Programs
Doula Programs
Two certification programs, Birth Doula and Postpartum Doula, each combining online lessons with required fieldwork. Alongside them sit continuing education courses for working doulas and a supplemental Michigan Medicaid course. Compare them side by side below.
Compare
All four offerings, side by side
Each card shows who the program is for, how it is delivered, what tuition looks like, and whether fieldwork is part of the path.
Birth Doula Certification
Learn to provide informational, physical, and emotional support to families through pregnancy, labor, and the hours after birth.
- Who it is for
- Aspiring birth doulas beginning their training
- Format
- Online lessons, then required in-person fieldwork
- Tuition
- Tuition typically ranges from $495-$695
- Online learning
- Short, focused lessons you can complete on your own schedule, with knowledge checks along the way.
- Fieldwork
- Fieldwork required for full certification
- Expert support
- Live expert support during published hours
Postpartum Doula Certification
Learn to support families through recovery, newborn care, feeding, and the adjustment of the first weeks and months at home.
- Who it is for
- Aspiring postpartum doulas beginning their training
- Format
- Online lessons, then required in-home fieldwork
- Tuition
- Tuition typically ranges from $495-$695
- Online learning
- Short, focused lessons you can complete on your own schedule, with knowledge checks along the way.
- Fieldwork
- Fieldwork required for full certification
- Expert support
- Live expert support during published hours
Continuing Education Courses
Focused professional development for working doulas who want to deepen specific skills without repeating full certification training.
- Who it is for
- Practicing doulas seeking focused professional development
- Format
- Fully online, self-paced
- Tuition
- Pricing varies by course
- Online learning
- Short, focused lessons in a single subject area.
- Fieldwork
- No fieldwork required
- Expert support
- Live expert support during published hours
Michigan Medicaid Doula Course
A supplemental course helping doulas understand Michigan Medicaid-related expectations, documentation, and professional responsibilities.
- Who it is for
- Doulas interested in Michigan Medicaid-related practice
- Format
- Fully online, self-paced
- Tuition
- Pricing to be confirmed
- Online learning
- Short, focused lessons covering administrative topics.
- Course type
- Supplemental course, not a certification
- Expert support
- Live expert support during published hours
Choosing
Which program is right for you?
Most people know fairly quickly where they belong. These short prompts can help you confirm it.
Choose Birth Doula if
You picture yourself with families through pregnancy, labor, and the first hours after birth. This is a certification program, so it pairs online lessons with required fieldwork.
Choose Postpartum Doula if
The weeks at home draw you more than the birth room. Recovery, newborn care, feeding, and family adjustment sit at the center of this certification program, which also requires fieldwork.
Choose Continuing Education if
You already work as a doula and want to sharpen one area rather than repeat full training. These courses are short, fully online, and supplemental rather than a certification.
Choose the Michigan Medicaid course if
You practice in Michigan, or plan to, and want to understand the documentation and administrative expectations involved. It builds understanding; it does not enroll you with any payer.
Birth and postpartum work overlap, and plenty of doulas eventually train in both. You do not have to decide your whole career today. Pick the setting you want to step into first, and add to it later.
Tuition
One published range for the certification programs
Birth Doula and Postpartum Doula tuition sits in a single range. Continuing education is priced by course, and pricing for the Michigan Medicaid course is still being finalized.
We would rather publish a range we can stand behind than a precise figure we have not confirmed. Exact per-program pricing goes up before enrollment opens.
We are not able to confirm financial aid options at this time. Please contact us for current information.
Tuition
$495-$695
Tuition typically ranges from $495-$695 for primary certification programs.
Tuition covers access to the online learning phase, course materials, knowledge checks, and expert support during published hours.
Exact per-program pricing will be published before enrollment opens.
Payment plan details will be published before enrollment opens.
Before you choose
Finishing the lessons is one stage, not the finish line
The online phase gives you the knowledge. Fieldwork is where it becomes practice, and both are needed for full certification.
Completing an American Doula Academy course does not by itself guarantee certification, Medicaid enrollment, provider approval, reimbursement, or employment. Students are responsible for satisfying all current state, payer, and certification requirements.
Find the program that matches the work you want to do.
Open a program page for the full detail, or send us your questions and we will talk it through with you.