Doula Certification Renewals Requirements & application to keep your certification current

Requirements

Renew your certification before the expiration date.
Show proof of completing 15 hours of approved continuing education in your specialty area within your certification period (1 hour of curriculum time = 1 contact hour).
Testify that you have been active in the field as a doula, educator, or related service provider.
Sign an agreement to abide by the Doula Scope of Practice and Code of Conduct.
Pay the renewal fee.
Submit your application for certification renewal.

Renewal Fees

Pay the renewal fee for one certification ($125).

Pay the renewal fee for two certifications ($150).

Pay the renewal fee for three certifications ($175).

Complete the birth doula renewal application.

Complete the postpartum doula renewal application.

Complete the end-of-life doula renewal application.

Approved Continuing Education

A wide variety of trainings that enhance the doula's support skills and knowledge base are accepted, including attendance at conferences, workshops, doula trainings, and webinars. Programs may be in-person or online (either live, recorded, or self-paced format). The program must offer a certificate of attendance/completion containing the following information:

Name of the program
Name of the program provider
Length of program or number of contact hours earned
Your name
Completion date

Examples of approved programs

Any program offered by Lifespan Doulas (expanded membership webinar options coming soon!)
Addition of another doula specialty training during the renewal period (e.g., you are a certified birth doula and you added postpartum training)
Another doula training offered by a different organization from the one used to qualify for certification
Any continuning education program approved for doula contact hours
All programs related to the doula’s specialty and approved for nursing or social work contact hours
Any breastfeeding training approved for CERPS or other lactation credentials (birth/postpartum doulas only)
Doulas currently enrolled in higher education in a related field, can use course credits as proof of continuing education provided the course builds support skills or covers knowledge relevant to the doula's specialty.

Recommended Continuing Education

Birth & Postpartum Doulas

End-of-Life Doulas

Final Touch (palliative massage, positioning at the end of life)
Respecting Choices (advance care planning)
National Home Funeral Alliance

All Doula Specialties

Motivational Interviewing
Grief and bereavement support
Newborn and infant loss, perinatal hospice
Doula business development
HIPAA training
CPR (infant/child/adult)
Meeting the needs of special groups (e.g., teens, homeless, imprisoned, LBGT+)
Complementary therapies, holistic modalities (e.g., aromatherapy, Reiki)
Boundaries
Self-care

Alternative Continuing Education Contact Hours

Doulas may satisfy continuing education requirements in other ways including:

Hospice volunteer training, volunteer hours (EOLDs)
Support group leader (e.g., La Leche League, postpartum family support group, bereavement support)
Death Cafe facilitator (EOLDs)
Public speaking engagements on relevant topic(s)
Publication of books, articles, research on relevant topic(s)

Alternative continuing education must be verifiable. See FAQs #5 below for more information about types of proof accepted.

Money saving tips

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Look for free continuing education online.
Birth and postpartum doulas can check with their state's Medicaid doula reimbursement program (if any). Many states offer free continuing education for participating doulas.
Consider an alternative continuing education option.
The cost of continuing education is a tax-deductible business expense, including related travel costs. Track your mileage and save your receipts!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. I am past my renewal date. Now what?

We will grant you a one-month grace period to complete requirements and submit your renewal application without de-listing you as a certified doula on our website. However, you will not receive an updated certificate with a future expiration date until you complete the re-approval process. It is possible that your status as an approved provider through third parties (e.g., Carrot) could be at risk during the grace period.

Once you are one month past your renewal date, your certification has lapsed. You will be able to renew once you have met all requirements and paid the fee, provided that your training was not more than ten years past.

2. Can I switch back to my "lifetime certification" once I have chosen the renewal pathway?

3. I registered for training prior to November 2025. Can I still get the lifetime certification?

4. Can I use the same contact hours for more than one certification renewal?

5, I completed continuing education, but do not have written proof of having done so.

You will need to reach out to the provider of the training for proof. A certificate or a letter on the organization's letterhead will suffice. It must include the information on the checklist above.

Acceptable proof of alternative continuing education may include a screen shot of a published promo for hosting a Death Cafe or LLL support group with your contact information; a certificate of having completed hospice volunteer training; a letter from the hospice volunteer coordinator specifying volunteer activity; copy of a promotional piece for a speaking engagement; and so on.

Calculation of contact hours for a speaking engagement should be length of the speech x2 (e.g., a 1-hour long presentation = 2 contact hours).

6. What if I cannot afford the renewal fee?

7. If I am renewing more than one certification, but not at the same time, can I still get the discount?