What Is DONA International?

DONA International is a doula training and certification organization. Its website serves two main audiences: people who want to become certified doulas, and families who want to find or hire a doula. If you are exploring the doula field, seeking certification, or looking for a certified doula, DONA International is one of the established organizations to know.

What DONA International Does

DONA International positions itself around "supporting families through birth and beyond." Its work centers on the doula profession — training, certifying, and connecting doulas with the families who need them.

The site organizes its offerings into two broad tracks:

• For aspiring and practicing doulas — training workshops, certification paths, recertification, advanced designations, continuing education, and a member portal.
• For families — explanations of what a doula is, how to find a DONA certified doula, and how to hire one.

What Is a Doula?

A doula provides support to families around birth and the postpartum period. DONA International distinguishes between two main roles:

• Birth doula — supports a family through pregnancy, labor, and birth.
• Postpartum doula — supports a family after the baby arrives.

The site also addresses the benefits of having a doula, which is useful if you are a family deciding whether to hire one.

For Families: Finding and Hiring a Doula

If you are looking for support, DONA International offers:

• A Find a DONA Certified Doula directory.
• Guidance on how to hire a doula.
• Explanations of what a doula is and what birth and postpartum doulas do.

This lets you move from understanding the role to locating a certified professional.

For Aspiring Doulas: Certification Paths

If you want to become a doula, the site lays out several routes:

• Birth Doula Certification
• Postpartum Doula Certification
• Recertification for current certified doulas
• Advanced Doula Designation
• DONA Doula Trainer Certification & Renewal

Supporting resources include training workshops, a step-by-step certification guide, FAQs for aspiring DONA doulas, and a page on costs.

Membership, Community, and Events

DONA International also functions as a professional community. Members get access to:

• A member portal for profile and certification status.
• DONA Elevate continuing education and credit hours.
• Events and conferences, including the DONA International Summit.
• A resource library, advocacy and policy updates, discussion forums, and peer support.
• Volunteer and leadership opportunities.

There is also a blog and International Doula Magazine.

International Scope and Standards

As the name indicates, DONA International operates internationally, connecting professionals worldwide. It publishes standards and ethics and lists DONA International Partners, which matters if you want to know what a certification represents or how the organization governs its members.

Quick Reference

DONA International is best understood as both a certifying body for doulas and a connection point between certified doulas and the families they serve. Whether you are entering the profession or seeking support, the site's structure reflects those two purposes.