Evaluating Doula Certifications

What's important to know?

The doula occupation is unlicensed and unregulated. One way to ensure your doula has met high standards for education, training and experience is to choose a certified doula from a well-known and respected doula certifying organization.

Doulas on DoulaMatch.net have the opportunity to display their certification for your verification.

• Look for the doula’s certification certificate image on her profile page.
• Look at the date on the certificate. Is it current?
• Ask the doula: Are you currently certified? Through which organization?

Doula certifying organizations

The requirements for certifying vary widely between all the doula organizations. It’s impossible to compare each organization when no occupation-wide standards exist for what constitutes a well-trained and credentialed doula.

DoulaMatch.net believes a quality certification program includes these minimum elements:

• A comprehensive doula training program which includes requirements for in-person classroom work, self-study, and practicum work with minimum hours for each requirement clearly stated.
• Clearly defined requirements for a doula’s education.
• Demonstrated doula work experience.
• Good evaluations from clients and health care providers.
• Periodic re-certification.
• Documented continuing education.
• A publically available code of ethics outlining the doula’s ethical responsibilities to her clients.
• A publically available standards of practice defining the doula’s scope and limits of her practice.
• A grievance procedure allowing consumers, colleagues, or care providers to lodge an objection against the organization’s doula if the doula violates the organization’s standards of practice or code of ethics. The goal of the grievance procedure is to uncover the facts of the objection and seek resolution for the injured parties or consequences for the doula, including revoking her certification.

Organizations currently training and certifying doulas: