DONA International is changing how its certification and membership fees are structured, starting Thursday, October 15. If you are working toward certification or will re-certify in the years ahead, here is what you need to know before you send in your packet.
The fees are not increasing, and the new structure saves you $20
DONA is aligning membership with certification, so your membership is now included in your certification and recertification fees. Instead of paying for membership and certification as two separate charges, you pay one fee that covers both, and any months left on your current membership are credited toward it. Overall, the new structure works out to a $20 discount.
Is your packet almost ready? Submit by Wednesday, October 14
If your certification packet is close to complete and you can submit it by Wednesday, October 14, you will certify under the previous fee structure, which is a valid DONA membership plus the $155 certification fee.
Doulas who certify under the previous structure will still need to keep their membership current through their recertification. When you recertify, your membership and recertification fees will be aligned under the new structure.
Below is the same fee section you will find in the online classroom, so you can see what each fee covers and how the membership credit is calculated.
How the membership credit works
If your membership still has months left on it when you apply, DONA credits those months against the $435. Each unused month counts for one twelfth of the $100 yearly fee, about $8.33, so the amount you pay depends on where you are in your membership year. Three examples are below.
The $30 discount on a first-year membership applies only to one-year memberships. It cannot be applied to the certification fee.
Combined certifications: birth and postpartum
If you are certifying as both a birth doula and a postpartum doula, you only pay for membership once. Here is how the fees work for the two certifications.
Payment plans and financial aid
Payment plans will be available, so the full fee does not have to be paid all at once. If cost is standing between you and certification, DONA also has a new program that can help.
DONA CARES helps members who are going through financial hardship with the cost of keeping their DONA International membership and certification. Eligible members can apply for a waiver of membership and certification-related fees. DONA created the program because personal circumstances can change, and it reflects DONA’s commitment to supporting doulas throughout their professional journey.
- You must be a current DONA International member to apply.
- Fee waivers cover membership and certification fees only.
- DONA reviews applications at the end of each quarter, and the first review takes place in November 2026.
- You may apply up to twice a year.
- Applying does not guarantee approval, because available funds are limited.
- If you receive a waiver, you will not be eligible to apply again for three years, which is one certification cycle.
Because funding is limited, DONA encourages members with genuine financial need to apply. Their goal is to distribute the available funds fairly and thoughtfully while supporting as many members as possible over time.
If you have questions about where you are in your membership year or what your own fee might look like, email me at mharley@capitalcitydoulaservices.com and I will help you work through it.