Certification Chart
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Birth Doula Certification Comparison Chart

The Organizations

bulletALACE (Association of Labor Assistants and Childbirth Educators)
bulletBirth Works, Inc.
bulletCAPPA (Childbirth And Postpartum Professional Association)
bulletCAPPA Canada - CAPPA's Canadian Division
bulletChildbirth International
bulletDONA (Doulas of North America)
bulletDoula CARE Inc.**
bulletGBI (Global Birth Institute)
bulletICEA (International Childbirth Education Association)
bulletTitus 2 Birthing (Christian Childbirth Organization)
bulletACCP (Association of Christian Childbirth Professionals)*
bulletCDA (Canadian Doula Association)**
* this is not a certification organization, but a referral source for Christian birth professionals, see Titus 2 Birthing
** this is not a certification organization, this is a support, continuing education and referral organization in Canada

Contact information for each organization

 

ALACE

Birth Works

CAPPA

and

CAPPA Canada

Childbirth International

DONA

GBI

ICEA

Titus 2

Organization Director

Jessica Porter, Executive Director

Cathy Daub, President

CAPPA:

Tracy Peters and Donna Johnson, Executive Directors

 

CAPPA Canada:

Carolyn Thompson, Executive
Director

Nikki Macfarlane, Director

Susan Martensen, President 

Charlotte Millington, Executive Director

Jane Hanrahan, President

Kathy Rateliff, Director

Organization Journal or Newsletter

Special Delivery

Birth Works Newsletter

The Baby Factor

Childbirth International E-News

International Doula

The Cord

International Journal of Childbirth Education

Titus 2 Newsletter

Philosophy of Organization

ALACE philosophy

Birth Works philosophy

CAPPA philosophy

Childbirth International philosophy

DONA mission statement

GBI philosophy

ICEA philosophy

Titus 2 philosophy

Credentials Awarded

Certified Labor Assistant (LA)

Certified Doula (CD)

Certified Labor Doula (CLD)

Certificate of Labor Support (Cert. LS)

Certified Doula (CD)

Certified Childbirth Doula (CCD)

ICEA Certified Doula (ICD)

Certified Christian Doula (CCD)

Getting Certified

 

ALACE

Birth Works

CAPPA

Childbirth International

DONA

GBI

ICEA

Titus 2

Certification Fee*

$385 tuition; $100 if attending an alternate certification workshop

$45 entry fee; $150 journal and certification fee

Member fee $40.00, Certification
Packet $30.00, Processing Fee $75.00, Training
Workshop Registration Fee $250 - $350.00 (Fee set by
trainer)

$350 - includes one years membership, all course materials included

$35 for packet; $60 processing fee; $32.80 yearly membership fee or $57.40 for 2 years

Student Membership $100 Certification Evaluation $50

$80 application fee; $30 membership fee

$20 membership fee; $25 certification package

Training Workshop Required?

Yes

Yes

Yes, or video equivalent
(distance program)

No, distance training program

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Cost of Training Workshop*

Included in Tuition

$295; $100 discount for Birth Works Educators

$250 - $350.00(Fee set
by trainer)

None

Varies depending on trainer

$350 - $400 (varies by program length)

Varies depending on trainer

Varies depending on location

Required Reading List

ALACE reading list

Birth Works book list

CAPPA reading list

Childbirth International reading list

DONA reading list

GBI reading list

ICEA reading list

Titus 2 reading list

Number of Births Required for Certification

6; written summaries of each

Recommended if invited but not required to ensure a woman's privacy at birth

Minimum of 3; written evaluation and summary of each

4 - 2 may be together with an experienced mentor, evaluation of each

3; written summaries and 2 evaluations from each

3; written summaries and evaluations at each

3 as labour support or postpartum support

4; minimum of 3 hours per birth; written evaluation of each

Other requirements

ALACE additional requirements

Birth Works additional requirements

CAPPA additional requirements

Childbirth International additional requirements

DONA additional requirements

GBI additional requirements

ICEA additional requirements

Titus 2 additional requirements

Time Limit?

No

12 months from attending workshop

2 years following training program

Three years from beginning of training

24 months after entering certification program

24 months from date of workshop

1 year from entering program

No

Final Exam?

Yes

Completion of Journal

Yes

Yes

No, essay required

Yes

No

No, essay required

* All prices in US funds except for GBI which is in Canadian funds.

Certification if Certified Through Another Organization

 

ALACE

Birth Works

CAPPA

Childbirth International

DONA

GBI

ICEA

Titus 2

Are reduced requirements offered for previous doula certification?

Yes, but only waive the workshop

No, due to special nature of the Birth Works Program

Yes, DONA, ALACE and ICEA. Please
inquire regarding other organizations

Yes

Yes, but only waive the workshop

Yes, previous births count

No, reduced requirements for ICEA Certified Educators

Yes

Is a workshop still required?

No, if previous workshop was approved

Yes

Yes, or video equivalent
(distance program)

No

No, if previous workshop was approved

Yes, due to level of training, online workshop available

No, if previous workshop was approved

Yes, abbreviated workshop

Reduced Requirements

Same as above, but without workshop attendance

See above

Requirements

With certification with another organization AND evidence of support of at least 30 women, may opt to sit exam on physiology without any study work, and may opt to not do the Level 1 Labor Support Skills module, only need to provide evaluations from 2 births, reduced fee

Same as above, but without workshop attendance

See above; additionally, certain applicants may request to challenge workshop

Same as above, but without workshop attendance

Verification of Certification; High School diploma or equivalent; Adult/Infant CPR

Policies, Contracts and Yearly Renewal 

 

ALACE

Birth Works

CAPPA

Childbirth International

DONA

GBI

ICEA

Titus 2

Policies or Contracts

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes, student contract

No

Yes

Signature required?

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Continuing Education Required

8 CEU's and a summary of one birth attended each year

Write about your experience at one birth you attended that year

8 CEU's every year

Yes, 10 CEU's and evidence of supporting 6 women every three years

Yes

No

2.4 CEU's every four years

Yes, at least one workshop every year

Renewal or Recertification fees

$50/year membership (1 year included in fees)

$55/year includes newsletter, Primal Health Research newsletter, etc.

$75 recertification fee; $40/year membership fee

Membership - $35 per year (discount for 2 or 3 year membership), lifetime membership available

$32.80/year membership; recertification fee of $60, certification good for three years

No, however continuing education is strongly encouraged for alumni

$75 recertification fee; $30 annual membership fee

$20/year membership

Doula Support and Referral

 

ALACE

Birth Works

CAPPA

Childbirth International

DONA

GBI

ICEA

Titus 2

Is there support for current doulas and doulas in training?

Yes, but main office can be hard to reach

Yes, limited office hours

Yes, toll-free line to answer questions

Yes - email list peer support group, tutor support and mentor assigned for period of training

Yes

Yes, mentoring program included

Yes, toll-free line to answer questions

Yes

Is there a referral service

Yes

Online directory being developed

Yes

Online system being developed

Yes, excellent referral service

Yes, through the CDA

Yes

Yes, through ACCP

Email referral

ALACE

Birth Works

CAPPA

CAPPA Canada

Childbirth International

DONA

CDA

ICEA

ACCP

Phone referral

1-888-

222-5223

1-888- TO BIRTH

1-888-

548-3672

and

1-866-Cdn-Birth (236-2478)

None

1-888-

788-DONA (3662)

Coming Soon

612- 854-8660

Unknown

Website Referral

ALACE

Birth Works

CAPPA

or

CAPPA Canada

Childbirth International

DONA

CDA

ICEA

ACCP Referral Site

Are there local representatives

Yes

Yes

Yes

Planned for the future

Yes

No

Yes

No

Other Certifications Available Through Organization

 

ALACE

Birth Works

CAPPA

Childbirth International

DONA

GBI

ICEA

Titus 2

Childbirth Education Certification

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes, diploma program (Dip CBEd)

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Antepartum Doula Certification No No Yes No No No No No

Postpartum Doula Certification

No

Yes, part of birth doula certification

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

No

No

Monitrice Certification

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

Yes

Lactation Counsellor Certification

No No No No No Yes No No

Lactation Professional Certification

No No Yes, Lactation Educator No No Yes, Lactation Counsellor No No
Postnatal Educator Certification No No No No No No Yes No
Perinatal Fitness Educator Certification No No No No No No Yes No
Teen Support No No Yes No No No No No
Adoption Support No No Yes No No No No No
Copyright Mother Care 1999-2006. Compiled and written by Connie Banack. Updated January 03, 2006.
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