Train to provide inclusive care to your community and become a certified doula today!

Request a Doula

Doula Training Overview

Step 1: Become a Doula

Attend three-day comprehensive doula training and attend induction ceremony - to be confirmed at a later date.

Step 2: Support Pregnancies

Support birthing women, people + fathers through their colorful pregnancy journeys.

Step 3: Build a Career

Receive compensation while providing advocacy and culturally competent support.

Recognizing that maternal health disparities go beyond resource limitations, we are committed to tackling the impact of racism, gender oppression, obstetric violence, and institutional policies by training culturally sensitive doulas.

Those who apply for a scholarship and are accepted will receive an 85% scholarship for training fees, 12 months of doula mentorship, client assignments through Birth in Color, and more!
Interested in earning a Birth in Color Doula certification but don’t want to be a part of our collective?

Apply for doula training and certification and become an independent doula: Apply to take Birth in Color's evidence-based doula training and equip yourself for a doula career with skills rooted in cultural humility, become certified, and launch your birthworker career. Optionally, add on doula mentorship from Birth in Color for up to 12 months.

Find a doula training
session near you!

🗓 DMV — August 1-3 (English + Español)

Applications Close on July 5

DMV Become a Doula

APPLICANTS MUST READ AND ACCEPT

- Applicants will be considered by a review board consisting of members of Birth in Color RVA - Previous birth experience is helpful, though not required - A select number of applicants will move onto a virtual interview Applicants accepted into the The Birth in Color RVA Project agree to: - Attend a three-day doula training - Attend an induction ceremony - Date TBD - Complete 10 hours of self-guided study, client communication, and skills work a week - Provide culturally competent care to 8-10 pregnant clients including: 4 prenatal visits, 4 postpartum visits, continuous labor support, record keeping, and phone support

I have read the above description and understand the scope of this project.

I acknowledge that, if accepted into this project, I able and willing to commit to training/client work beginning once my training is complete..

I agree to check my spam folders to for news from the review board.

Name

First Name

Last Name

Preferred Pronouns

Race

Description of Race

Date of Birth

YYYY

Phone Number

(###)

###

####

Physical Address

Address 1

Address 2

City

State/Province

Zip/Postal Code

Country

Mailing Address

If different from physical address

Address 1

Address 2

City

State/Province

Zip/Postal Code

Country

Annual Household Income

Do you have children?

If so, list their ages.

Are you currently pregnant or do you plan to get pregnant in the next 12 months?

Are you a certified doula?

Have you attended births?

If so, in what capacity?

Please list all experience. Friend, midwife assistant, birth support, etc.

Have you taken other birth worker trainings?

If yes, please list courses.

Character Reference 1

If applicable

First Name

Last Name

Character Reference 1 Phone Number

(###)

###

####

Character Reference 2

First Name

Last Name

Character Reference 2 Phone Number

(###)

###

####

Personal Story

Use the area below share your "why." What led you to apply for this program? What do you feel you could contribute personally to Women of Color in our community.

Other

Use this area to add anything else you would like to share with the review board.

By checking this box, I acknowledge that Doulas are often required to attend births for substantial lengths of time. I confirm that I am in good physical health, I have family and/or friends willing to support me, and I am aware of the importance of self-care.

I accept

Spanish Doula Training Application 2 2 2

Las solicitantes deben leer y aceptar

- Los solicitantes serán considerados por una junta de revisión compuesta por miembros de Birth in Color. - La experiencia previa en partos es útil, aunque no obligatoria. - Un número selecto de solicitantes pasará a una entrevista virtual. Los solicitantes aceptados en el Proyecto Birth in Color aceptan: - Asiste a un entrenamiento de doula de tres días. - Asistir a una ceremonia de juramentación - Fecha por determinar - Completar 10 horas de estudio autoguiado, comunicación con el cliente y trabajo de habilidades a la semana. - Brindar atención culturalmente competente a entre 8 y 10 clientes embarazadas, que incluyen: 4 visitas prenatales, 4 visitas posparto, apoyo continuo en el parto, mantenimiento de registros y asistencia telefónica.

He leído la descripción anterior y entiendo el alcance de este proyecto.

Reconozco que, si soy aceptado en este proyecto, puedo y estoy dispuesto a comprometerme con el trabajo de capacitación/cliente comenzando una vez que termine mi capacitación.

Acepto revisar mis carpetas de spam para ver noticias del comité de revisión.

Nombre

First Name

Last Name

pronombres preferidos

Identidad Racial

Fecha de Nacimiento

YYYY

Dirección de Correo Electrónico

Número de teléfono

(###)

###

####

Dirección física

Address 1

Address 2

City

State/Province

Zip/Postal Code

Country

Dirección de envio

Si es diferente de la dirección física

Address 1

Address 2

City

State/Province

Zip/Postal Code

Country

Ingreso Anual del Hogar

¿Tienes hijos?

Si es así, indique sus edades.

¿Está actualmente embarazada o planea quedar embarazada en los próximos 12 meses?

¿Eres una doula certificada?

¿Has asistido a partos?

Si es así, ¿en qué calidad?

Por favor enumere todas las experiencias. Amiga, asistente de partera, apoyo al parto, etc.

¿Ha tomado otras clases de apoyo al parto?

En caso afirmativo, indique los nombres de las clases.

Referencia de personaje 1

First Name

Last Name

Personaje Referencia 1 Número de teléfono

(###)

###

####

Referencia de personaje 2

First Name

Last Name

Personaje Referencia 1 Número de teléfono

(###)

###

####

Historia personal

Utilice el área a continuación para compartir su "por qué". ¿Qué te inspiró a postularte para este programa? ¿Qué crees que podrías aportar personalmente a las madres de nuestra comunidad?

Otro

Utilice esta área para agregar cualquier otra cosa que desee compartir con nosotros para revisar.

Al marcar esta casilla, reconozco que a menudo se requiere que las Doulas asistan a los partos durante períodos de tiempo considerables. Confirmo que gozo de buena salud física, tengo familiares y/o amigos dispuestos a apoyarme y soy consciente de la importancia del autocuidado.

Acepto

🗓 Lynchburg — September 5-7

Applications Close on August 9

LYH Become a Doula

APPLICANTS MUST READ AND ACCEPT

I have read the above description and understand the scope of this project.

I acknowledge that, if accepted into this project, I able and willing to commit to training/client work beginning once my training is complete..

I agree to check my spam folders to for news from the review board.

Name

First Name

Last Name

Preferred Pronouns

Race

Description of Race

Date of Birth

YYYY

Phone Number

(###)

###

####

Physical Address

Address 1

Address 2

City

State/Province

Zip/Postal Code

Country

Mailing Address

If different from physical address

Address 1

Address 2

City

State/Province

Zip/Postal Code

Country

Annual Household Income

Do you have children?

If so, list their ages.

Are you currently pregnant or do you plan to get pregnant in the next 12 months?

Are you a certified doula?

Have you attended births?

If so, in what capacity?

Please list all experience. Friend, midwife assistant, birth support, etc.

Have you taken other birth worker trainings?

If yes, please list courses.

Character Reference 1

If applicable

First Name

Last Name

Character Reference 1 Phone Number

(###)

###

####

Character Reference 2

First Name

Last Name

Character Reference 2 Phone Number

(###)

###

####

Personal Story

Use the area below share your "why." What led you to apply for this program? What do you feel you could contribute personally to Women of Color in our community.

Other

Use this area to add anything else you would like to share with the review board.

I accept

🗓 Richmond — October 10-12

Applications Close on September 13th

Richmond 10-12 Become a Doula

APPLICANTS MUST READ AND ACCEPT

I have read the above description and understand the scope of this project.

I acknowledge that, if accepted into this project, I able and willing to commit to training/client work beginning once my training is complete..

I agree to check my spam folders to for news from the review board.

Name

First Name

Last Name

Preferred Pronouns

Race

Description of Race

Date of Birth

YYYY

Phone Number

(###)

###

####

Physical Address

Address 1

Address 2

City

State/Province

Zip/Postal Code

Country

Mailing Address

If different from physical address

Address 1

Address 2

City

State/Province

Zip/Postal Code

Country

Annual Household Income

Do you have children?

If so, list their ages.

Are you currently pregnant or do you plan to get pregnant in the next 12 months?

Are you a certified doula?

Have you attended births?

If so, in what capacity?

Please list all experience. Friend, midwife assistant, birth support, etc.

Have you taken other birth worker trainings?

If yes, please list courses.

Character Reference 1

If applicable

First Name

Last Name

Character Reference 1 Phone Number

(###)

###

####

Character Reference 2

First Name

Last Name

Character Reference 2 Phone Number

(###)

###

####

Personal Story

Use the area below share your "why." What led you to apply for this program? What do you feel you could contribute personally to Women of Color in our community.

Other

Use this area to add anything else you would like to share with the review board.

I accept

🗓 Hampton Roads — October 24-26

Applications Close on September 23rd

Hampton • Become a Doula 5 2

APPLICANTS MUST READ AND ACCEPT

I have read the above description and understand the scope of this project.

I acknowledge that, if accepted into this project, I able and willing to commit to training/client work beginning once my training is complete..

I agree to check my spam folders to for news from the review board.

Name

First Name

Last Name

Preferred Pronouns

Race

Description of Race

Date of Birth

YYYY

Phone Number

(###)

###

####

Physical Address

Address 1

Address 2

City

State/Province

Zip/Postal Code

Country

Mailing Address

If different from physical address

Address 1

Address 2

City

State/Province

Zip/Postal Code

Country

Annual Household Income

Do you have children?

If so, list their ages.

Are you currently pregnant or do you plan to get pregnant in the next 12 months?

Are you a certified doula?

Have you attended births?

If so, in what capacity?

Please list all experience. Friend, midwife assistant, birth support, etc.

Have you taken other birth worker trainings?

If yes, please list courses.

Character Reference 1

If applicable

First Name

Last Name

Character Reference 1 Phone Number

(###)

###

####

Character Reference 2

First Name

Last Name

Character Reference 2 Phone Number

(###)

###

####

Personal Story

Use the area below share your "why." What led you to apply for this program? What do you feel you could contribute personally to Women of Color in our community.

Other

Use this area to add anything else you would like to share with the review board.

I accept

🗓 Martinsville — November 7-9

Applications Close on October

Martinsville • Become a Doula 5 2 2

APPLICANTS MUST READ AND ACCEPT

I have read the above description and understand the scope of this project.

I acknowledge that, if accepted into this project, I able and willing to commit to training/client work beginning once my training is complete..

I agree to check my spam folders to for news from the review board.

Name

First Name

Last Name

Preferred Pronouns

Race

Description of Race

Date of Birth

YYYY

Phone Number

(###)

###

####

Physical Address

Address 1

Address 2

City

State/Province

Zip/Postal Code

Country

Mailing Address

If different from physical address

Address 1

Address 2

City

State/Province

Zip/Postal Code

Country

Annual Household Income

Do you have children?

If so, list their ages.

Are you currently pregnant or do you plan to get pregnant in the next 12 months?

Are you a certified doula?

Have you attended births?

If so, in what capacity?

Please list all experience. Friend, midwife assistant, birth support, etc.

Have you taken other birth worker trainings?

If yes, please list courses.

Character Reference 1

If applicable

First Name

Last Name

Character Reference 1 Phone Number

(###)

###

####

Character Reference 2

First Name

Last Name

Character Reference 2 Phone Number

(###)

###

####

Personal Story

Use the area below share your "why." What led you to apply for this program? What do you feel you could contribute personally to Women of Color in our community.

Other

Use this area to add anything else you would like to share with the review board.

I accept

So, you’re a doula now. What’s next?

After you've completed your doula training with us, Birth in Color takes it a step further by adding you to our mentorship program.

This program is designed to support your ongoing professional development, involving formal coursework, conference participation, and informal learning opportunities embedded in your practice.

If you'd like more information about our mentorship program and how it can benefit you, contact us at hello@birthincolor.org.

Frequently Asked
Questions

A doula is a trained and supportive professional who provides emotional, physical, and informational assistance to pregnant individuals before, during, and after childbirth. Doulas offer guidance and comfort to ensure a positive birthing experience.
We encourage Black, Brown, and Indigenous women to apply to our training program.
Our doula training program offers comprehensive training in prenatal and postpartum care, labor support, communication skills, and cultural inclusivity and support.
No, prior doula experience is not required. We offer training suitable for both beginners and those with some prior experience.
The program involves a three-day doula training, an induction ceremony, and 10 hours of self-guided study, client communication, and skills work each week. Doulas are expected to provide culturally competent care to 8-10 pregnant clients, which includes prenatal and postpartum visits, continuous labor support, record keeping, and phone support.
Yes, our program is designed to be inclusive and promotes cultural inclusivity. We are committed to providing training that respects and values diverse cultural backgrounds and experiences.
Yes, successful applicants will receive compensation for providing culturally competent doula care to 8-10 pregnant clients.
Being a doula can be emotionally and physically demanding, involving long hours. Doulas should be comfortable in hospital environments and maintain good health as the work can be strenuous.
To apply, head to our training dates, find a location near you, and apply.
Selected applicants will be considered for interviews with our Board of Directors.
You can sign up for updates to receive program-related news by filling out the form here.
We encourage you to keep your job whether it’s part or full-time for at least the first six months to one year of doing dual work.
One of the major benefits of being within our collective is that we do doula-client matching based on the wants and needs of our families.
We won’t prescribe anything since everyone’s doula career journeys are different. We do encourage our doulas to be thoughtful, and patient, and to only make decisions when they feel ready to dive into their doula careers full-time.
The certification process does take time and it will take a few months to figure out what your own capacity is and how many clients you can take a month.
Due to the funding our nonprofit organization receives to conduct doula training for community-based doulas, we request that you train in the city/area where you live and plan to take clients.
Birth in Color Community-based doulas differ from private/independent doulas in that our services and resources are funded by location. To be eligible for a scholarship and compensation for your services, you will need to take the doula training that is in your city.
Applicants are all eligible for scholarships to help cover the cost of the doula training. All scholarships are partial and trainees will still be subject to a portion of the training fee. Applicants will be invited to participate in scholarship interviews after the close of the application.
Scholarships are limited and are dispersed at the discretion of our review team.
We process the applications for every area individually and invite applicants to sign up for scholarship interviews. As such, our staff processes the applications one month before the training date. If you apply for a training date that is more than 5 weeks away, please be patient, we will reach out to you via email when we are scheduling interviews for your training.
After submitting your application, you should see an on-screen message that confirms your application was successfully sent. If you get an error or blank screen, please email us and we will check to see if your application saved or if it needs to be re-submitted. Contact us at hello@birthincolor.org
Birth in Color prioritizes the well-being of pregnant and postpartum people, whether they are our clients or our doulas!
As such, our organizational policy for all current doulas within our collective is that they take appropriate maternity leave from birthwork during pregnancy and postpartum.
Due to the possibilities of exposure to difficult situations, physical demands, and witnessing other pregnancies and births first hand, we encourage applicants for doula training who are pregnant to wait until the next available training when they are postpartum. If you are newly postpartum, you are also welcome to apply or wait for the next available training based on your discretion.
Questions about this policy? Let us know! You can reach us at hello@birthincolor.org
So, you’re a doula now.
What’s next?

Train to provide inclusive care to your community and become a certified doula today!

Doula Training Overview

Step 1: Become a Doula

Step 2: Support Pregnancies

Step 3: Build a Career

Recognizing that maternal health disparities go beyond resource limitations, we are committed to tackling the impact of racism, gender oppression, obstetric violence, and institutional policies by training culturally sensitive doulas.

Apply for a Schoolarship

Become an Independent Doula

Find a doula trainingsession near you!

So, you’re a doula now. What’s next?

After you've completed your doula training with us, Birth in Color takes it a step further by adding you to our mentorship program.

Frequently AskedQuestions

What is a doula?

Who can become a doula through your program?

What does the training program include?

Is prior doula experience required to apply?

How long is the training program, and what is the commitment involved?

Is the program inclusive?

Will I be compensated for my work as a doula?

What are the challenges and expectations of being a doula?

How can I apply for the doula training program?

How can I stay updated on training dates and program information?

I'm considering a career as a doula. How does it typically work, and should I resign from my current job after training?

Can I train in any location?

Am I eligible for a scholarship?

When will I hear back about my application?

I received an error or blank page when I hit submit. What do I do?

I'm newly postpartum/I'm pregnant, can I become a doula right now?

Watch the RJ Stories Documentary

Birth in Color

Find a doula training
session near you!

Frequently Asked
Questions