birthED DONA Approved Doula Training - FAQ

Welcome Future Doula!

We are so excited you’re here and have followed the path of your curiosity to begin your doula journey. Often times we get calls from future and current doulas who have questions about our trainings. Here’s a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions and answers:

 

Is the 3 day workshop all I need to certify?

No, this workshop includes 2 out of 3 required educational requirements to become a DONA International Certified Birth Doula. Here’s what is required to become fully certified with DONA International:

  1. Attend a 16 hour minimum DONA Approved Birth Doula Training (birthED’s workshop counts for this!)

  2. Become a member of DONA International

  3. Attend a 7 hour minimum Childbirth Education course as a doula (not as a pregnant person). The birthED full workshop counts for this. Also note that if you are personally already certified as a Childbirth Educator - you do not need this portion.

  4. Attend a 3 hour minimum Lactation for Birth Professionals workshop, which birthED offers quarterly and you would receive a discount code for that course after you complete a birthED Doula Training.

  5. Complete reading assignments (2 position papers and 4 books)

  6. Complete a self assessment questionnaire

  7. Compile a resource list that you’ll utilize for future doula clients when referrals are needed outside of your scope (birthED Doula Trainings offer many suggestions for this list during class)

  8. Attend and get evaluated on 3 birth support experiences

  9. Pay for your certification fee in the DONA International Boutique in the member section of the website.

  10. Fill out the application and submit all your materials!

How much does it cost to certify?

These cost estimates are general and may vary per person:

Childbirth Education Course: $150 - $350

DONA Approved Doula Workshop: $550 - $750

DONA International Membership (1 year w/discount): $50

Lactation for Birth Professionals Workshop: $150 - $200

Books and Position Papers: $50 - $150

Certification Application Fee: $110

TOTAL: $1050 - $1610

Are there scholarships available for certification and training?

Yes, DONA International has a scholarship program called IMPACT. You can read about that here and apply.

I have already been a doula and have experience - would this training work for me?

Yes, our birthED DONA Approved Doula Training is customized to whomever is in the room and we welcome all skill and experience levels. If you’ve been trained by DONA or certified in the past, please check out the Alternate Path to Certification on the DONA website.

I need to miss a portion of the workshop, is this possible?

Unfortunately, any absence from the class would mean that you did not receive the entirety of the content that DONA International requires for certification. This also means if you’re an on-call doula you should find back-up for your clients during your workshop.

I have a conflict, can I attend the Doula Training portion of the workshop and attend the Childbirth Education portion later?

If you have never attended a birth, never taken a Childbirth Education Class, and are NOT a Childbirth Educator yourself we require that you take the Childbirth Education requirement prior to doula training. While you are not required to take it with us, we find that it is very difficult to move through the Doula Training without core information about the physiology of birth.

Can I bring my baby with me to class?

We welcome babes in arms, but have noticed that crawling babies make it very difficult for the parent to learn and allow their focus to be on the class content. So we do require that if you bring your child they are non-crawling infants.

I’m a lactating parent, is there opportunity to pump?

We have several breaks built into our day. You are welcome to pump anytime you want, whether that be in our adjacent private room or in the room when class is happening. We also have a fridge for your to store your milk if needed.

Can I start attending births right after the training is over?

In Minnesota there is no requirement that you be a certified doula to attend private pay births. This is how you will be able to attend your 3 births to submit in your application for certification. However, you won’t be able to register on the Minnesota Department of Health doula registry or take clients who get employer-reimbursed doula services until you are certified.

Elizabeth Hochman