Pathways to Become an AR-CCBD

Act 965 of 2025, the Certified Community-Based Doula Certification Act, gave authority to the Arkansas Department of Health to certify individuals as Community-Based Doulas to provide specified services within a scope of practice during a woman’s prenatal and postpartum periods and to receive compensation for such services. There are two pathways to qualify as a community-based doula in Arkansas through the Arkansas Department of Health:

• Pathway A

  • Certification from a doula certification organization designated as an approved training program by the Arkansas Department of Health in conjunction with the Doula Alliance of Arkansas. Documentation in the form of a verification letter directly from the training program or a notarized copy of a certificate of completion. Please check the ADH website for the current list of ADH Approved Doula Training Programs for Certifications.

• Pathway B

  • Certification by the Doula Alliance of Arkansas. Documentation in the form of a notarized copy of certification must be submitted with application.

There are two pathways to qualify for Arkansas Certified Community-Based Doula certification from the Doula Alliance of Arkansas:

• The Training Pathway

• The Experiential Pathway

Training Pathway

This Pathway is designed for the person looking to take a single, comprehensive, training that covers all the skills and competencies necessary for supporting pregnant and postpartum women and families. Individuals who complete this Pathway must successfully complete a training and receive certification from an approved doula organization. The organizations should meet the following requirements:

• Minimum of 16 hours of didactic training in the following areas:

  • Childbirth education

  • Lactation support

  • Foundations of anatomy of pregnancy and childbirth

  • Nonmedical comfort measures, prenatal support and labor support techniques

  • Developing a community resource list

• Provide direct support at a minimum of three

  • birth experiences and/or

  • postpartum experiences

Course completion documents must include certification. For this pathway, candidates will only need to submit their certification from an approved organization (see state approved doula trainings here) to qualify for certification as an AR-CCBD from DA-AR. Doulas who hold a certification from a training organization not on the state approved list may still submit for AR-CCBD from DA-AR and may be approved on a case-by-case basis.

Additionally, training organizations not on the state approved list may submit an official attestation that the training program meets the minimum requirements by completing and returning the attestation form to Hello@doulaallianceofar.org.

Experiential Pathway

This Pathway is designed to honor doulas who have chosen to pursue doula work through experience, training with the decision not to pursue certification, and/or certifications that are not listed on the approved organization list. This pathway requires:

• At least five years of active doula experience in either a paid or volunteer capacity within the previous seven years

• Three written client testimonial letters or professional letters of recommendation that reference the doulas capacity to provide services from any of the following:

  • a physician, 

  • licensed behavioral health provider, 

  • nurse practitioner, 

  • nurse midwife, 

  • licensed midwife, 

  • health care facility administrator, 

  • community-based organization, 

  • or active DA-AR Certified Doula member.

  Letters must be written within the last seven years. One letter must be from either a licensed provider, a health care facility administrator, an Arkansas state certified Community-Based Doula, or an active DA-AR Certified Doula member. Those interested in pursing AR-CCBD certification through the Experiential Pathway may do so using the attestation form.

  All required documentation must be submitted with the application in order for it to be considered.
  

AR-CCBDs understand that doula support works best in conjunction with fellow maternal health providers and perinatal specialists and when the provider of doula services is culturally competent. Research consistently shows that community-based doulas improve key maternal health outcomes by increasing attendance at medical appointments and childbirth education classes, supporting higher rates of normal vaginal births, and reducing adverse maternal health events. Their presence also helps parents enter birth with greater confidence and leave the experience with more positive feelings and emotional well-being. Doula support is highly effective and risk-free. There is a fast growing number of trained and certified doulas in the state of Arkansas and across the US.

AR-CCBDs come from a variety of different backgrounds. Varying levels of education, abilities, denominations, race, and ethnicities is a part of what creates impactful culturally congruent care. When families work with providers that understand them, it helps build trust, improve outcomes, and promotes health equity through respectful care. Culturally congruent care centers the patient in a way that tailors their healthcare to fit their own family beliefs, values, and practices, as opposed to forcing them into standard medical norms.

AR-CCBDs work within a support and advocacy model alongside the healthcare team as ancillary providers. A Certified Community-Based Doula in Arkansas may provide the following type of services:

• Providing childbirth education;

• Helping pregnant women navigate the healthcare system;

• Advocating for pregnant women before, during, and after the birth of a child;

• Connecting pregnant women with community resources; and

• Supporting pregnant women with continuous emotional and physical support throughout labor and birth and intermittently during the prenatal and postpartum periods.

In order to be eligible for certification, candidates must:

• meet DA-ARs standards of competence in the field of maternal health

• qualify for certification either through the Training Pathway or the Experiential Pathway

• agree to comply with AR-CCBD Certification requirements, including compliance with the Code of Conduct for DA-AR AR-CCBDs (available by clicking here).

The AR-CCBD Certification requirements, as well as other information regarding eligibility for certification as a AR-CCBD is available in the FAQ page.