ICEA Certified Postpartum Doulas are trained professionals who understand the individualized needs of today’s families. They provide families with culturally appropriate emotional support to assist with the transitions of the postpartum period and having a new baby.  ICEA Certified Postpartum Doulas also respect the parenting style of the family, provide opportunities for the mother to ask questions or express concerns, and provide encouragement. They also demonstrate newborn care, assist with breastfeeding, provide care to older children, and more.

Certification Overview & Curriculum

The ICEA Postpartum Doula Certification Program verifies that Postpartum Doulas have the necessary education and skills to enable them to facilitate families after labor. The program promotes the concept of the Postpartum 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 – ICEA

Part II – What is a Postpartum Doula?

Part III – The Parents – Supporting the Family Right From the Start

Part IV – The 4th Trimester

Part V – First 365 Days: Supporting Healthy Growth and Development

Part VI – 366 to 1,000 Days: Supporting Healthy Growth and Development

Part VII – Business of Being a Postpartum Doula: Through the First 1,000 Days

The ICEA Postpartum 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 postpartum doula:

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

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

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

• You are currently certified with another recognized postpartum doula organization, such as DONA or CAPPA, and have been actively practicing for a minimum of two years
• You have been certified as a postpartum doula within the last two years through ICEA or another recognized postpartum doula organization, such as DONA or CAPPA, 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 postpartum 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 reasons of educational or professional background. No qualified, presently certified postpartum doula will be excluded from entering the ICEA Postpartum Doula Certification Program.

The Examination

The ICEA Postpartum Doula Certification examination is designed to test for a thorough knowledge of the basic content of being a postpartum doula. The examination is based solely on the objectives outlined in the ten parts of the ICEA Postpartum Doula curriculum.

The examination consists entirely of 75 multiple-choice questions. There are no short answers or essay questions. The examination is an online “closed book” exam and must have a proctor present during the entire exam. 1.5 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 2.5 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 the 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 Postpartum Doula, an ICPD. 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 Postpartum Doula, a doula will be entitled to use ICPD and the term “ICEA Certified Postpartum Doula” to designate certification status and to indicate that the postpartum 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 Postpartum Doulas must apply for recertification.

ICEA believes that postpartum 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 postpartum 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.