Course & Certification Policies

Guidelines and Information for Our Courses and Certification Programs

As part of your registration process you acknowledge that you have read and understood these policies.

Doula's are meeting together to go through training

Refunds for In-Person and Online Workshops

In-Person Workshops

If you register for the DTD Childbirth Course and a Birth or Postpartum Doula Training and then need to cancel/change your registration:

If it is more than three weeks prior to the first day of the event, you can transfer to another training in the next calendar year with no extra fees. You can receive a refund minus a $100.00 administrative fee.

If it is less than three weeks prior to the first day of the event, you can transfer to another training series within the next twelve months for a $100.00 transfer fee. There will be no refunds within three weeks of the start of the workshop unless there is a waiting list and your space is filled. You may send a qualified substitute to take your place and use your tuition payment. If you would like to attend the DTD Childbirth Class at the original date but cannot attend the Birth Doula Training, there is still a transfer fee unless your seat is filled.

If you pay your tuition and do not contact your doula trainer ahead of time and do not show up to attend the workshop, your tuition will be held for one calendar year from the original date of payment (not the course date). We will contact you to find out your intentions. If you do not attend and do not contact us in that year, we will use your tuition for an additional financial aid student – who will very much appreciate it!

DTD Childbirth Course only: Two weeks or more before the class start, you can receive a full refund. There is no cost for transferring to a DTD Childbirth Class meeting within the next calendar year even if it’s taught by another faculty member or in an online format. Within 14 days, 50% of your tuition will be refunded.

Online Workshops

If your Doulaing The Doula Box of training supplies has NOT been shipped to you, the same policies and timelines apply as an in person workshop.

If your box of Doulaing The Doula training supplies HAS been shipped to you (even if you have not received it), there are NO refunds for the training.  You can transfer to a future online OR in person workshop for a $100.00 transfer fee. You may also transfer your tuition to another qualified person.  It is your responsibility to inform us of the change in registration via email; make sure the new participant registers with us; AND to get them your supply box in a timely fashion.

DTD Childbirth Course only: There is no cost for transferring to a DTD Childbirth Class meeting within the next calendar year even if it’s taught by another faculty member or in person. If you have not received electronic access to any course materials or had any materials shipped to you, you can receive a full or partial refund. Two weeks or more before the class starts, you can receive a full refund. Within 14 days, 50% of your tuition will be refunded.  Once you have been given access to the online course handouts to download from Dropbox, there are no refunds. (This is different from the free prep class on Thinkific.)

Refunds for Certification Programs

The DTD Birth Doula or Postpartum Doula Certification Programs are part of either the Basic or Premier Success package. There are no refunds for the Certification Program portion of your fee.

Refunds for Foundations of Doula Coaching Program
Change of Heart Refunds

Transfers: If it is more than three weeks prior to the first day of the event, you can transfer to another Foundations of Doula Practice group in the next calendar year with no extra fees. You may send a qualified substitute to take your place or donate your tuition for a financial aid student.

If it is less than three weeks prior to the first day of the event, you can transfer to another Foundations start date in the next calendar year with a $200 transfer fee. This fee is split with your Coach.

Refunds: If it is more than three weeks prior to the first day of the event, and your supply box has not been shipped to you, you can receive a refund minus a $100.00 administrative fee.

If you have already received your Foundations of Doula Practice Supply Box or it has been shipped to you (even if you have not received it), you can receive a refund minus a $200.00 administrative fee. You are expected to return the contents in complete and good enough condition for another person to use, and at your own expense. We will send your refund after we receive the returned supplies.

There are no refunds within three weeks of the start date. You may send a qualified substitute to take your place or donate your tuition for a financial aid student.

If you do not sign up for a Foundations of Doula Practice group within a calendar year of your cancellation, your tuition is used for financial aid.

Changes in Coach, Date, or Time Selections

Four weeks or more before the beginning of your first certification meeting is not a problem (as long as there is room in the new group).

  • Within the four week period, the cost of deferring to a later time is $100.00.
  • If it is within ten days of your first meeting, the cost is $200.00.

There is a real cost to your Certification Coach when you decide to change to a later date.  If we cannot fill your spot, the certification coach is without the income from your fee. The $100 or $200 you pay goes directly to them because we could not fill your spot.

Your deposit is good for one year.  If you do not sign up for a certification group within a calendar year of your cancellation, your deposit goes into the scholarship fund.

Learning Environment Expectations & Structure for Workshops

Babies

Infants under four months are invited to attend in person trainings if they are quiet and non-mobile. Participants are welcome to bring a “baby-minder” who is in and out of the room with an older baby. Older babies can be present until they become loud or disturb the flow of the lesson. Advance notice is required. Please call or email your trainer.

With online trainings, the point is that you are not distracted during the training and spend 85% to 90% of your time focusing on what we are doing. Part of the requirement for completion of the workshop is for you to be on screen and attentive. You know your family best. If that is not possible for you right now, you may wish to wait until you have more assistance in minding your baby and can focus on training for your new career.

Meals

Meals are not provided with the in-person workshop, but hot tea, flavored waters, light snacks and fresh fruit (apples, oranges) are available.

Illness of Instructor or Emergency

If illness, unforeseen technological difficulties, family emergency, intense climate event, or other circumstance make facilitating any course impossible or unfeasible, all efforts will be made to reschedule at a time convenient for both instructor and participants. In the eventuality that this is not possible, partial refunds may be given for some participants at the discretion of Doulaing The Doula. For example, when COVID-19 cancelled seven events, all were rescheduled.  Participants who no longer felt safe at in person gatherings were offered the online workshop at no extra cost.  People who did not want either option were refunded minus their deposit.

Learner Absences for Courses & Workshops

If you miss a required portion of the training, you can make up that one- or two-hour session by attending that session during another online or in person training. Alternately, you can arrange for an individual learning session with a training assistant for your class to cover the material; there may be an additional fee for your training assistant’s time. You will not receive a completion certificate until all required sessions have been attended.

Learning Environment Expectations & Structure for Certification Programs

Attendance and Engagement Policies

You are expected to show up on time, ready to engage with others, and spend 90% of your time on camera paying attention to the group. Eating, feeding an infant, and needlework are fine. Doing your nails, sorting through your emails, or making dinner are not acceptable activities while in your online training or Foundations of Doula Practice coaching meetings. Yes, you are paying for the program. But our goal is to shape you into a better doula version of yourself. That requires active investment and engagement on your part. If that’s not happening, and you are losing interest, or not relating to your coach or group members, please call or email us to discuss it. Start with your coach, they are veterans at listening and conflict resolution. If that doesn’t work, or you feel it’s not appropriate for your issue, contact Amy Gilliland. Our goal is for you to be successful and that is a team effort.

Inclusion

All people (races, ethnicities, religions, sexes, genders, abilities, and other identities) are invited to participate in DTD trainings. Youth ages 16 and 17 may also attend; contact your trainer for a chat. Accommodation for differing abilities is also possible, depending on the site and your learning needs. All people deserve support during important life transitions, and all people deserve the opportunity to learn to care for others in their communities.

Doula Course Certification Policies

Financial Aid Opportunities

Payment plans, Person of Color scholarships, and in-person hostess work scholarships are available to help you achieve your goals as a doula.

Explore Financial Aid