Continuing Education Credits (CEs)
“As someone who had taken lactation education training classes before, I thought I wouldn’t learn much new information — I was wrong! Thanks so much!” — Class participant
Continuing Education credits or CEs have been awarded for all eligible programs. For readers unfamiliar with CEs, also referred to as CEUs, they are a requirement for certified doulas and many other licensed professionals to keep their credentials active. The DONA-certified doula is required to complete 15 hours of continuing education in every three-year re-certification period. CEs have been approved for nurses, social workers, and doulas for some programs. Any program approved for nursing CEs will also satisfy DONA CE requirements.
Please note, however, that because a program has been approved for nursing or social work CEs, it does not follow that one must be a nurse or social worker in order to take the training. A medical or professional background is not required in order to become a doula!
The following providers have approved CEs for select programs offered through the Center for the Childbearing Year:
- The University of Michigan Health System Educational Services for Nursing, accredited as a provider of Continuing Nursing Education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commision on Accreditation (these CEs fulfill requirements for nurses, doulas, and some childbirth educators);
- Michigan Social Work Continuing Education Collaborative (these CEs fulfill requirements for social workers); and
- DONA International (these CEs fulfill requirements for doulas)
If you are unsure whether or not a program will fulfill your unique licensing requirements, please check directly with the folks who licensed you. While many massage therapists, for example, are drawn to doula work, it is my understanding that nursing CEs do not fulfill massage therapist continuing education requirements.
There is an additional fee of $15, beyond the cost of the training, to process CEs. The added CE fee helps us cover the significant administrative burden and cost involved with getting programs approved for CEs, as well as the required post-training follow-up.