What certification means

A certified Community Perinatal Doula is someone who has completed the required training, demonstrated readiness through course assignments and field projects, understands what the standards require, and agrees to uphold those standards as a condition of certification.

Benefits of becoming certified

Certified Community Perinatal Doulas receive:

• A certification credential and designation you may use after your name while active and in good standing (also called a post-nominal designation) - CD(BAA)

• A certified logo/badge to use on your website, business cards, and marketing materials while your certification is active.

• Optional listing in our public directory, “Find a BAA Doula,” including your name, location, headshot, and a link to your business website (opt-in at certification and renewal).

• A credential with clear standards and defined scope, so families and community partners understand what your support includes and what it does not include.

• A simple renewal pathway that keeps your credential current through continuing education (renewal administered by the academy).

• A credibility signal for families and community partners, because certification indicates you completed structured training, demonstrated readiness, and agreed to uphold published standards.

• A FREE certificant CEU pathway that allows active BAA-certified doulas to complete the minimum CEU requirement for renewal through quarterly academy-provided CE opportunities.

Standards you agree to uphold

Certification requires agreement to the standards that define what it means to hold this credential:

• Scope of Practice: Community Perinatal Doula

• Community Perinatal Doula Professional Standards (Best Practices)

• Code of Ethics: Community Perinatal Doula

• Confidentiality and Documentation Standard: Community Perinatal Doula

• Professional Presence and Infection Prevention Standard: Community Perinatal Doula

• Credential Representation Standard: Community Perinatal Doula

(These documents do not contain signature lines. Agreement is completed on the certification application form.)

Recertification (renewal and CEUs)

Certification is maintained through renewal and continuing education every 3 years.

For recertification, certificants must:

• Complete 12 CEUs for the renewal period (CEUs may be completed through Born Again Academy’s CE library, which include Academy CEs and external CEs the Academy has explicitly approved).

• Submit CEU documentation as instructed.

• Re-affirm agreement to the Community Perinatal Doula standards during renewal.

• Provide an updated portfolio/business website link for renewal review.

For more information, visit the Recertification page and preview our CEU topics on the Continuing Education page.

Course completion vs certification

• Course completion means you completed the training and earned a course completion certificate.

• Certification means you completed the separate certification process and maintain your credential through CEUs over time.