Learn How You Can Become A Doula | Natural Healers

By: Kendall Upton

Professional insights:

Simone Mack, CPD, HES

Updated: February 3, 2026

Home / Blog / Doula Doula education and careers

Learn how to become a doula with the right education program.

Updated: August 6, 2024

Written and reported by:

Kendall Upton

Staff Writer & Editor

Doulas provides information, physical and emotional support for women and their partners during and after the birthing process. Unlike other practitioners such as obstetricians, nurses and nurse-midwives, doulas do not give medical advice or have clinical duties.

However, they provide critical support and assistance during labor, birth and postpartum to make the process as smooth and positive for the mother as possible.

In This Article

Doula career overview | What do they do? | Certification | Education Salary and career outlook | Tips for success | FAQ

Doula career overview

“Doula” is a word coined from ancient Greek, meaning “a woman who serves.” And whether a doula is male or female, that is what a professional with doula training does—helps the mother and her family during birth and/or the postpartum period.

There are two main types of doulas. A birth doula provides emotional support before and during labor and assists with breathing, positioning and relaxation. A postpartum doula supports the entire family during the transition of caring for a new baby, providing education and information as well as newborn care and household assistance. Most people when talking about doulas are usually referring to birth doulas, but they are only one piece of the puzzle.

A birth doula provides emotional support during labor and assists with breathing, positioning and relaxation.

“You have birth doulas and postpartum doulas generally when it comes to birth work. A birth doula is there beforehand—they helped plan the birth, they’re with the mom, they’re an advocate during birth, they understand the different phases of labor, but they’re also done within a few hours after the birth. Then a postpartum doula ideally comes in right after,” said Simone Mack, a postpartum doula in Seattle, Washington. “Essentially the role of a postpartum doula is to help the mother recover from labor and to help the baby adjust to life outside the womb. Those are the two main goals.”

Doulas may be hired directly by clients, they may work for a clinic or hospital, or they may be volunteers. Doulas can assist with home births, hospital births or births taking place anywhere else (such as a birth center). It all depends on the mother and her plans for the birth of her child.

Mack said one of the best parts of the job is the rapport she gets to build with the families she works with. She said she’s always in awe when she gets to meet a baby the day they are born or the day after and know that she gets to be a part of the first moments of that person’s life.

She said she also loves being a grounding force through the chaos of having a baby, especially as the birthing parent recovers. But she also loves helping out their partners—even the parents that have attended all the classes and read all the books can still freeze up when a baby is crying and wonder what they’re supposed to be doing. That’s where she can come in and provide guidance.

Why should someone hire a doula?

Besides the appeal of having an experienced childbirth professional be there for you throughout pregnancy and birth, hiring a doula comes with other benefits as well. Studies have consistently shown that when mothers receive continuous emotional support and physical comfort throughout childbirth, their obstetrics outcomes improve. This can include:

• Less likely to have a low birth weight (LBW) baby
• Less likely to experience birth complications
• More likely to successfully initiate breastfeeding

Mothers aren’t the only ones that can benefit—doulas are there to support and empower the birthing partner(s) as well, whether they are the mother’s romantic partner or spouse, a grandparent or anyone else.

As for a postpartum doula, they can provide crucial assistance to the mother in the first few exhausting weeks or months of the baby’s life.

“I think that’s the big advantage and difference between having a doula and not having a doula. A family member can come in and they can help but they’re not generally a specialist that understands, for example, how to transition a newborn into eating every three hours instead of every one hour,” Mack said. “One family described it to me really well. She once said to me, ‘To fix a problem, I might have one or two ideas. But you have five or six.’”

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What does a doula do?

Birth doulas support mothers and their families throughout pregnancy, labor and birth. Their job is to create a supportive and loving environment for the mother in whatever way she needs it most to have a successful and positive birthing experience.

Fostering a positive environment is also top of mind for postpartum doulas, but their scope is a little different.

“They really are wildly different technical skills,” Mack said. “A birth doula is not an infant specialist—they are there to understand labor. As a postpartum doula, my job is to know the recovery process for a birthing person, but really my specialty is with the baby.”

Mack said that while there are many doulas that are trained as both birth and postpartum doulas, they don’t usually fulfill both roles for the same family. That’s because to be there through labor and birth—which could take upwards of 24-48 hours in some cases—and then stay to help the family postpartum doesn’t give that doula much time off to recover and take care of themselves.

Doulas typically charge clients for a specific package of services. A birth doula’s package might, for example, include a certain number of visits throughout the pregnancy, accompanying the mother during the birth and then following up with the mother a certain number of times after the birth.

Doula job duties

Although each doula may do things a little differently, all birth doulas generally perform the following duties:

• Help mothers and families come up with a birthing plan during pregnancy, which may include things like where they want to have the baby (e.g. at home vs. hospital), whether they want to have a medicated or unmedicated birth, plans for emergency scenarios and more
• Answer questions and educate the mother about all stages of the birthing process
• Help mothers and their partner(s) prepare for a new baby
• Provide emotional and physical support to the mother throughout labor and delivery with tools like breathing exercises, massage and repositioning
• Act as a liaison between the mother and her healthcare providers, advocating for the mother’s need and wishes

Postpartum doulas focus on what comes after the baby is born:

• Assist mothers and families with newborn care
• Give mothers guidance on breastfeeding
• Help foster a regular eating and sleeping schedule for the baby
• Coach mothers and families on how to identify and respond to the baby’s physical and emotional cues
• Provide emotional support to mothers that may be dealing with postpartum depression (PPD) and recommend

Where do they work?

Doulas may contract their services directly with clients or they may work for a formal employer. Doulas who work directly with clients typically run their own private business or work for a group doula agency. Doulas working in this setting generally have more decision-making power about how much to charge, their schedule and the clients they take on.

Others can find employment at hospitals, clinics and birth centers. In fact, some hospital systems today employ doulas full-time so that they can offer their services to patients. Working in a more structured setting like this could come at the cost of some autonomy, but it may also lead to a steadier flow of clients.

A postpartum doula explains the job

Mack has worked at a postpartum doula agency in Seattle for over a year. She works with families after the birth and for the first few weeks or months of the baby’s life.

“There are times that I start with the family in the hospital that same night and even stay in the hospital, especially with C-section families who need a couple days of support in the hospital. But sometimes I come in a week or two after the family has left, so there’s a big spectrum of when I might start,” Mack said.

When you start and for how long you work with a family really depends on the client’s desires. Most families, Mack said, sign up for somewhere between four weeks to several months at a time.

“Each contract for a client is super fluid. You could have day shifts or night shifts, you could have any number of hours. Most [postpartum] doulas—whether they’re at an agency or private—will have a minimum numbers of hours, so in my agency the minimum is 20 hours a week. That could be four- or five-hour day shifts. And then the night shifts are eight or 10 hours.”

While most parents that hire her tend to be first-time parents, there are also many parents that had a tough time with a previous child and want some extra support the next time around.

One of the most fascinating things she’s noticed about this work, Mack said, is the importance of parents having a strong connection to their own body. “If you can’t read your own body’s signals, I find that it’s really hard for people to see a baby’s cues and know intuitively what they’re asking for. And so a lot of that is also supporting and coaching the parents into reading, viewing and interpreting these cues.” These cues could include the baby’s facial expressions, the sound of their cry or something else.

“If [the parents] feel distanced from their own body, often it’s hard for them to be able to read that on another creature. But it’s totally learnable,” Mack said.

How to become a doula: certification explained

If you’re wondering how to become a doula, the answer is fairly straightforward: doula training and certification.

However, understanding doula certification can be confusing when you consider how many different certifications are out there and that they don’t all mean the same thing. To demystify the concept, it can be helpful to think about the differences between licensure and certification first.

Many professionals need to be licensed by their state in order to legally work. Such professions include nurses, doctors, lawyers, architects, physical therapists, chiropractors, massage therapists—the list goes on and on. Licenses are a way to ensure that the person has met a certain standard of education and training needed to be proficient in their occupation.

State-issued licenses for doulas do not exist. Certifications, therefore, are simply awarded by the professional organizations that created them. They signal to the public that the doula has fulfilled that specific organization’s requirements.

Some organizations’ requirements are more extensive than others. For example, some places may offer a doula certification after completing a one-day workshop, while another may require the doula to complete several training courses, attend a certain number of births and so on before they can get certified.

New state certifications for doulas

Though there are no licenses for doulas, some states now offer state-issued certifications for doulas. This is the result of a trending legislative push to allow doula care to be covered under state Medicaid plans. Most states that provide Medicaid coverage for doulas require those doulas to be certified by the state.

Most states with doula certifications require them to be certified by an approved credentialling organization (e.g. DONA International or something similar) to qualify for the state certification.

Every state’s requirements are different, however. Be sure to check to see if your state has a certification for doulas and if it’s required for the work you wish to do.

Education for doulas

Now that we’ve established what certification means in the context of becoming a doula, let’s consider what education and training you need to become a doula.

What you’ll study in doula school

Doula training courses are offered by many different providers. Because there are so many different doula training courses out there—and because the profession is not yet regulated—not all courses are going to be the same in terms of their curriculum or quality. Take time to research all your options so you can be sure you’re attending a high-quality course. Courses and workshops that are approved by a reputable organization like DONA International are a good place to start.

Even though every program is going to have its variations, you can expect to learn the following in most birth doula training courses:

• Anatomy and physiology of pregnancy, fetal development, labor, postpartum and breastfeeding
• Emotional and psychological aspects of pregnancy and birth
• Labor variations and complications
• Labor pain management techniques, both medicated and unmedicated variations
• How to help mothers initiate breastfeeding
• Communication and listening skills
• Newborn care
• Cultural diversity, ethics and business practices

Postpartum doula classes provide an additional focus on how to care for infants and mothers after birth.

How long does it take to become a doula?

The time it takes to become a doula depends on several factors including the type of doula certification you may be trying to get, the time you have to devote to your learning and any prior experience you may have.

In order to become a certified birth doula through DONA International, for example, you must complete at least eight hours of childbirth education, 16 hours of birth doula training and at least three hours of lactation education. That’s about 27 hours of training at minimum, not including all their other requirements. Other credentialling organizations have different minimum requirements.

Mack got her postpartum doula certification through Pro Doula where she took a weekend-long crash course online. It’s not as in-depth as some of the other doula certifications out there, but it can be a great option for doulas that already have a lot of experience but need the certification to, say, work in a hospital or something. Mack herself already had years of experience as a nanny and working in early childhood education, so she wasn’t going into it brand new.

A lot of hospitals, for example, want their doulas to be DONA certified. But since it’s an extensive process, Mack said that some doulas opt for some of the quicker, less rigorous certifications to get their feet wet, gain some experience, and then go back for a more in-depth certification later.

Average doula school tuition

Childbirth education and doula training courses generally cost between $300 and $1000 total, though these costs can vary widely depending on the depth and length of the course. There may also be additional expenses associated with breastfeeding classes, reading materials, organization membership and certification fees.

Getting certified

Becoming a certified doula can look very different depending on which certification you are going for, as each has their own requirements.

DONA International’s certifications are some of the most popular and respected doula certifications available. In order to become a DONA certified birth doula, you must satisfy the following:

• Complete a DONA-approved birth doula workshop (at least 16 hours long)
• Complete an approved childbirth education course (at least eight hours long)
• Complete an approved lactation support education course (at least three hours long)
• Attend and document three birth support experiences
• Complete the required reading (two position papers and four books)
• Complete a self-assessment questionnaire and a resource and referral list for your community
• Register as a member of DONA International Submit an application with all the required documents and pay the required fee

Salary and career outlook for doulas

Unfortunately the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not have salary or job growth data available for doulas specifically. However, the career forecast is positive for other professionals that may work alongside doulas or who have a doula education themselves. The employment of nurse-midwives, for example, is expected to grow 11.1% through 2034, which is faster than the average across all occupations.

Doula salaries

A doula’s earning potential varies greatly depending on geographic location, how much training and experience you have and how many hours of work you do per week. However, fees for birth doulas generally run between $500 and $1000.

Mack said that although it can be more taxing on your personal wellness, postpartum doulas can often make a lot more money if they are willing to do night shift work.

Many doulas choose to advance their skills and become registered nurses. You can search for nurse-midwife salaries by state here:

Nurse Midwives

National data

Median Salary: $128,790

Projected job growth: 11.1%

10th Percentile: $74,670

25th Percentile: $104,260

75th Percentile: $146,520

90th Percentile: $177,040

Projected job growth: 11.1%

State data

State	Median Salary	Bottom 10%	Top 10%
Alaska	$130,030	$108,190	$179,930
Arizona	$135,590	$102,980	N/A
California	$196,700	$111,800	$226,840
Colorado	$132,670	$47,960	$154,750
Connecticut	$124,530	$109,110	$147,350
Delaware	$99,060	$79,210	$139,790
District of Columbia	$106,580	$89,010	$145,350
Florida	$115,440	$45,930	$141,010
Georgia	$125,830	$97,760	$159,250
Idaho	$89,870	$20,780	$138,540
Illinois	$114,420	$52,660	$143,630
Indiana	$129,010	$110,770	$165,000
Iowa	$136,450	$82,950	$204,960
Louisiana	$95,420	$86,180	$131,150
Maine	$132,920	$106,670	$163,810
Maryland	$129,910	$116,190	$159,650
Massachusetts	$155,710	$127,950	$225,190
Michigan	$116,810	$94,320	$142,440
Minnesota	$127,180	$85,560	$157,660
Missouri	$134,970	$111,590	$163,960
Nebraska	$133,890	$129,440	$133,940
New Hampshire	$135,860	$75,690	$147,970
New Jersey	$135,680	$106,630	$161,010
New Mexico	$118,650	$37,290	$144,930
New York	$137,860	$108,970	$173,130
North Carolina	$121,490	$94,310	$143,100
Ohio	$121,720	$105,790	$148,630
Oregon	$123,080	$69,340	$159,480
Pennsylvania	$107,740	$74,670	$152,890
Rhode Island	$127,480	$114,400	$161,890
South Carolina	$118,100	$82,920	$135,180
Tennessee	$97,380	$89,710	$130,780
Texas	$111,190	$80,890	$146,030
Utah	$138,020	$78,270	$179,250
Vermont	$140,240	$119,470	$171,620
Virginia	$139,770	$89,290	$160,430
Washington	$145,000	$105,990	$205,640
Wisconsin	$135,360	$91,500	$161,450

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2024 median salary; projected job growth through 2034. Actual salaries vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.

Tips for success from a postpartum doula

Starting out as a doula can be tough, Mack said. After all, most people can’t quit their job and be without an income while they get trained and start their own business. On top of that, families tend to want to hire someone that already has experience, so getting that experience early on can be a challenge. Consider some of these strategies that may be helpful early on in your career:

Be a doula for loved ones.

Mack said that many doulas she knows—herself included—start out by being a doula for friends and family. “That’s what I would recommend if someone wants to do it full time. If they’re trying to get into it, get a little experience with some friends and family.”

Consider offering your services at a lower cost while you learn.

“Some people even post [online] to do their doula support for free or at a discounted cost while they’re learning.” Once you can get hired by an agency, Mack said, the volume of work available to you will help you learn quickly.

Shadow other doulas, if you can.

Finding doulas that will let you shadow them can be a great way to start learning and get a feel for whether this career is right for you.

Always have a contract.

“Another thing to be aware of if you’re doing private work is to understand your boundaries. Always have a contract and be ready to stand by it,” Mack said. She also said to make sure the contract clearly defines your scope as a doula and what you can or cannot do.

Take care of yourself.

Being a pillar of physical and emotional support for someone else can be draining. Mack said it’s absolutely imperative that you take care of yourself, especially if you take on night shift work as a postpartum doula. “Having a regulated nervous system, whether you’re doing birth or postpartum work, [is important] because you are the calm grounding stone when the waves are crashing. You know, no one likes to be up at three in the morning with a screaming baby, but you’re paid to be the person who’s called for that. Do whatever you need to do in order to be ready, patient, calm and grounded.”

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Do doulas need to be licensed?

Doulas are an unregulated profession, meaning there are no doula licenses nor any other requirements you must fulfill in order to call yourself a doula and offer your services. That said, any doula starting out today is going to have a difficult time getting hired or accruing clients without the education and credentials to back themselves up. Most doulas, therefore, attend doula education courses and choose to get certified.  

Are doulas the same as midwives?

No, doulas and midwives have similar but distinct roles. For starters, midwives have more medical training than doulas. There are several different types of midwives in United States, but the majority are either Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) or Certified Midwives (CMs). Both have at least a master’s degree in midwifery and have passed a certification exam, and CNMs are also registered nurses.  

Are doulas covered by insurance?

Although this depends on each individual’s health insurance plan, doula services are generally not covered by insurance. That’s because they aren’t licensed or formally credentialled professionals. Some insurance plans may cover certain aspects of a doula’s services such as lactation consultation, but this depends on the insurance provider’s policies.  That said, many states have passed legislation in the past few years that allows doula services to be covered by the state’s Medicaid plan.  

What is the best doula certification?

There is no single best doula certification. The best certification for you depends on your unique career goals. Some of the most well-established doula certification providers include DONA International, Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA), Childbirth International, International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) and Birth Arts International.

Can doulas deliver babies?

No, doulas are not medically trained or licensed to deliver babies themselves.  

How much do doulas cost?

Although the cost of hiring a doula can vary based on several factors, many doulas charge a flat fee for a specific package of services which typically ranges anywhere from $500 to $3000, though some may cost more.