When you are looking for quality doula training, seeking accredited institutions is a given. Perhaps you are wondering if the International Doula Institute is accredited. Unfortunately, there is not an overseeing body. If there was an overseeing body which accredited doulas, there is no doubt IDI would be accredited.
However, currently, the US does not regulate doulas. This means that there is not an overseeing organization which accredits doula training organizations.
While there are some state registries for doulas, there are no state, federal, or international regulations for doulas.
Is The International Doula Institute Accredited?
As mentioned, there are no organizations to accredit doula organizations. However, as a longstanding leader in quality training, we know if accreditation were available, we would qualify. While there is not accreditation for doula training, our certification is globally recognized.
Typically, when an educational or training program is accredited, they meet specific standards. The Western Association of Schools and Colleges has four standards for accreditation. They are:
- Standard I: Mission, Academic Quality and Institutional Effectiveness, and Integrity The institution demonstrates strong commitment to a mission that emphasizes student learning and student achievement.
- Standard II: Student Learning Programs and Support Services. All instructional programs, regardless of location or means of delivery, including distance education and correspondence education, are offered in fields of study consistent with the institution’s mission.
- Standard III: Resources: The institution effectively uses its human, physical, technology, and financial resources to achieve its mission and to improve academic quality and institutional effectiveness.
- Standard IV: Leadership and Governance: The institution recognizes and uses the contributions of leadership throughout the organization for promoting student success, sustaining academic quality, integrity, fiscal stability, and continuous improvement of the institution.
So, if IDI strives to meet these standards, why are they not accredited as a junior college? Well, in short, we are not a college. We are a training organization designed to fully prepare you for non-clinical birth work. Becoming a doula does not require a college degree.
Birth support predates colleges and universities. We recognize that modern degrees are not necessary to truly support clients. However, we know that evidence-based information about how to support clients is important. For this reason, we offer comprehensive training that strives to meet the standards of institutes of higher learning.
Read below to see how we strive to meet each of the four standards.
Accreditation Standard I
While we are not a college, junior college, etc., as mentioned, we strive to provide doula education that is comparable in quality. As there are no overseeing bodies for doula training, we can only model after certain things.
The first accreditation standard requires an institute to demonstrate a strong commitment to a mission which emphasizes student learning and achievement.
Our institute is designed to reach that goal of developing skilled doulas, through using only qualified curriculum developers, engaging and available instructors, and ongoing student support.
- Our mission: the International Doula Institute is committed to developing caring, compassionate, skilled doulas.
- Academic quality ensures using qualified curriculum developers, evidenced-based learning strategies, and qualified instructors.
- Our institutional effectiveness shows through a high rate of completed certifications and successful doulas and birth workers.
So, while we are not a college or university, we strive to reach similar standards. However, we recognize that doulas do not need a university degree to be successful birth workers, but they still deserve quality and evidenced-based education.
The International Doula Institute Accredited – Standard II
To become accredited, the second standard requires our mission, academic quality, etc., to be in-line with our mission. It requires our course of study to be in-line with our mission.
The International Doula Institute is committed to developing caring, compassionate, skilled doulas.
Our training programs are specifically designed to be in-line with that mission. Our current programs include but are not limited to:
- Birth Doula
- Postpartum Doula
- Prenatal Yoga
- Prenatal Nutrition
- Childbirth Educator
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Birth Workers
- Breastfeeding Counselor
So, as you see, each area of study supports our mission to develop caring, compassionate, and skilled doulas.
Accreditation Standard III
The institution effectively uses its human, physical, technology, and financial resources to achieve its mission and to improve academic quality and institutional effectiveness.
At the International Doula Institute, we work with some of the most qualified individuals in the perinatal field. Our curriculum contributors include but are not limited to:
- Successful, certified birth, postpartum, and antenatal doulas
- IBCLC lactation consultants
- Physicians including neonatologists.
- Certified Nurse Midwives
- RNs
- Registered Dieticians
- Qualified yoga instructors
We ensure that we use people associated with our institution in a manner which benefits students through up-to-date, and peer reviewed evidence-based information.
As an online training institute, we are always seeking to improve our technology. So, with modern technology, we can provide multi-media training to ensure students have access to a variety of materials and learning styles.
The International Doula Institute Accredited – Standard IV
We pour back into our institute through a minimum of yearly curriculum updates. However, as new studies are released, we often update the curriculum multiple times throughout the year. We are dedicated to ensuring we are always improving the learning experience for our students.
Our leadership is dedicated to continually improving our curriculum, communication with students, and ongoing student support. So, from our humble beginnings with just a few dozen students at a time, to having thousands of active students, we work to ensure we are continually improving our institution.
Is The International Doula Institute Accredited?
As mentioned, we simply cannot be accredited as no one accredits doula training. However, as you’ve read, we strive to follow the closest related accreditation standards. So, should there come a time when doula training is accredited, we are fully prepared to meet all the standards.
So, are you ready to get started with your new career through quality doula training? Get started now!
Author: Aliza Juliette Bancoff
Aliza Juliette Bancoff is a well-known doula and doula trainer who has been providing doula services to families for over a decade. She is the founder of Main Line Doulas, a doula group providing doula support in the great Philadelphia area for the last decade, the International Doula Institute, which provides online doula training and lactation training and certification programs and the International Breastfeeding Institute which provides lactation training and certification. She is the co-founder of United Birth, a company devoted to increasing access to doulas across the country to make the perinatal time safer both physically and emotionally. “Every birthing person deserves access to quality doula support. And we are working to make that a reality across the country. The work we are doing to get doulas to every birthing person will decrease the black infant and maternal mortality rate significantly by 2030.” Says Bancoff. Aliza is known for her compassionate and empowering approach to doula work, and she has been featured in numerous media outlets, including United Nations Maternal Health Report, Parent Magazine, CafeMom, theBump and many more. Aliza's journey into doula work began when she gave birth to her first child and felt a strong calling...