Doula Training and Certifying Organizations

Included here are introductions to several doula certifying organizations.

These descriptions are taken directly from the websites of each organization. 

For the most current information regarding the training and experience required for certification by each and their listing directories of certified doulas, please visit the organizations' websites. (Links included.)

 Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association - CAPPA

Since 1998, CAPPA's mission has been to offer comprehensive, evidence-based education, certification, professional membership and training to childbirth educators, lactation educators, labor doulas, antepartum doulas and postpartum doulas worldwide. CAPPA is proud to provide new and expectant families access to these professionals here. Cappa is a non-profit organization headquartered in the USA, with branches worldwide.

CAPPA certified professionals aim to facilitate empowerment, connection, and self-advocacy in families from pre-conception through early parenthood. CAPPA works to foster and encourage culturally relevant
education, support, and training in countries around the world. CAPPA seeks to forge positive and productive relationships with organizations that support healthy, informed family decisions.

CAPPA strives to build a bridge of understanding, respect, and communication with all healthcare professions. The organization consists of an international leadership board, administrative team, regional representatives, faculty, advisors, and its membership. CAPPA is the most comprehensive pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, and breastfeeding organization available.

Find CAPPA here: http://www.cappa.net/

Doulas of North America - DONA

DONA International: We are the world’s premier doula organization.

Pardon us for bragging, but we are the oldest, largest and most respected doula association in the world. Our founders are among the foremost experts on doula care, and DONA International certification is a widely respected measure of quality and professionalism. We are an international, non-profit organization of doulas that strives to have every doula trained and educated to provide the highest quality and standards for birth and/or postpartum support to birthing women and their families. To that end, we promote continuing education for doulas and provide a strong communication link among doulas and between doulas, families and the medical birthing community.

We are an amazing community with a shared passion for families that reaches around the world. DONA International doulas and the families they serve are in more than 50 countries.

Find DONA here: http://www.dona.org/

ProDoula

The ProDoula philosophy is designed to provide clients with Doulas that are professional and educated, as well as nurturing and compassionate. A ProDoula’s desire is to help create the best possible birth or postpartum experience for the client’s entire family.

A ProDoula is knowledgeable regarding each labor or postpartum topic. Ensuring that her clients have a judgment-free environment in which to make their decisions is of the utmost importance. A ProDoula is on a career path with the responsibility to develop herself into a professional deserving of respect and financial success.

A ProDoula stays current on all things related to her industry to ensure she is providing her clients with the most accurate and up to date information. At ProDoula we provide you with guidance and support, but we encourage each Doula to find their own “style of practice” and find their own inspiration and motivation.

Find ProDoula here: https://www.prodoula.com/

toLabor

The Organization of Labor Assistants for Birth Options & Choices, toLabor, is an international organization dedicated to supporting women’s choices in childbirth.
Our goal is help women and their families to become active participants in their births and in their lives.
toLabor believes that a woman who actively participates in her birth from an informed and supported perspective will become a more active participant in her life and the life of her family.
We envision a network of woman-centered birth doulas/labor assistants helping to transform societal views of childbirth, ensuring that everyone recognizes the importance of birth and that each woman and her family experiences an empowered pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period.

Find toLabor here: http://www.tolabor.com/

Professional Associations

PALS Doulas is a professional association of birth doulas in the Puget Sound region.
Birth doulas are trained and experienced professionals who provide continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during, and immediately after childbirth.
Research studies have found that a doula’s presence improves outcomes and acceptance of doulas in labor rooms continues to grow rapidly.

At present, PALS is 170 members strong.

Find them here: http://www.palsdoulas.org/

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