ICEA certified doulas are trained professionals who recognize birth as a key life experience. They attend and support the physical, emotional, and social needs of women in labor. In addition, they offer guidance and referrals to community resources regarding maternal self-care, lactation, and other issues pertinent to healthy parenting through the first six weeks postpartum. The ICEA doula certification program will allow no exceptions to policy or procedures.

If you are an ICEA certified educator (ICCE or ICPE)

Candidates enroll in the program. ICCEs and ICPEs who enter the program must:

• Complete the required reading list
  
• Verify attendance at an ICEA Doula and Labor Support Workshop or verify attendance at ICEA contact hour approved doula training workshops of no less than 18 contact hours and complete six ICEA alternate contact hour programs
  
• Submit certification materials within one year of enrolling in the program

If you are not currently an ICEA certified educator

Candidates enroll in the program and must:

• Maintain ICEA individual or supporting membership
  
• Complete the required reading list
  
• Verify attendance at an ICEA Doula and Labor Support Workshop or verify attendance at ICEA contact hour approved doula training workshops of no less than 18 contact hours and complete six ICEA alternate contact hour programs
  
• Audit at least one childbirth education or postpartum series taught by another educator
  
• Verify three labor support or postpartum support experiences
  
• Submit certification materials within one year of enrolling in the program
  

Indicate on the application form which of the ICEA doula certification program options you are applying to. Candidates cannot change to another option once they are enrolled in the program.

Support materials as well as the appropriate program forms needed to verify program requirements and ICEA alternate contact hours will be mailed to candidate within three weeks of receiving the application.

Required readings for this program are:

• Family Centered Maternity Care, by Celeste Phillips (IC9441)
  
• The Birth Partner: Everything You Need to Know to Help a WomanThrough Childbirth, by Penny Simkin (PB6106)
  
• From Start to Finish... A Practical Guide for Your Labor Support Business, by Barbara Ross Ellis (ICPP29)
  
• Special Women: The Role of the Professional Labor Assistant, by Polly Perez and Cheryl Snedeker (EP0707)
  
• Maternity and Women's Health Care, by Lowdermilk, Perry and Bobak (ND0408)
  
• The Doula Book, by Klaus, Klaus and Kennell (EP9347)
  
• Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn, by Simkin, Whalley and Keppler (PB0185)
  
• You and Your Newborn Baby, by Linda Todd (ID9346)

Recertification

Recertification will be required every four years. Recertification will require proof of attending a minimum of twenty-four contact hours dealing with a field directly related to doula, childbirth education or postpartum or attending a complete ICEA International Convention. Recertification fee is $100.