October 5: Become A Doula
October 5: Become A Doula
Join our inaugural cohort:
doula diploma program
Open to residents of Massachusetts and Rhode Island
The Doulas of the Diaspora (DoD) Doula Diploma Program is a comprehensive, four-phase apprenticeship designed to take you from aspiring doula to confident, independent professional. Unlike traditional certification courses that end after classroom instruction, our six-month program combines evidence-based education, personalized mentorship, real-world clinical experience, and business development to prepare you for a successful career supporting birthing families. You'll develop the clinical knowledge, practical skills, and entrepreneurial foundation needed to provide exceptional, culturally responsive care while building a sustainable doula practice.
Throughout the program, you'll progress through a carefully designed learning experience that builds your confidence every step of the way. You'll begin with an immersive online curriculum before moving into hands-on workshops, one-on-one mentorship, clinical shadowing, and supervised client care. As your skills grow, you'll transition from observing experienced doulas to leading prenatal visits, births, and postpartum support yourself—all while receiving individualized coaching, feedback, and guidance from experienced mentors.
By the end of the program, you won't just leave with a certificate—you'll graduate with real clinical experience, an established business foundation, and the confidence to serve clients independently. You'll launch your own doula practice, retain 100% of the earnings from your first independent client, and receive guidance navigating insurance reimbursement and business operations so you can begin your career with the tools, support, and experience to thrive.
Already completed our 6-week certificate and would like to continue your education? You will receive a discount toward your diploma tuition. Reach out to business@doulasofthediaspora.org with any questions.
Upcoming COURSE INFORMATION
Dates: October 5, 2026 — April 3, 2027
Phase I: Foundations of Professional Doula Practice
Phase II: Doula Apprenticeship & Practice Development
Phase III: Supervised Doula Residency
Phase IV: Independent Practice Launch
Cost: $2,000 ($500 discount available to graduates of the DoD Doula Certificate Program).
Multiple payment options and payment plans are available!
This diploma program is open to residents of Massachusetts and Rhode Island only.
REGISTRATION CLOSES SEPTEMBER 1.
Phase 1: Foundations of Professional Doula Practice
6-Week Online Training | October 5, 2026 – November 11, 2026 | 5:30PM-7:30PM
Every exceptional doula begins with a strong educational foundation. Phase 1 is an immersive six-week online training designed to provide the knowledge, practical skills, and business acumen needed to launch a successful career as a professional birth doula. Combining evidence-based education with real-world application, this comprehensive curriculum prepares you to confidently support families throughout pregnancy, labor, birth, and the postpartum period while introducing the systems necessary to build a sustainable doula practice.
Whether your goal is to serve clients independently, accept insurance, or eventually join a hospital-based or community doula program, this phase provides the foundation upon which the rest of the apprenticeship is built.
What You'll Learn
Throughout Phase 1, you'll develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to provide compassionate, evidence-based support to families throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period.
Foundations of Birth & Doula Care
History and evolution of childbirth, midwifery, and doula care
The role and scope of the professional doula
Cultural humility and trauma-informed care
Professional ethics and client advocacy
Pregnancy & Prenatal Care
Anatomy and physiology of pregnancy
Hormonal changes and fetal development by trimester
Emotional and psychological changes during pregnancy
Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders
Pregnancy and infant loss
Building a comprehensive prenatal care team, including pelvic floor physical therapy, prenatal fitness, yoga, chiropractic care, acupuncture, massage therapy, lactation support, mental health, and other complementary providers
Labor & Birth Support
Physiology and stages of labor
Signs of labor and labor progression
Comfort measures, including massage, counterpressure, rebozo techniques, heat and cold therapy, breathing, relaxation, and emotional coaching
Laboring and pushing positions, biomechanics, pelvic opening techniques, and position changes throughout labor
Supporting partners during labor
Birth Settings & Medical Care
Hospital, birth center, home birth, and community birth models
Cesarean birth support and recovery
Common medical interventions, including induction, augmentation, pain management, assisted births, fetal monitoring, and informed decision-making
Postpartum & Newborn Care
Breastfeeding and infant feeding fundamentals
Newborn appearance, behavior, feeding, sleep, and soothing techniques
Early postpartum recovery and family adjustment
Communication & Professional Practice
Prenatal education and postpartum support
Navigating client and family dynamics
Trauma-informed communication
HIPAA and client confidentiality
Collaborative communication with healthcare providers
Documentation and professional standards
Building Your Doula Business
Establishing and growing your doula practice
Finding and retaining clients
Pricing, contracts, and client workflows
Insurance reimbursement and MassHealth billing
MassHealth and Rhode Island provider enrollment support
Business structures, taxes, malpractice insurance, branding, and sustainable business systems
Upon Successful Completion, You Will:
Receive a Certificate of Completion, including a detailed course syllabus that supports eligibility for certification pathways and Massachusetts and Rhode Island provider enrollment.
Possess the foundational knowledge, clinical skills, and professional confidence needed to begin supporting families throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period.
Be prepared to build and operate your own independent doula practice with a strong understanding of both client care and business operations.
Be ready to advance into Phase 2 of the apprenticeship, where you'll receive hands-on mentorship, clinical observation, and personalized business coaching.
Learning doesn't end when class does. Every participant will receive six months of continued access to our online learning portal, including:
Recorded class sessions
Presentation slides
Training videos
Downloadable resources
Course materials and reference guides
This allows you to revisit lessons, reinforce key concepts, and continue learning as you begin working with clients.
Phase 2: Mentorship & Practice Development (6 Weeks)
This is where your training transforms into real-world experience. During this intensive six-week mentorship, you'll receive personalized guidance, hands-on clinical exposure, and step-by-step business support to confidently launch your doula career.
What's Included:
12 Hours of Hands-On Workshops
Participate in interactive workshops designed to bridge the gap between knowledge and practice. You'll refine your communication skills, learn to navigate real client scenarios, practice documentation, role-play challenging situations, and build the confidence to support families in any birth setting.6 Hours of Private 1:1 Coaching with Dr. Deu
Receive individualized mentorship tailored to your goals. Whether you're preparing for your first client, building your business, developing your brand, or overcoming challenges, you'll have dedicated coaching sessions with Dr. Deu to help accelerate your growth and success.Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) Doula Certification Support
Receive guidance through the Massachusetts DPH certification process, ensuring you understand the requirements and have the tools needed to successfully complete your certification.Build Your Doula Business
Learn how to establish a sustainable and thriving practice. You'll develop your pricing, contracts, intake forms, workflow, client communication systems, marketing strategy, and professional brand so you're ready to begin serving clients immediately after graduation.Shadow Prenatal & Postpartum Visits
Observe experienced doulas as they provide prenatal education, emotional support, birth planning, postpartum care, and family-centered guidance. Gain insight into what exceptional client care looks like before leading visits on your own.Shadow a Live Birth
Experience the birth space alongside an experienced doula. Witness labor support in real time, learn how to advocate effectively, observe clinical collaboration with healthcare teams, and see classroom concepts come to life during an actual birth experience.
By the End of Phase 2, You Will:
Be prepared to begin accepting doula clients with confidence.
Have your business foundation established and ready to grow.
Be enrolled as a MassHealth provider.
Be a certified doula in the State of Massachusetts and/or Rhode Island.
Gain valuable real-world observation experience.
Receive personalized mentorship from one of New England's leading doula program directors.
Graduate with the confidence, systems, and support needed to build a sustainable and impactful doula career.
Phase 3: Supervised DOULA Practicum (6 weeks)
This is where you step fully into your role as a professional doula. During your supervised practicum, you'll transition from observing to leading client care while receiving ongoing mentorship from an experienced doula every step of the way. Rather than practicing through simulations alone, you'll gain invaluable experience supporting a real family from pregnancy through the postpartum period—building the confidence, professional judgment, and professional skills that only hands-on experience can provide.
What's Included:
Receive Your First Doula Client
You'll be matched with a client through Doulas of the Diaspora, allowing you to begin your career with the support of an established organization while serving a family in your community.Lead the Full Doula Experience
From prenatal visits and birth preparation to labor support and postpartum care, you will serve as the primary doula for your client. You'll take the lead in building rapport, providing education, offering emotional and physical support, and advocating for your client's birth preferences.Weekly Mentor Coaching
Meet with your assigned mentor each week to prepare for upcoming appointments, discuss questions, problem-solve challenges, and debrief your experiences. These sessions provide personalized guidance to help you continuously grow in confidence and competence.Real-Time Doula Support
Your mentor will periodically join prenatal visits, postpartum visits, and other client interactions to observe, provide feedback, and ensure you're developing strong clinical and communication skills. While your mentor is available for support, you will remain the primary doula, giving you the opportunity to develop true independence in your practice.Constructive Feedback & Professional Growth
Receive individualized feedback throughout your practicum to strengthen your advocacy, client communication, documentation, professionalism, and decision-making. Every experience becomes an opportunity to refine your skills in a supportive learning environment.
By the End of Phase 3, You Will:
Confidently manage a doula client from pregnancy through the postpartum period.
Lead prenatal, labor, birth, and postpartum support with increasing independence.
Strengthen your doula judgment through real-world experience.
Develop confidence in communicating with clients and healthcare teams.
Receive expert mentorship while building the skills needed for long-term success.
Graduate with practical experience that prepares you to confidently accept clients independently.
Phase 4: Independent Practice & Business Launch
Congratulations—you've reached the final phase of your journey. This is where you transition from a mentored doula to an independent business owner, confidently serving clients under your own brand while continuing to receive expert guidance behind the scenes.
Unlike previous phases, you'll no longer be practicing under the umbrella of Doulas of the Diaspora. Instead, you'll begin building your own client base, earning 100% of your income, and operating your business with the confidence that comes from comprehensive training, real-world experience, and ongoing support.
What's Included:
Launch Your Independent Doula Practice
You'll be matched with a client to serve entirely through your own business. From your initial consultation to postpartum follow-up, you'll manage every aspect of the client relationship, allowing you to establish your reputation, strengthen your portfolio, and grow your business with confidence.Keep 100% of Your Earnings
This client is yours. Doulas of the Diaspora does not take a percentage of your fees, allowing you to retain all income earned while experiencing what it's like to operate as an independent doula entrepreneur.Insurance Billing & Claims Support
You'll receive step-by-step guidance on submitting insurance claims so you can confidently navigate reimbursement and maximize your earning potential. Learn the systems, documentation, and best practices that make accepting insurance a seamless part of your business.Ongoing Business Mentorship
Although you're now practicing independently, you're not on your own. Continue receiving guidance as you encounter new situations, ask questions, and refine your systems, ensuring you have the support needed to build a sustainable and successful practice.
By the End of Phase 4, You Will:
Successfully manage your own doula client from start to finish.
Operate confidently under your own business and brand.
Keep 100% of the revenue earned from your independent client.
Understand how to submit insurance claims and navigate reimbursement.
Have the experience, confidence, and business systems needed to sustain and grow your private practice.
Graduate as a fully trained, mentored, and practice-ready doula equipped to build a thriving career serving families in your community.
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