ICEA Certified Birth 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.

Certification Overview & Curriculum

The ICEA Birth Doula Certification Program verifies that birth doulas have the necessary education and skills to enable them to facilitate expectant parents’ mental and physical preparation for pregnancy, labor, birth and parenthood. The program promotes the concept of the birth doula as an advocate of the natural process of childbirth and the right of the expectant parent to make informed decisions based on knowledge of alternatives. Following is the program curriculum:

Part I – Introducing the Doula

Part II – Meeting Your Clients

Part III – Labor: An Overview

Part IV – Labor: The Process

Part V – Comfort Measures, Coping Skills, and Pain Relief

Part VI – Family Integration

Part VII – Coping with the Unusual

Part VIII – Business Matters

The ICEA Certified Birth Doula is expected to further a wider understanding of ICEA’s mission and philosophy among health professionals and the public.

Certification Pathways

We offer two different pathways for certification as a birth doula:

TRADITIONAL – This pathway for certification is the right choice for you if:

• You have little or no experience as a birth doula
• You are a layperson who is committed to helping childbearing families
• You are a nurse or other birth professional who wants to expand your services

EXPERIENCED – This pathway for certification is the right choice for you if:

• You are currently certified with another recognized birth doula organization, such as DONA or CAPPA or Lamaze or Bradley, and have been actively practicing for a minimum of two years
• You have been certified as a birth doula within the last two years through ICEA or another recognized birth doula organization, such as such as DONA or CAPPA or Lamaze or Bradley, and actively practiced for a minimum of two years while certified, but your certification has expired within the last two years

ICEA Certification Candidate Qualifications

This certification program is available to any birth doula who upholds and practices ICEA’s philosophy of family-centered maternity care and freedom to make decisions based on knowledge of alternatives in childbirth. This program does not exclude an otherwise qualified person for reason of educational or professional background. No qualified, presently certified birth doula will be excluded from entering the ICEA Birth Doula Certification Program.

The Examination

The ICEA Birth Doula Certification examination is designed to test for a thorough knowledge of the basic content in childbirth and being a birth doula. The examination is based solely on the objectives outlined in the eight parts of the ICEA birth doula curriculum.

The examination consists entirely of 100 multiple choice questions, there are no short answer or essay questions. The examination is an online “closed book” exam, and must have a proctor present during the entire exam. Two hours is given to complete the examination. The score is based on the number of correct answers.

ICEA Certification candidates for whom English is a second language must contact the office as an examination may be available in their primary language. If an examination is not available in their primary language, then ICEA Certification candidates may use a non-medical primary language/English dictionary and will be provided with three hours to complete the examination. The ICEA office must be notified, in writing, of these special needs at the time the certification examination application and fee are submitted.

Applying to Take the Examination

ICEA Certification candidates have up to two years, from the date in which they enrolled in the ICEA Certification program or took the ICEA Certifying Workshop whichever came first, to complete the program requirements and apply for the ICEA Certification examination. If more than two years pass without previously applying for and being granted an extension, candidates must re-enroll in the program and again complete all the program requirements. Examination applications will not be accepted unless they are complete, and exam payment will not be processed until complete exam application is verified. A complete exam application includes all needed forms, verifications, the examination date, exam location, proctor’s name and email, and full payment.

Applying for an Extension

An ICEA Certification candidate may apply for a single 6-month extension of the exam application deadline in order to complete the requirements. The application for an extension and $75 (USD) extension fee must be received before the exam application deadline. To apply for the extension the Extension Request Form must be filled out and returned by email/fax/mail to the ICEA Certification Coordinator, along with the $75 (USD) extension fee. The ICEA Certification Coordinator will respond in writing via email within 15 business days of receipt that the extension has been granted. Each ICEA Certification candidate is only able to apply for one extension per certification period.

Scheduling Your Examination

All examinations are given online at the testing location chosen by the ICEA Certification candidate, but a proctor must be present for the entire exam.  The testing location may be any public building where the candidate has access to a computer and a reliable internet connection. Candidates may apply to take the examination in any state, province or country, and are not limited to taking the examination in their local geographic area. An examination can be scheduled by completing and submitting the ICEA Birth Doula Certification Examination Application. All examinations must be scheduled at least 30 days prior to the examination date. This includes any requested changes in scheduled examinations. The online link for the ICEA Certification candidate’s exam will be emailed to the proctor 1-2 weeks in advance of the testing date.

Grading of the Examination

All ICEA Certification examinations are taken online, therefore ICEA Certification candidates will immediately know their results upon completion. Each candidate who receives a passing score of 70% or above is considered to be an ICEA Certified Birth Doula, an ICBD. ICEA will issue a formal certificate via email within 15 business days of completion to those who have successfully completed the program. All ICEA Certified Professionals who maintain their ICEA Certification will have access to all ICEA Benefits.

In the event an ICEA Certification candidate fails the exam, ICEA will send the candidate a new examination application via email to retake the test. The ICEA Certification candidate will be charged a fee based on geographic location for each retake of the exam. These candidates will have up to one year in which to pass the examination. They may retake the examination as many times as necessary within one year of the first fail date, providing repeat guidelines are followed. Examinations ruled invalid will be treated as failed examinations and the ICEA Certification Candidate will have one year to retake the examination per guidelines.

Certification Designation

Upon successful completion of the ICEA Birth Doula Exam, a birth doula will be entitled to use ICBD and the term “ICEA Certified Birth Doula” to designate certification status and to indicate that the birth doula is ICEA Certified.

Recertification

ICEA is dedicated to maintaining a rigorous standard of excellence, and thus all ICEA certifications are valid for three years.  At the completion of the three years, all ICEA Certified Birth Doulas must apply for recertification.

ICEA believes that birth doulas are continually educating themselves and learning from their clients. Recertification validates commitment to the profession and ensures the continuation of receiving the benefits of ICEA affiliation. View Recertification for more information.  If an ICEA birth doula fails to recertify by their expiration date, they must follow our Expired Certification Policy to regain their certification.

ICEA reserves the right to change any part of the certification program or recertification process without notice. Notice of such changes will be sent in the newsletter, ICEA Connection.

*Payments made to ICEA are non-refundable. By choosing to purchase ICEA’s products you are accepting responsibility for the payment you make.*

For answers to all your certification questions, please visit our FAQ page.