Pathways to Certification – Choose your Pathway
The Mentorship Pathway is recommended for new doulas. Once you download the packet and submit the mentor matching form you will be connected with a mentor who will guide and support you through one client relationship (prenatal/birth/postpartum guidance and processing). Continuous membership is a requirement of certification. Certification does require the purchase and maintenance of a yearly membership with PALS Doulas. This annual membership can be purchased in 1, 2, or 3 year increments.
- Attendance at a PALS approved Birth Doula Training (see PALS recognized/approved training towards certification below on this page)
- Attendance & documentation of three births as the primary doula; including self-reflection on each birth, evaluations from parents & birth professionals, skill review, & data collection
- Documentation of seven areas of Skills Enrichment
- Documentation of Continuing Education
- Program & Self-Evaluation
- Personal goals essay
- Peer/Professional recommendations
- Attendance at PALS meetings
- Agreement and adherence to the PALS Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics
- Completion & submission of the Certification Packet within two years of Packet issue date
- Payment of the $35 Packet Review Fee (scholarships available)
- May be purchased as a standalone (if you are already a member) or bundled with annual membership
The Apprentice Pathway is recommended for new doulas who desire an additional level of guidance through their first client/doula relationship. Once you download the packet and submit the mentor /preceptor matching form you will be connected with a mentor who will guide and support you through one client relationship (prenatal/birth/postpartum guidance and processing) where they are the primary doula. This is a hands on learning opportunity to work with an experienced doula. Continuous membership is a requirement of certification. Certification does require the purchase and maintenance of a yearly membership with PALS Doulas. This annual membership can be purchased in 1, 2, or 3 year increments.
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- Attendance at a PALS approved Birth Doula Skills Training (see PALS recognized/approved training towards certification below on this page)
- Attendance & documentation of three births as the primary doula; including self-reflection on each birth, evaluations from parents & birth professionals, skill review, & data collection
- Documentation of seven areas of Skills Enrichment
- Documentation of Continuing Education.
- Program & Self-Evaluation.
- Personal goals essay.
- Peer/Professional recommendations.
- Attendance at PALS meetings.
- Agreement and adherence to the PALS Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics
- Completion & submission of the Certification Packet within two years of Packet issue date.
- Payment of the $35 Packet Review Fee
- May be purchased as a standalone (if you are already a member) or bundled with annual membership.
The Experienced Pathway is for doulas who have taken an approved training more than 5 years ago, and have attended at least 50 births.
- Welcome Interview conducted by a member of our Certification Committee
- Document attendance at fifty births within the last five years (form provided)
- Documentation of attendance at a PALS-approved Birth Doula Skills Workshop (no expiration date on the workshop) (see PALS recognized/approved training towards certification below on this page)
- Documentation of 20 hours of continuing education hours within the past three years
- Documentation of Skills Enrichment
- Completion & submission of the Certification Packet within two years of Packet issue date.
- Payment of the $35 Packet Review Fee
- May be purchased as a standalone (if you are already a member) or bundled with annual membership.
The Dual Certification Path is available to currently certified doulas who have completed the certification process with one of the approved training towards certification (see list below). It does require the purchase and maintenance of a yearly membership with PALS Doulas. This annual membership can be purchased in 1, 2, or 3 year increments.
- Welcome Interview conducted by a member of our Certification Committee
- Documentation of current, active membership status with the current certifying organization.
- Attendance & documentation of three births as the primary doula.
- Documentation of two areas of Skills Enrichment.
- Documentation of 15 hours of continuing education hours within the past three years.
- Completion & submission of the Certification Packet within two years of Packet issue date.
- Payment of the $35 Packet Review Fee when submitted
- May be purchased as a standalone (if you are already a member) or bundled with annual membership.
- If your training organization is listed (see PALS recognized/approved training towards certification below on this page) and does not issue a certification, please contact us at certification@palsdoulas.org
PALS certification is valid for three years. Every three years thereafter, re-certification is required to remain a PALS certified doula. Below is our re-certification process.
Requirements for Re-certification
- Download the free PALS Application for Re-certification.
- Membership must be continuous to maintain certification if your membership has lapsed during your current certification, it has been invalidated. You will be required to pay any late fees to bring it current.
- Document attendance at three births in the three years prior to re-certification and complete a PALS Doulas Birth Verification Form for each birth.
- Obtain a minimum of 15 contact hours of Continuing Education in the Maternal-Child Health Field from the three years prior to re-certification and submit documentation.
- Submit your Personal Statement Essay outlining the following information:
- Approximately how many births have you attended?
- How active have you been as a doula in the last three years?
- How do you uphold the PALS Doulas Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice in your work?
- Have you attended PALS events in the last three years (e.g. Advanced Doula Training, Membership Meetings, or Annual Meetings/Conferences)?
- Submit a $35.00 Packet Processing fee to PALS along with your packet.
This packet can be mailed or scanned in order and submitted to certification@palsdoulas.org
For PALS re-certification information, click here
“There is power that comes to women (the individual) when they give birth. They don’t ask for it, it simply invades them. Accumulates like clouds on the horizon and passes through, carrying the child with it.” – Sheryl Feldman
PALS recognized/approved training towards certification
If you do not see your training organization and would like for it to be considered for certification, please contact us at certification@palsdoulas.org
Ancient Song Full Spectrum Birth Doula Training**
Birth Arts International (BAI)* (Standards of Practice)
Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA) (Policies)
Childbirth International (CBI)* (Standards of Practice)
DONA International | Simkin Center at Bastyr University (Standards and Ethics)
SMC Full Circle Doula Training**
(*in person only training at this time)
(**Some organizations do not publicly list a specific Standards of Practice/Code of Ethics/Scope of Practice. Each doula seeking certification with PALS must agree to follow the PALS Scope and Standards of Practice. )
Big Belly Services – EnCircle/Doula Schoola**
(**Some organizations do not publicly list a specific Standards of Practice/Code of Ethics/Scope of Practice. Each doula seeking certification with PALS must agree to follow the PALS Scope and Standards of Practice. )
HealthConnect One Community Based Doula Training (Offered through Open Arms Perinatal Services)**
(**Some organizations do not publicly list a specific Standards of Practice/Code of Ethics/Scope of Practice. Each doula seeking certification with PALS must agree to follow the PALS Scope and Standards of Practice. )