online, self-paced

Birth Beautifully
www.birthbeautifully.com
Certification: yes
Length of Certification: not clear on their website at this time
Location: online

Birth Becomes You
www.birthbecomesyou.com
Certification: yes
Length of certification: does not expire
Location: This is an online course with set start dates (cohorts)

Birth Boot Camp Doulas
http://birthbootcampdoulas.com/
Certification: certified doula
Length of certification: The certification has to be renewed every year.
Location: workshop locations in several states or online training

Birth With Spirit
www.birthwithspirit.com
Certification: certified Birth With Spirit doula
Length of certification: Lifetime with CEUs every 5 years
Location: online, self-paced

BirthWorks
www.birthworks.org
Certification: yes
Length of certification: not clear on their website at this time
Location: self-paced online with training workshops that are virtual or in-person

Birthing From Within
www.birthingfromwithin.com
Certification: yes
Length of certification: not clear on their website at this time
Location: online, self-paced

CAPPA
www.cappa.net
Certification: certified labor doula
Length of certification: Must recertify every 3 years
Location: Choose between online or in person workshops in a variety of places

Carriage House Birth
www.carriagehousebirth.com
Certification: yes
Length of certification: does not expire
Location: in person or a 9 week online program

Cascade Christian Childbirth Association
www.christianchildbirth.org
Certification: certified Christian birth doula
Length of certification: not clear on their website at this time
Location: in-person workshop or online
Note: This is a Christian-based program.

Celebration of Birth Doula Academy
https://celebrationofbirth.com/sacred-birth-doula-training/
Certification: certificate of completion
Length of certificate: n/a
Location: in-person or self-paced online

Charis Childbirth
www.charischildbirth.org
Certification: Charis certified doula
Length of certification: not clear on their website at this time
Location: North Port, Florida
Note: This is a Christian-based program.

Childbirth International
www.childbirthinternational.com
Certification: certified birth doula
Length of certification: does not expire
Location: online, self-paced

Community College of Allegheny County
https://www.ccac.edu/workforce-and-community/workforce-development/maternity-doula-training-program.php
Certification: yes
Length of certification: not clear on their website at this time
Location: a 9 week program that is a combination of in-person and online

Cornerstone Doula Trainings
www.cornerstonedoulatrainings.com
Certification: certified labor doula
Length of certification: not clear on their website at this time
Location: online, self-paced
Note: This program heavily incorporates new age and occult practices.

DONA
www.dona.org
Certification: certified birth doula
Length of certification: 3 years
Location: workshops throughout the country or online live workshops

Doula Alliance
www.doulaalliance.com
Certification: professional birth doula
Length of certification: not clear on their website at this time
Location: workshops or online

Doula Trainings International
www.wearedti.com
Certification: certified doula (this is birth and postpartum in one)
Length of certification: does not expire
Location: 4 day workshops in person or online

DoulaVersity
www.doulaversity.com
Certification: certified doula
Length of certification: does not expire
Location: online

Elite Doula and Co.
www.theelitedoulaandco.com
Certification: yes
Length of certification: does not expire
Location: online training followed by an in-person workshop
Note: This is a Christian-based program.

Global Birth Community
www.globalbirthcommunity.com
Certification: yes
Length of certification: does not expire
Location: virtual training at scheduled dates
Note: This is a Christian-based program.

Growing Your Nest with Kimberly Williams RN
www.growingyournest.com
Certification: yes
Length of certification: does not expire
Location: in-person workshop

Go Midwife
www.gomidwife.com
Certification: certified doula
Length of certification: not clear on their website at this time
Location: online

Hartland College
https://adventistmidwives.com/childbirth-educator-and-doula-certification/
Certification: yes
Length of certification: not clear on their website at this time
Location: a 4-week course online with weekly live sessions
Note: This is a Christian-based program (Seventh Day Adventist).

Heartmother Journey
https://www.rootedineden.org/hearthmother-journey
Certificate: no certificate or regulation, upon completion there is a certificate of birth ministry and a digital badge
Length of certification: n/a
Location: a 12-month course online
Note: This is a Christian-based program.

ICEA (The International Childbirth Education Association)
www.icea.org
Certification: ICEA certified birth doula
Length of certification: 3 years
Location: in-person workshops, live virtual workshops, or self-paced online

International Doula Institute
www.internationaldoulainstitute.com
Certification: certified doula
Length of certification: 3 years
Location: online

Lifespan Doulas
https://lifespandoulas.com
Certification: yes
Length of certification: does not expire
Location: online, self-paced

Madriella
www.madriella.org
Certification: certified birth doula
Length of certification: not clear on their website at this time
Location: online

Maternity Wise
https://www.maternitywise.com/labor-doula-program
Certification: yes
Length of certification: 3 years
Location: in person or online

New Beginnings Doula Training
www.trainingdoulas.com
Certification: certified doula
Length of certification: not clear on their website at this time
Location: online

Positive Pregnancy Journey's program Faith Driven Doulas
https://faithdrivendoula.fws.store/storepageSwOgg.aspx
Certification: yes
Length of certification: not clear on their website at this time
Location: a 12-week online program that has optional in-person training
Note: This is a Christian-based program.

ProDoula
www.prodoula.com
Certification: certified labor doula
Length of certification: annual “membership fee” to stay certified
Location: online or in-person workshops

Sacred Sisterhood Doula Training
www.sacredsisterhooddoula.org
Certification: certified indie birth doula
Length of certification: does not expire
Location: online, 4-month program

Stillbirthday
www.stillbirthday.com
Certification: birth and bereavement doula
Length of certification: does not expire
Location: online, work at your own pace

The Matrona
www.thematrona.com
Certification: holistic doula
Length of certification: not clear on their website at this time
Location: online

toLabor
www.tolabor.com
Certification: certified professional doula
Length of certification: yearly membership required to maintain
Location: 3-day workshop at varying locations throughout the country or available online

IN-PERSON TRAINING AVAILABLE

BEST doula training
Birth Boot Camp
Birth Works
CAPPA
Carriage House Birth
Cascade Christian Childbirth Association
Celebration of Birth Doula Academy
Charis Childbirth
DONA
Doula Alliance
Doula Trainings International
Elite Doula and Co.
Growing Your Nest
ICEA
Maternity Wise
ProDoula
toLabor

FULLY ONLINE PROGRAMS ARE

A Woman Who Serves
BEST
Birth Advocacy Doula Trainings
Birth Arts International
Birth Beautifully
Birth Becomes You
Birth Boot Camp
Birth With Spirit
Birth Works
Birthing From Within
CAPPA
Carriage House Birth
Cascade Christian Childbirth Association
Celebration of Birth Doula Academy
Childbirth International
Cornerstone
DONA
Doula Alliance
Doula Trainings International
DoulaVersity
Faith Driven Doulas (Positive Pregnancy Journal)
Global Birth Community
Go Midwife
Hartland College
Heartmother Journey
ICEA
International Doula Institute
Lifespan Doulas
Madriella
Maternity Wise
New Beginnings Doula Training
ProDoula
Sacred Sisterhood Doula Training
Stillbirthday
the Matrona
toLabor

PROGRAMS WITH A PERMANENT CERTIFICATE

A Woman Who Serves
Birth Arts International
Birth Becomes You
Birth With Spirit
Carriage House Birth
Childbirth International
Doula Trainings International
DoulaVersity
Elite Doula and Co.
Global Birth Community
Growing Your Nest
Lifespan Doulas
Sacred Sisterhood Doula Training
Stillbirthday University

Which program should you choose?

There are a wide variety of doula training programs out there. Some are faith-based, most are secular, and some are new age. Some use traditional gendered language while others use inclusive/neutral language. Some are in person, others are online. Some offer permanent certificates, others require renewal and continuing costs. Some programs focus on natural birth while others prepare the student doula for different types of birth experiences. Choose a program that aligns with your faith, values, and philosophies on birth/women's health.

Click here to read my blog about what to look for in a doula training program.

9 Comments

Brea McQuoid link

3/1/2018 18:39:42

I'm a die-hard Cornerstone advocate! Their training was incredibly saturated with all of the information you need to start your own business immediately. For anyone looking to become a birth and/or postpartum doula, placenta specialist or advanced courses in the Bay Area or Portland - this is who you should choose to study with!

Antoinnette

14/1/2018 10:16:25

Thank you for this!

Leanna Mae

15/1/2018 21:12:15

You're welcome :) Thank you for being the first person to say thank you!

Juliana Heartbeat Doula Network link

10/1/2019 20:41:48

Our Fast-track course for postpartum doula training is starting in February-- thanks for adding us to your list above!

Heather Knepp

9/10/2019 11:13:52

Would absolutely love to know the top recommended one for Postpartum Doula training

Ann Tumblin

9/7/2021 19:18:44

Consider who is administering the organization with which you choose to certify. If you choose to go with an organization that is managed by a board of directors elected by the members, you will have a say in the organization. If you choose an organization that is administered by an individual who makes all the decisions, your certification only lasts as long as the organization lasts. A few years ago, a cbe certifying organization decided to stop their program and all their cbes lost their certification and many had to pay and go with another organization so that they could continue to teach at hospitals, etc.

Alicia

28/11/2021 23:50:53

Luckily it doesn't work the same for doulas, as in most cases doulas do not actually need to be certified to attend births.

Alicia J O'Dwyer

28/11/2021 23:48:53

Would love to see Lifespan Doula certification training on this list. What makes Lifespan really unique is that they offer birth, post-partum AND end-of-life doula training and certification, and classes are cost-effective to boot. They are based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, but classes and training are all online. I'm about halfway through the program and I am loving it!

28/11/2021 23:51:53

(And thanks for such a valuable resource!)

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