Yes! Our workshops are offered virtually, so you can join from home or anywhere you have a good internet connection and a device. In-person workshops are also offered in select cities. See Workshop Cities/Dates for upcoming options.

The workshop covers the skills, business, and heart of doula work, from comfort measures and communication skills to scope of practice and working with care providers. Learn more about what to expect on the Become a Doula page.

Every CCDS doula training includes access to our online classroom, with 15+ modules, over 70 lesson topics, 30+ videos, and 20+ PDF downloads, including content on the doula business and marketing. You can revisit the material at your own pace as you work toward certification, and you have access for a full 6 months after your workshop.

No prerequisites are required. Because your workshop includes Intro to Childbirth for Doulas, a basic knowledge of the normal processes of childbirth is welcomed but not required. If time permits before your workshop begins, reading The Birth Partner is a great step while you wait. See the recommended reading list on the Become a Doula page.

Yes! Watch the Workshop Sneak Peek Video for a glimpse of what happens inside a CCDS workshop.

Absolutely. Reach out through Contact CCDS with any questions, or book a Doula/Parent Consult for a longer conversation.

Yes, you will not be doing this alone. Melissa offers ongoing mentorship and guidance through the private course Facebook group, and individually by email and text, with a Zoom meeting when needed. DONA International’s membership and certification departments also hold monthly office hours, so you can get answers about your membership and certification packet along the way.

Absolutely, yes! Many doulas take paying clients from their very first client. If you plan to accept Medicaid, requirements vary by state: some states allow doulas to receive Medicaid payment with just a training certificate, while others require full certification or additional requirements.

We talk through this together during the workshop, including the doula business, marketing, and how to connect with growing families in your community. Your online classroom also includes content on the doula business and marketing that you can revisit as you build your practice. Many doulas find their first clients by networking with other doulas, perinatal professionals, and complementary care providers in their area.

Yes. DONA International is an international certification, recognized across the United States and around the world. It is often recognized for insurance reimbursement and state Medicaid doula programs, though each state sets its own Medicaid requirements.

This depends on the pace of the doula. DONA Intl gives you 3 years to finish certification, but most doulas do it within the first year.

Joining DONA early is encouraged. Membership opens up member support and resources right away while you work toward certification. It is $100 a year, discounted to $70 in your first year, and any months left on your membership when you certify are credited toward your certification fee. Joining early is not required, though. You can register your certification packet and begin your requirements without being a member, and three years of membership is included in your DONA International Certification and Membership Fee when you submit your certification packet.

DONA requires at least 15 hours of continuous, in-person labor support across your 3 certification births. Each birth does not need to be 15 hours on its own. Prenatal and postpartum visits do not count toward this total, and only the first 30 minutes of immediate postpartum support at each birth can be included.

Yes. Planned and unplanned cesarean births can both count, but you may use only one planned cesarean. You are not required to attend a cesarean, because qualifying births are not based on the outcome.

Yes, and many new doulas find this a wonderful way to learn. Those births cannot be submitted for certification, though. For a birth to count, you must be the primary doula providing all of the labor support.

Introduce yourself to the care team, let them know you are working toward certification, and show them the short evaluation form. If no one on the care team is able to complete it, another support person at the birth, such as a partner, family member, or friend, may fill it out instead.

DONA offers a one-time six month extension for a $10 fee. Beyond that, you would need to contact DONA’s Director of Certification, and you may be asked to repeat a workshop.

DONA typically responds within one month of receiving your packet. If you have not heard back after three months, reach out to the DONA home office. Answering any reviewer questions promptly is the best way to keep things moving.

DONA birth doulas recertify every 3 years. You will need at least 15 continuing education contact hours earned during your certification period and the $365 recertification fee, which includes 3 years of DONA membership and recertification processing.

CCDS offers Continuing Ed Classes for doulas. DONA also accepts DONA-approved continuing education and hours from other recognized organizations, such as Lamaze or ICEA.