As many doulas know, there is no overseeing body or regulations for doula work or certifications. So, with over 200 doula trainings, DoulaMatch.net decided to evaluate certifications to help parents make informed decisions. We are delighted to learn that the International Doula Institute scores #1 on DoulaMatch.
DoulaMatch is a leading platform for connecting parents with birth support. It has existed since the 2000s and provides an easy way for parents to find potential doulas.
Unlike some matching platforms, DoulaMatch requires doulas who claim to be certified to provide proof of certification. What became challenging as doula work has expanded is helping parents understand what each certification means.
DoulaMatch created a rubric for assessing certification process and the doula certification organization as well.
Does Doula Certification Matter?
As a certifying organization, we value doula certification. However, we also respect that birth work precedes modern trainings. We fully respect traditional birth workers and do not believe every person who provides non-medical labor support requires a certification.
However, we also know that very few people live in communities which make it easy to learn apprenticeship style like birth workers of the past. Without access to typical physiological birth, few opportunities to learn from more experienced birth workers, and the spread of varying misinformation around birth, trainings and certifications became a necessity to meet the need of birth support.
Traditional birth workers remain limited. Trainings and certifications allow more people to become equipped to support families even when they do not have access to traditional learning methods.
International Doula Institute Scores #1 on DoulaMatch – What Does This Mean?
With more than 200 doula trainings represented by DoulaMatch doulas, a rubric was created.
DoulaMatch looked at two areas, Certification Credential Evaluation and Certification Organization Evaluation. The first offers a max score of 15/15 and the second 12/12.
For Certification Credential Evaluation, IDI scored 14/15. Why did we lose one point? We do not require a proctored exam. To date, we are not personally aware of any doula certifications which require a proctored exam for certification. We believe a comprehensive evaluation of understanding scope of practice, the role of a doula, and how to interact with parents is best evaluated through basic exam but also via video submission, talking, etc.
Not testing well has no bearing on one’s ability to be a qualified and evidence-based practicing birth support.
For Certification Organization Evaluation, IDI scored 9/12. Why did we lose three points? We are not a registered nonprofit organization.
Why is IDI Not a Nonprofit Organization?
The International Doula Institute was founded by Aliza, an experienced doula, who wanted to ensure the doulas she worked with were truly qualified. With a background and degree in education, specifically online education, she founded IDI to increase access to quality, evidence-based training.
All the staff at IDI have experience as certified doulas, many of whom trained before IDI was founded. While they all had extensive training, often through multiple doula organizations, they saw areas which were challenging for students.
IDI recognizes the benefits of nonprofit organizations while recognizing that sometimes relying on volunteers can be challenging. Many doulas who trained in the early 2000s and before experienced delays in certification as evaluations were often completed by volunteers.
By not becoming a nonprofit, Aliza was able to create a solid and consistent staff. This allows more consistent office hours, ongoing access to an instructor, mentorship, and waiting only weeks instead of months to receive your certificate after completion. Some nonprofits are unable to offer that as they have limited staff and work with volunteers.
To be clear, there are many wonderful nonprofits who meet the needs of many students. However, IDI chose another path fill in the gaps many students look for.
Is IDI THE Best Doula Training?
Of course we think we’re the best doula training! Everyone, however, evaluates trainings with their own lense.
When DoulaMatch created their rubric, we scored the highest with 23/27. No organization scored 27/27. The next highest score was 22.
Rather than aiming for 27/27 the rubric simply provides areas to evaluate different strengths of each program. Our overall high score represents our commitment to through training, comprehensive evaluation, and structured organizational staff.
Based on DoulaMatch’s current rubric, the International Doula Institute has the highest score as of August 2026.
We appreciate DoulaMatch’s effort to support families in understanding the different types of certifications.
Are you hoping to become certified with a highly recognized organization? Get started today and you can tell families you’re certified with the best!
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...