FAQs

There are lots of training organizations to choose from, and I recommend you select one that aligns with your values.

ICEA (International Childbirth Education Association) was established in 1960, and I chose it back in 2001 because it stood out as one of the few original, well-respected programs in the US and internationally, offering training for childbirth education AND doulas.

ICEA’s doula certification program is ideal for those who want to provide accessible services and maintain high professional standards. ICEA’s training is on the approved list for reimbursement by Tricare insurance and by a majority of state Medicaid programs.

I enjoy attending ICEA conferences as a way to earn continuing education credits and to build connection with a strong community of birth workers. There are many ways to be involved with the organization, to advocate for improved perinatal care in the US and globally.

ICEA professional doula training workshops are 17 hours of valuable content.

One option is a weekend workshop with an intro evening on Friday, and full days on Saturday and Sunday.

Schedule at a glance:

• Friday – 5:30-8 pm

• Saturday – 8:30 am - 6 pm

• Sunday – 8:30 am - 6 pm

Topics covered:

• Introducing the Doula

• Meeting Your Clients

• Labor: An Overview

• Labor: The Process

• Comfort Measures, Coping Skills, and Pain Relief

• Family Integration

• Coping with the Unusual

• Business Matters

The field of doula work is currently unregulated on the national and state level. There is not a standard set of requirements for doula training or certification.

But that is quickly changing as US states are passing legislation to mandate Medicaid reimbursement for doulas. Private insurance companies and corporate wellness programs are starting to follow with seeing the value of doula support for improving patient outcomes.

While insurance reimbursement is good news for making doula services more accessible to the majority of pregnant women, it also means that insurance companies can set their own set of licensing or certification requirements for doulas.

For doulas who want to be able to serve a wide range of families, certification with an approved list of training requirements may soon be necessary. ICEA’s high standards have kept its certification at the top of the list of approved programs.

See ICEA’s website for the most updated information on certification requirements. ICEA really wants you to succeed, so don’t be afraid to ask for help!

For most people, the pathway to certification will look like this:

1. Enroll in the program and pay a fee

2. Attend an ICEA training workshop

3. Review the study guide and readings

4. Apply to take the certification exam

5. Attend and verify at least 3 labor support experiences

6. Observe one childbirth education series

Certification costs may vary, as ICEA offers an equitable pricing structure.

(See ICEA’s pricing page for more info)

Fees for certification include:

• Enrollment

• Workshop

• Exam

Please do keep in mind that the total cost of doula certification can be fully recovered with what you may be paid for 2 birth support experiences.

If cost is a barrier, please look into ICEA’s scholarship program.

Please contact me about scheduling new workshop dates! Often I can make it happen. I do believe an in-person workshop is the very best way to train for doula work, but we can set up a virtual training if necessary.

After you take your training workshop, you’ll be energized and so excited to start supporting families.

You’ll get some business tips in your training, but the truth is that it’s really hard to get started on your own. That’s why staying connected is so important.

I invite you to join in on monthly doula connection Zoom calls where we’ll talk about relevant topics pertaining to birth work, and give each other the support we need to keep going.