When embarking on the journey to birth work, many want to know how long it will take to become a certified doula. At Doula Trainings International (DTI), we are not huge fans of any entities or individuals requiring certification for doulas! (The answer to why is for another post!) But we understand the value of becoming certified, for many folks, amounts to self-confidence and the respect of your community. So for those reasons, we created an enriching certification process designed to help you become your best doula self! As for how long it takes to become a certified doula, we have you covered in this post.
The short answer to this question is that you can become a certified doula as quickly as you like, depending on a few factors. For instance, if you are already well-connected with a lot of people in your community who are likely to hire a doula or likely to refer to doulas for their services, you have a big head start in terms of finding the 3+ clients to work with and document as a part of your certification submission. Getting a head start on sharing your plans and goals for creating a doula practice with as many people as you can get in front of is going to be hugely beneficial if you want to start quickly! In that scenario, you are likely to become a certified doula within about 3-6 months of completing your training.
If you train online with DTI, your training course modules will take approximately 3 months to complete. If you attend one of our trainings in person, your training will be complete after a 4-day intensive workshop. At DTI, access to your online course modules will never expire, and as long as you maintain your yearly membership with us, you can become certified any time you are ready. We also offer ongoing virtual classes, so if you need a refresher in a particular subject matter area, you can pop onto the next class. Three main reasons we offer enrollment on a rolling basis are:
- To give doulas the autonomy to certify when they have had ample time to build relationships and feel comfortable with their new offerings.
- To better utilize DTI’s stellar curriculum materials to reach the highest number of doulas possible by giving them the opportunity to begin any time that works for their schedules.
- To continue knocking down roadblocks in our field, increasing accessibility for both doulas and the families they support.
For many years at DTI we ran a straightforward 12-month program during which you could receive as many as 3 certifications (birth, postpartum and reproductive health), with educator support throughout the whole year, even after your training was complete. Keeping DTI doulas within a certain timeframe has in the past allowed doulas to build momentum in their practices by avoiding waiting too long before starting.
During the covid-19 pandemic when many things came to a screeching halt, DTI provided additional time for our trainees at no cost. Now in 2024, the time has come to adapt again and respond to changing needs in our field. DTI educators remain committed to going along for the ride with our training doulas, encouraging them to get out there as quickly as possible and start the work! No time like the present for jumping in with both feet with on-the-job training. With that being said, we also recognize the myriad circumstances that could prevent a doula from completing their certification checklist within the year following their start date. Although we have always provided extension time for an additional fee, we are dropping that requirement to encourage more doulas to keep their heads in the game without the worry of budgeting extra cost.
The DTI program includes a robust set of learning modules and resources to support your journey. We provide live instructional calls with experienced doula educators, special monthly workshop opportunities with guest teachers, affiliate codes for childbirth education classes, and written guides to help you figure out the nuances of doula work—from basic business decisions—to helping clients make difficult choices—to trauma informed care.
Please reach out if you have questions about how long it might take to become a certified doula, as it can really vary depending on your comfort level and what other responsibilities you have on your plate. Our team is more than happy to help!