CAPPA is an international certification organization for Doulas, Childbirth Educators and Lactation Educators. Since our foundation in 1998, we have certified thousands of perinatal professionals. As one of the first and most comprehensive perinatal organizations in the world, CAPPA is respected for its longevity and its commitment to excellence in both education and unsurpassed student and member support. Choosing an organization for your education is an important decision. CAPPA offers stability that you can be confident in as you invest in your education and career.
Certification Course Options
Scope of Practice
The Certified Labor Doula
CAPPA Labor Doulas fill an important role in providing emotional, physical, and evidence-based, informational support to the birthing client and their family before, during, and after birth.
How CAPPA Labor Doulas work with families
The Labor Doula works with families during pregnancy, during labor and in the birth process, and in the immediate postpartum time, offering support, encouragement, information, comfort, and referrals as needed. Labor Doulas can be found working in the community in private practice, in cooperatives, as part of groups or agencies, as well as serving in various community programs.
How CAPPA Labor Doulas work within the healthcare system
Labor Doulas are skilled support persons who act as consultants and resources, not clinicians. They therefore work with the healthcare system by encouraging and promoting excellent communication between the birthing client and the health care team, encouraging informed decision making and self-advocacy, supporting the choices of the birthing client, providing non-clinical comfort techniques, and offering appropriate referrals when their observance or counseling uncovers situations that require healthcare attention or support.
Clinical Limitations of CAPPA Labor Doulas
CAPPA Labor Doulas are non-clinical professionals. CAPPA Labor Doula courses do not qualify a professional to act as a midwife or midwifery assistant, as any alternative medicine provider, or as any medical care provider. Labor Doulas do not diagnose medical conditions, perform clinical procedures, prescribe or administer treatment for medical conditions, make medical decisions for the birthing client, or direct families to act against medical advice.
CAPPA does not train its certified professionals to prescribe, perform, or provide complementary/alternative therapies including, but not limited to, essential oils, placenta medicine, herbal treatments, etc. CAPPA professionals do not prescribe, perform, or provide alternative/complementary therapies as part of their role as a CAPPA certified professional. Those who are trained, certified, licensed, or a recipient of a degree in these therapies are required to present these services as separate from their role as a CAPPA certified professional.
CAPPA Standards
CAPPA Labor Doulas work within CAPPA’s standards of practice to uphold the following (available to read as individual documents): code of conduct, a grievance policy, mission statement, vision statement, organization philosophy, and social media policy. CAPPA Labor Doulas use current evidence-based knowledge information in their practice. They maintain their knowledge and skills through continuing education. They work within the legal framework of their individual community and region.
CAPPA Labor Doulas:
- Provide non-biased emotional, physical, and informational support during pregnancy, labor and the birth process, and the immediate postpartum period
- Work closely with the birthing person and family as they explore their values and needs surrounding birth
- Encourage the birthing person to seek care and a place of birth that reflects their own values and needs
- Assist in the preparation of birth preferences to facilitate communication with the birth team
- Model, teach, and encourage effective communication
- Encourage informed decision making
- Provide information on birth options and resources
- Provide the client with non-medical comfort techniques for labor, such as positions and movement, comforting touch, visualization, breathing techniques, and affirmation
- Seek to foster a cooperative, respectful, and positive atmosphere with the birth team
- Provide support to the birthing person’s support partner and/or family
- Support and assist initial breastfeeding
- Assist the family in processing their birth experience
- Answer general questions about newborn care and breastfeeding
- Refer to healthcare professionals when support requires clinical assessment, a need for prescription, or medical diagnosis
- Listen as the birthing person processes their birth experience
- Are required to present the following services as separate from the role of a CAPPA certified professional: Doulas who are trained, certified, licensed, or a recipient of a degree in alternative/complimentary therapies including, but not limited to, essential oils, placenta medicine, herbal treatments, etc.
CAPPA Labor Doula do not:
- Diagnose medical conditions
- Perform clinical procedures
- Interpret medical diagnoses or clinical results
- Prescribe or administer treatment of medical conditions
- Make decisions for the birthing client or family
- Speak for the birthing family
- Attend births that are intentionally unassisted by qualified medical professionals
- Transport any family members
- Prescribe, perform, or provide alternative/complimentary therapies including, but not limited to, essential oils, placenta medicine, herbal treatments, etc. as part of the role of a CAPPA certified professional
Last Updated 5/21/2020
Traditional Course ( For students who take an In-person or Virtual training )
Course Fees*
This course is designed for students who choose to take a training class with approved Faculty. Training classes have in-person, virtual, and hybrid options!
| Training Class | $550.00 and up |
| Annual Membership | A $75.00 value, the first year of membership is included in training class fee. |
| CAPPA Academy | $175.00 |
| Understanding Birth Booklet | $25.00 |
| Understanding Breastfeeding Booklet | $25.00 |
| Starting Total Cost** | $775.00 and up, not including cost of books |
| **Additional fees may apply, such as extensions, resubmissions, or rush result fees. *All fees listed in USD. |
|
Course Requirements
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Attend a CAPPA Labor Doula training class.
- Read selected books from the CAPPA Labor Doula Required Reading List.
- Read the CAPPA Labor Doula Training Manual (received at training).
- Complete all requirements below within 2 years of the training class.
- Become a Member of CAPPA.
- Enroll in the Labor Doula Traditional Course in CAPPA Academy and complete the items below.
- Pass the Scope of Practice Pretest. A 100% passing grade is required.
- Read and watch the video clips from the Understanding Birth Booklet.
- Read and watch the video clips from the Understanding Breastfeeding Booklet.
- Attend a minimum of 3 labors/births as a doula. You will be required to obtain 3 total evaluations from parents and 6 total evaluations from healthcare providers. Details/forms are provided within CAPPA Academy.
- Create a Resource List with information on local support for parents. A guide for creating this list is found in CAPPA Academy.
- Sign and agree to the following:
- Code of Conduct
- Social Media Policy
- Grievance Policy
- CAPPA Mission
- CAPPA Approach
- CAPPA Vision
- Scope of Practice
- Pass the multiple-choice exam. A passing grade is 85% or higher. If a student does fail an exam, resubmission fees may apply.
- Pass the essay exam. The essay exam is graded on a pass-fail basis. If a student does fail an exam, resubmission fees may apply.
- Mail all completed materials to:
PO Box 340
Hoschton, GA 30548 - Please view all of CAPPA’s Policies and Procedures.
Last Updated 7/29/2020
Upcoming Training
Online Distance Learning Course
Course Fees*
This course is designed for students who cannot attend a training.
| Annual Membership | $75.00 |
| CAPPA Academy (Students receive a hard copy of the Labor Doula Manual and 3 Labor Doula Scope of Practice cards.) |
$800.00 |
| Understanding Birth Booklet | $25.00 |
| Understanding Breastfeeding Booklet | $25.00 |
| Starting Total Cost** | $925.00 and up, not including cost of books |
| **Additional fees may apply, such as extensions, resubmissions, or rush result fees. *All fees listed in USD. |
|
Course Requirements
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Read selected books from the CAPPA Labor Doula Required Reading List.
- Become a Member of CAPPA.
- Enroll in the Labor Doula Online/Distance Course in CAPPA Academy.
- Complete all requirements below within 2 years of enrollment.
- Read the CAPPA Labor Doula Training Manual (mailed to students).
- Watch all video/audio course content within CAPPA Academy.
- Pass the Scope of Practice Pretest. A 100% passing grade is required.
- Read and watch the video clips from the Understanding Birth Booklet.
- Read and watch the video clips from the Understanding Breastfeeding Booklet.
- Attend a minimum of 3 labors/births as a doula. You will be required to obtain 3 total evaluations from parents and 6 total evaluations from healthcare providers. Details/forms are provided within CAPPA Academy.
- Create a Resource List with information on local support for parents. A guide for creating this list is found in CAPPA Academy.
- Sign and agree to the following:
- Code of Conduct
- Social Media Policy
- Grievance Policy
- CAPPA Mission
- CAPPA Approach
- CAPPA Vision
- Scope of Practice
- Pass the multiple-choice exam. A passing grade is 85% or higher. If a student does fail an exam, resubmission fees may apply.
- Pass the essay exam. The essay exam is graded on a pass-fail basis. If a student does fail an exam, resubmission fees may apply.
- Mail all completed materials to:
PO Box 340
Hoschton, GA 30548 - Please view all of CAPPA’s Policies and Procedures.
Last Updated 7/29/2020
Dual/Transfer Course
Course Fees*
This course is designed for students who have already been certified or have trained with an approved organization. (Documentation is required. Please email info@cappa.net to be approved.)
Consists of 2 different tracks. Track 1 is for doulas already certified with an approved organization. Track 2 is for doulas who have been trained by an approved organization but have not yet certified.
| Track 1 | |
|---|---|
| CAPPA Academy (Students receive a hard copy of the Labor Doula Manual and a 1 year CAPPA membership.) |
$650.00 |
| Starting Total Cost** | $650.00 and up, not including cost of books |
| Track 2 | |
|---|---|
| CAPPA Academy (Students receive a hard copy of the Labor Doula Manual and a 1 year CAPPA membership.) |
$650.00 |
| Understanding Birth Booklet | $25.00 |
| Understanding Breastfeeding Booklet | $25.00 |
| Starting Total Cost** | $700.00 and up, not including cost of books |
| **Additional fees may apply, such as extensions, resubmissions, or rush result fees. *All fees listed in USD. |
|
Track 1 Course Requirements
If you are certified with an approved organization:
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Enroll in the Labor Doula Dual/Transfer Course in CAPPA Academy.
- Complete all requirements below within 1 year of enrollment.
- Read the CAPPA Labor Doula Training Manual (mailed to students).
- Pass the Scope of Practice Pretest. A 100% passing grade is required.
- Sign and agree to the following:
- Code of Conduct
- Social Media Policy
- Grievance Policy
- CAPPA Mission
- CAPPA Approach
- CAPPA Vision
- Scope of Practice
- Pass the multiple-choice exam. A passing grade is 85% or higher. If a student does fail an exam, resubmission fees may apply.
- Pass the essay exam. The essay exam is graded on a pass-fail basis. If a student does fail an exam, resubmission fees may apply.
- Mail all completed materials to:
PO Box 340
Hoschton, GA 30548 - Please view all of CAPPA’s Policies and Procedures.
Track 2 Course Requirements
If you are trained by an approved organization:
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Read selected books from the CAPPA Labor Doula Required Reading List.
- Enroll in the Labor Doula Dual/Transfer Course in CAPPA Academy.
- Complete all requirements below within 1 year of enrollment.
- Read the CAPPA Labor Doula Training Manual (mailed to students).
- Pass the Scope of Practice Pretest. A 100% passing grade is required.
- Read and watch the video clips from the Understanding Birth Booklet.
- Read and watch the video clips from the Understanding Breastfeeding Booklet.
- Attend a minimum of 3 labors/births as a doula. You will be required to obtain 3 total evaluations from parents and 6 total evaluations from healthcare providers. Previous organization forms will be accepted. CAPPA details/forms are provided within CAPPA Academy.
- Sign and agree to the following:
- Code of Conduct
- Social Media Policy
- Grievance Policy
- CAPPA Mission
- CAPPA Approach
- CAPPA Vision
- Scope of Practice
- Pass the multiple-choice exam. A passing grade is 85% or higher. If a student does fail an exam, resubmission fees may apply.
- Pass the essay exam. The essay exam is graded on a pass-fail basis. If a student does fail an exam, resubmission fees may apply.
- Mail all completed materials to:
PO Box 340
Hoschton, GA 30548 - Please view all of CAPPA’s Policies and Procedures.
Last Updated 7/29/2020
Hospital Administrators
Is your hospital looking for ways to reduce your cesarean rate? Increase patient satisfaction? Improve outcomes for mothers and babies?
The CHLD training program is designed to train and certify professionals in the varied skills of professional labor support, skills that have been proven by over two decades of research to reduce cesareans, improve outcomes for mothers and babies, and increase patient satisfaction.
Click here for more information on the Hospital Labor Doula course.
For more information, email info@cappa.net or call 770-965-9777.