San Francisco Doula Group (“SFDG”) offers its interested members an optional Advanced Doula Certification. SFDG certified doulas are required to re-certify every year if they wish to maintain this certification. SFDG doulas who have certified or re-certified will have demonstrated their commitment to doula work, ongoing education and the local birth community.  Continuing education is required.

Our certification process ensures that doulas are actively engaged in doula meetings, trainings, and on-going work with doula clients. Certificates are now provided digitally. 

SFDG Advanced Doula Certification Guidelines:

• Maintain continuous membership in SFDG.  (See SFDG membership requirements and SFDG member application here.  To verify that your membership is current, we maintain documentation of attendance and participation.)  

• Documented support of at least 20 families.  

• Obtain a minimum of ten (10) contact hours of continuing education in a birth and/or parenting related field. 

• Attend at least 6 SFDG meetings per year. Community Service Meet the Doula events don’t count towards this requirement.

• Documentation of at least 2 continuing education sessions per year.  The SFDG provides multiple continuing ed opportunities a year.

Cornerstone Doula trainings has an excellent resource regarding certifications and important considerations. We hope everyone reads it.