This course
Certified Birth Doula Training
$550
- About 24 hours of video and activities
- Training workbook
- Initial one-year certification when you complete the training
Certified Birth Doula Training
Build the skills to support families through birth.
A fully online, self-paced certification training covering everything from labor physiology and comfort to working with care teams and starting your practice.
$550
- Fully online, self-paced
- About 24 hours of video and activities
- Anna Rodney, M.Ed.Doula trainer and lead faculty
- 15+ yearssupporting families
- About 24 hoursof video and activities
- Self-pacedFully online, with a training workbook
Prepare for the real work of a birth doula.
The training follows what you’ll actually do for families before, during and just after birth.
Meeting families before birth
Run client interviews and prenatal visits, set expectations and stay within your scope.
Deciding when to join labor
Understand labor stages, physiology and fetal positioning.
Hands-on comfort
Use comfort measures, movement and positioning through every stage.
Working with care teams
Prepare for hospital births and communicate respectfully with providers.
Supporting partners
Help partners take part in the way that suits them.
When birth takes a different path
Support long labors, inductions, cesareans, VBAC, unexpected events and NICU stays.
Take a look at the training
A short introduction to Certified Birth Doula Training.
From doulas who trained with BBU
Words from doulas who trained with BBU and Anna. Each review names the training it describes.
“…this is the most informative and useful course I have taken.”
“If you're on the fence of going into the doula profession, or if you're already decided and know you want to become a doula, I would not hesitate to recommend Birth & Baby University — it truly touches on everything that is important for this profession.”
Incredibly valuable for returning or seasoned doulas who want to deepen their understanding and expand their skills
“Even after six years as a certified birth and postpartum doula, I gained so much from my training with Birth & Baby University. Anna Rodney has built a program that’s not only solid for doulas just starting out and working toward certification, but also incredibly valuable for returning or seasoned doulas who want to deepen their understanding and expand their skills. This wasn’t just a general refresher, it truly helped me fill in gaps, sharpen my approach, and walk away with practical, evidence-based tools I’m already using with clients. The content was thoughtful, comprehensive, and grounded in real life doula work. Whether you’re brand new or years into your practice, I can’t recommend Birth & Baby University enough. Anna’s experience and passion shine through in every part of the course, and it left me feeling more confident, informed, and re-energized in my work.”
Her training took me to a new level!
“Anna is the best teacher. She craves knowledge and then shares it! Thank goodness!! I have been a doula for 10 yrs and an IBCLC for 3. I have taken training through DONA, CAPPA, Lactation Education Recources, PRO DOULA as well as a few others!! Anna’s training actually changed how I do things!! I’d been pretty settled, in my groove too!! Her training took me to a new level! I learned so much! I honestly figured it was just a refresher at first!! Go Anna!! Keep it up!!! You are amazing at what you do!”
She is a role model and I am very thankful for what I learned in her classes
“As a seasoned doula, I have taken many trainings, but I must say that the training on Child Birth Education I experienced with Anna Rodney was exceptionally good. She is clear, kind, and brings light to any subject she encounters. She has a deep understanding of how students learn and adapts her teaching to all learning abilities. Her classes are interesting, engaging and full of useful information. In her class I learned, not only the subjects matter but also how to kindly include the student and make her/him feel comfortable and knowledgeable. She is a role model and I am very thankful for what I learned in her classes.”
“If this is something that you've ever considered, to be a doula or just find your niche within birth work, I highly recommend Birth & Baby University — you can feel very confident once that you've taken a training with Birth & Baby University that you're ready to go.”
This is the most informative and useful course I have taken
“I am so grateful I completed the Birth and Baby University Labor Doula training. I have completed multiple other labor doula courses over the years and I can confidently say this is the most informative and useful course I have taken. It gives you answers that you really need working as a labor doula and I wish I would have had this when I started out in my career!”
“The course was incredibly informative, well-paced, and full of practical details that truly prepared me for the day-to-day work of being a postpartum doula.”
Anna is extremely knowledgeable about birth and radiates that passion onto everyone she teaches!
“I had such a wonderful experience attending the Labor Doula training course at Arizona Doulas with Anna Rodney. She was extremely warm and welcoming and made sure we were all comfortable throughout the two days. Anna is extremely knowledgeable about birth and radiates that passion onto everyone she teaches. I would highly recommend taking any and all courses with Anna!”
She is an amazing, fun instructor!
“I trained with Anna for Labor support recently. I had trained through another institution and have been doing labor for 4 yrs. I learned so much from Anna in those 2 days!! She is patient, efficient and thorough! Any questions were answered. She is an amazing, fun instructor!”
“Times are changing, families are changing, we're all learning to adapt, and as care professionals we all need to keep up with those standards — that's why I turned to Birth & Baby University.”
I love how much passion she put in her class
“Anna’s labor doula class was absolutely amazing. I love how much passion she put in her class and her passion for birth. Even as a birth worker I had so much to learn from her. I’m so happy I decided to take the labor doula class with Anna and would highly recommend it to anyone planning taking a class. I’m sure her parenting classes are just as incredible as this was.”
Accessible, easy to follow, and overall a great resource to come back to
“I took the postpartum certification training with B&B University earlier this year! I really appreciated Anna’s, the instructor, calm and reassuring demeanor throughout each section of the course. Her knowledge and how she structures the information makes this training accessible, easy to follow, and overall a great resource to come back to.”
She made it personal with tips and advice for new doulas
“I took Anna’s postpartum doula training a few weeks ago and she was awesome! What I loved about her training is that she incorporated her years of experience as a doula into it and made it personal with tips and advice for new doulas. I would highly recommend training with Anna if you have the chance!”
I feel lucky to have Anna as a resource for post training
“I took an Childbirth Educator Training with Anna, and it was AMAZING. She is so incredibly kind, gentle and knows SO MUCH. Not only did she provide amazing material but she brought the entire class together in a way where we were learning from each other as well. I feel lucky to have Anna as a resource for post training. Thanks Anna!”
Hear it from doulas
Prefer to read? The written reviews above say it in their own words.
Full video testimonials on YouTube:
Your instructor
Learn with Anna Rodney, M.Ed.
Anna built this training from years of supporting families and leading her own doula agency, Chicago Family Doulas, and she teaches it with a career educator’s structure and clarity.
- Master of Education (M.Ed.) with 15+ years supporting families
- Former special-education teacher
- Doula trainer and childbirth educator
- Newborn Care Specialist and Lactation Educator
- Founder of Chicago Family Doulas and Birth & Baby University
What you’ll learn
Seven areas of practice, from your role and scope to building your business. Open any section to see what it covers.
Your role and scope The foundation of professional doula support.
- Scope boundaries
- Communication and family expectations
- Cultural competency
Labor physiology What’s happening in the body during labor.
- Stages of labor
- Fetal positioning
- Knowing when to join a laboring family
Comfort and partner support Hands-on skills for every stage.
- Comfort measures and movement
- Supporting partners
- Supporting long labor
Hospital births and care teams Working alongside providers.
- Preparing for hospital births
- Working with care teams
- Medicated and unmedicated labor, and inductions
Different paths to birth Supporting families whatever happens.
- Twins and cesarean births
- VBAC, home and birth-center births
- Unexpected events and NICU stays
Early postpartum The first hours and days after birth.
- Early postpartum support
- Feeding support
- When and how to refer
Building your practice Working with clients as a professional.
- Prenatal and postpartum visits
- Client interviews and professional expectations
- Business and marketing
How it works
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Enroll in the training
Check out securely and access the training through the BBU student portal.
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Learn at your own pace
Work through about 24 hours of video and activities online, on your schedule.
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Complete the training
Finish the training to earn your initial one-year certification.
How certification works
Your initial certification and your renewal are separate steps.
See current certification requirements (opens in a new tab)- Initial certificationComplete the training to earn your initial one-year certification.
- Full certificationWithin that year, complete BBU mentorship or 15 eligible birth/postpartum CEUs for full three-year certification.
- RenewalContinuing education is required to renew every three years.
Choose your training
Enroll in birth doula training on its own, or choose the bundle if you’d like to support families after birth too.
Optional upgrade: Birth + Postpartum bundle
Train for birth and postpartum support.
$900 total
Add postpartum training for $350 more
| Certified Birth Doula Training (this course) | $550 |
|---|---|
| Certified Postpartum Doula Training | $550 |
| Bought separately | $1,100 |
| Bundle total | $900 |
Save $200
A separate purchase you choose instead of the single training. Nothing is added to your order automatically. Certification requirements apply to each training.
Get both trainings for $900Questions, answered.
Official course page (opens in a new tab)Who is this training for?
People beginning a doula career, including nurses, CNAs, nannies and people inspired by their own birth experiences, as well as birth workers who want to deepen their practice.
Is the training online?
Yes. It’s fully online and self-paced, with approximately 24 hours of video and activities.
How does certification work?
Complete the training to earn your initial one-year certification. Within that year, complete BBU mentorship or 15 eligible birth/postpartum CEUs for full three-year certification. Continuing education is required to renew every three years.
Is mentorship required?
No. The training is a standalone purchase. BBU mentorship is one of two ways to move from initial to full certification; the other is 15 eligible birth/postpartum CEUs.
What’s the difference between the single training and the bundle?
This page’s training ($550) prepares you to support families through birth. The Birth + Postpartum bundle ($900) adds Certified Postpartum Doula Training, instead of $1,100 for both separately.
Can I use benefits to pay?
BBU certification is accepted by Carrot, Maven and other workplace benefit companies and Medicaid programs in some states.
Will the training guarantee me clients or income?
No. The training prepares you for the work of a birth doula, including client interviews and business basics, but it can’t guarantee clients, employment or income.
I’m already trained. Is there another option?
Yes. Trained and previously certified doulas can explore cross-certification and recertification instead.
Some birth doula training topics include:
- Scope of Practice
- Family Dynamics and Cultural Competency
- Navigation Communication with the Family
- Doula and Family Expectations
- Stages of Labor
- Comfort Measures
- Supporting Families in the Hospital Setting
- Postpartum Recovery and Mental Health
- Business and Marketing
- And much more!
I love birth and babies, but I don’t have consistent childcare. Which training would be the best fit for me?
Given the unpredictability of birth, you may want to start as a postpartum doula. Many people find that working overnight hours is possible if childcare is a challenge. If you have school-age kids, daytime hours can also fit well.
How long will it take me to complete the training?
Each training includes about 24 hours of videos and activities. You can complete it at your own pace, and many people finish within 3–4 days.
Will I be certified after the training?
Yes, after completing the training, you’ll automatically receive a one-year certification. Within that year, you’ll need to complete our mentorship program or earn 15 birth or postpartum CEUs to receive the full three-year certification.
How will I re-certify every three years?
You’ll need to complete additional perinatal professional trainings through us, which may include the birth or postpartum program. A minimum of 15 CEUs is required to recertify.
Is this certification accepted by Carrot and other insurance companies?
Yes, Birth & Baby University is recognized by Carrot, several state Medicaid programs, and many insurance companies.
What sets Birth & Baby University trainings apart from other training organizations?
Everything sets us apart! Anna Rodney has supported tens of thousands of families and trained and mentored thousands of doulas. When developing this training, she drew on her extensive experience as a doula, agency owner, and business professional. She is a skilled educator with a Master’s Degree in Education and years of experience as a Special Education teacher. Her approach is relatable, professional, and relevant, and everyone loves her trainings, even those with years of experience.
Can someone make a career out of being a doula?
YES! There’s no better time than now. Doulas are in high demand, and so many people are building amazing careers as doulas.
Do I qualify to take the cross-certification training?
If you have previously completed a doula training, you qualify for our cross-certification program. Those who have completed a labor doula training are eligible for our Cross Certification Labor Doula Training, while those who have completed a postpartum doula training qualify for our Cross Certification Postpartum Doula Training. After signing up, we will ask you to share your certificate with us.
Be ready to support a family through birth.
Certified Birth Doula Training is $550: fully online, self-paced, about 24 hours of video and activities.