Full Certification Requirements

If you are planning to complete the entire Birth Doula Studies program and earn your Certificate, you must complete ALL of the following:

• A minimum of 20 hours of practical volunteer experience (as described below)
• Read and report on 2 books from the required reading list (see the following links for more details). Other books may be accepted at instructor discretion.
• Attend 2 births including pre and postnatal meetings  OR
• Attend 1 birth and complete a community research project

Practical Volunteer Experience

In some cases, your required 20 hours of volunteer experience can be completed all in one location as long as it is a program or experience that provides diverse experience working with pregnant women(please see volunteer practicum ideas). Otherwise you must split your experience between 2 programs. It is important that you obtain a variety of experiences so that you can learn from other professionals, network in your community, and build your skills. The 20 hours of volunteer experience (your first practicum experience) and your required reading MUST be completed within 6 months of course commencement and all verification forms submitted to your instructor. There is a submission location in Module 3.

Second Practicum Requirements

To receive a FULL certificate in Birth Doula Studies,  

For your second practicum, you have two options.  

Option one consists of the attendance of two births. Both births must have supporting documents completed by both the mother and a healthcare provider(doctor, midwife, nurse,mentor doula) as well as a full birth summary. Please upload to the appropriate submission area in module 3.

Option two consists of the attendance of one birth with all of the supporting documentation as described above and a community research project that consists of an interview and report on resources within your community involving either lactation or bereavement.

Once your birth attendance experiences have been reviewed and evaluated as successful by your instructor, you will be fully certified and a Certificate will be sent to you.

There is a submission location in Module 3.