Doula Certification Renewals Requirements & application to keep your certification current

If you have not submitted your Renewal Application by the expiration date on your certificate, your certification has lapsed and you will be de-listed as a Lifespan Doulas' certified doula. You can still renew your certification by making a payment and submitting the Renewal Application.

However, if you were previously Cross Certified, you will be required to start over as a Cross Certification candidate. And, if your doula training was more than 10 years prior, a Refresher Course is required.

It takes us up to two weeks to process your application, longer if your application is incomplete or we have questions. We will grant you a one-month grace period as your application is being processed 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 the re-approval process is complete. It is possible that your status as an approved provider through third parties (e.g., Carrot) could be at risk during the grace period. This could impact your ability to qualify for reimbursement for services to families with whom you are currently working.

Once you are one month past your renewal date, with outstanding issues in your Renewal Application still unresolved, your certification has lapsed. You will be able to renew once you have met all requirements.

An exception to this policy is Cross Certification candidates who will need to re-qualify for Cross Certification and be required to complete a doula refresher training if they completed their core doula training program more than ten years past. 

No, we have discontinued the lifetime certification. Lifetime certification is limited to folks who became certified before November 2025 and/or who enrolled in a Lifetime Doulas' training program prior to November 2025 and prefer the lifetime pathway.

Yes, you can double dip. Continuing education in the field of maternal-infant care will fulfill requirements for both birth and postpartum doulas. 

Topics pertinent to all doulas will be accepted as fulfillment across all specialties (birth, postpartum, end-of-life). Examples are listed above under Recommended Continuing Education for All Doula Specialties.

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. We recommend that you collect proof of attendance shortly after completing the program or activity (see Alternative Continuing Education above) as it can be problematic to track folks down after the fact.

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

Calculation of contact hours for a speaking engagement should be as follows: length of the speech x3 = number of contact hours earned (e.g., a 1-hour long presentation = 3 contact hours).

No. The multiple-renewal discount options are available because it is less work for us when you submit your applications at the same time. 

The renewal date will be set at three years from your current expiration date, regardless of when you make payment or receive approval of your application. 

The only exception to this policy is if your certification has lapsed altogether.

It takes two weeks for us to process your Renewal Application. If there is incorrect or missing information on your application and we need to follow up with you, it will take longer.

Be sure to keep an eye on your Inbox during this time period and add "Ce***********@************as.com" to your contacts list. At the same time, create a filter/rule instructing your email provider to never send messages from that address to spam.

Certification is a cost of doing business as a doula so please plan your business expenses accordingly. However, we will consider a payment plan option, reduced fee, or fee waiver for doulas in hardship. Email pa***@************as.com if you need special consideration. 

This consideration is not offered to Cross Certification applicants.