Best Online Doula Training Programs

Doula Trainings International offers full-spectrum doula training entirely online. In 12 months, you can earn three certifications, including birth doula, postpartum doula, and reproductive health doula.

It is easy to get started, with no prerequisites, and you can choose from various monthly start dates. You will spend your first three months completing intensive coursework through virtual learning, with real-time support on live video calls with DTI educators where you can ask questions.

Upon finishing the coursework, you must complete 16 hours of postpartum care (virtual or in-person), read the required reading list, complete an infant CPR course, and attend a local lactation and childbirth education class. You must also submit numerous written submissions and assignments to complete the course in full. 

The entire doula training program costs roughly $1,697 for virtual learning or $1,897 for in-person, or if you want to only do only the birth doula or postpartum certificate on its own, it is approximately $997.

One benefit of the DTI program is that you will never have to recertify as a doula as long as you are working in the field, and you have the option to purchase a yearly membership to maintain access to the online platform and use DTI resources with your clients. Overall, DTI is a great online option for prenatal and postpartum doula training with a well-rounded and streamlined curriculum.

Madriella offers an online postpartum doula certification as well as several additional certifications that are well suited for anyone looking to continue their education outside of the standard curriculum.

Certifications offered include postpartum doula, breastfeeding educator, young parent support specialist, and loss and bereavement doula. To take these courses, you must first complete the Madriella birth doula certificate, be over 18 years old, and have a valid CPR/first-aid certificate. To become certified, you need to pass an online certification exam based on the material in the course. 

Madriella is the most cost-effective online training option on this list. Instead of a course fee, it charges a membership fee of $300 that gives you unlimited access to its doula and educator courses online for three years. You can complete as many courses as you choose during that time.

The International Doula Institute has a strong focus on doula training as well as breastfeeding education. All coursework is completed online at your own pace through the IDI portal. There are no prerequisites to apply to the program, and you have one year to complete the training.

When enrolled, you have access to your doula trainer via phone or email to help at any time. You can take both the breastfeeding counselor and advanced lactation courses, giving you the 90 hours of study time required to pursue your International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant designation.

The International Doula Institute offers courses as either stand-alone courses or as part of a package. If you are just getting started with your doula training, you can purchase the six-segment complete program, which covers all aspects of birth and postpartum, as well as the breastfeeding counselor, childbirth educator, and advanced lactation course for about $4,740.

When purchased separately, the breastfeeding counselor certification program and the advanced lactation course cost roughly $790 each, and IDI has several payment plans for anyone needing financial support. 

Of all the options on this list, International Doula Institute has the most robust curriculum for breastfeeding training, with the opportunity to use your education to pursue certification as a lactation consultant.

BEST recognizes the disparity in birth outcomes and postpartum depression for parents of color. By offering scholarships for BIPOC students, BEST strives to improve birth outcomes for vulnerable populations by having greater BIPOC representation in the birth community. A portion of all registration fees supports the BEST doulas scholarships in partnership with The Grand Challenge.

All training is presented by Amanda Devereux and Maria Pokluda, who are both successful doulas, have helped thousands of families, and have participated in national programs to improve maternal health. You can complete the training either virtually or in person (in cities including Philadelphia, Boston, Atlanta, and Richmond, Virginia), whichever best suits your lifestyle. Once you complete the training, you are fully certified; there is no need to attend a birth or complete placement hours.

BEST costs around $650 for doula training, but there are early-bird discounts and scholarships for people of color. Books and other reading materials are not included in the course fee, but there is the option to set up a payment plan if you prefer to spread out your tuition payments. It costs about $75 to recertify every two years, but you can receive a discount if you refer friends to the program. 

Childbirth International started in 1998 with birth doula and childbirth educator courses. Since then, it has grown to offer many additional courses to address current issues birthing parents face.

Core classes include postpartum doula, lactation counselor, and business for birth professionals. Professional development courses are shorter in length and focus on more specific topics such as safety and infection control, understanding amniotic fluid disorders, issues of breech presentation, diabetes in pregnancy, exploring group B streptococcus, and breastfeeding in special circumstances, among others. All courses are offered online, making studying on your own time convenient and easy. 

The doula class costs $785 plus shipping, or you can save $65 if you go green and forgo printed manuals. The lactation counselor course is about $1,025 plus shipping or $960 for the paperless option. The company only offers refunds within 48 hours of purchase, less a $50 administration fee. But you can pay upfront or in five monthly installments, plus roughly a $10 per month administration fee.