Frequently Asked Questions
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At present, doula services are not yet covered by Medicaid in Arkansas. The state is still in the process of finalizing provider rules, rates, and certification procedures. Medicaid reimbursement is expected to begin June 1st, 2026. Even then, doulas will be required to go through the credentialing process before being able to begin as a Medicaid provider. The credentialing process can take up to three months.
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To be certified as a Community-Based Doula by the Arkansas Department of Health to perform services for Medicaid and insurance reimbursement, individuals must select an application pathway. Documentation requirements for certification will be determined by pathway.
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.
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The AR-CCBD certification is valid for two years. At the beginning of your second year of certification, you will receive a courtesy reminder you that your certification will soon expire. You may renew your AR-CCBD certification with 10 hours of continuing education in evidence-based maternal health education.
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Approved continuing education offerings are ones that focus on evidence based perinatal health research, updated training, advocacy, and/or support. There are many options for your continuing education. You may also complete education offerings that award general CEUs/Contact Hours, as long as the title of the course is specific to the field of doulas, birth work, or perinatal/maternal health.
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Most AR-CCBDs work in private practice. Many doulas join hubs in their area where they are employed as independent contractors. Over the next few years, we expect to see a rise in Community-Based Doulas partnering to work with hospitals, clinics, birthing centers, WIC offices, doctor’s offices, and health departments as well. Every Certified Community-Based Doula must work within their Scope of Practice.
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Every AR-CCBD should obtain advice regarding liability insurance. Two types may be needed: a) professional liability (malpractice) insurance; b) general liability (if you are self-employed – this covers business exposures such as clients being injured by a slip and fall on the premises, etc.) If you already carry liability insurance in the context of other licensure/certification (e.g., RN, CLC, etc.), we recommend checking with your current liability insurance carrier to see if doula work can be added to any existing policy. Make sure you find out about any limitations of insurance - for example, if your insurance covers your work in a hospital it may cover you only on hospital grounds, but not for phone calls made from home, home visits, etc.
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The credentialing process for insurance companies is separate from professional credentialing. It refers to the insurance company accepting care providers whom they will reimburse. Insurers establish their own rules about whom they credential, which is challenging for individual providers who have to deal with each insurer separately. Insurance billing and reimbursement are always complex topics. As a result, we are not comfortable offering advice. Instead DA-AR members will have access to exclusive trainings as things begin to be finalized to learn more about the ins and outs of the insurance market.
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No, candidates do not need to notify DA-AR if they wish to allow their AR-CCBD certification to expire. However, certified persons must notify DA-AR if convicted of criminal misconduct and if, through circumstances foreseen or unforeseen, they are unable to perform the essential functions of the AR-CCBD role with or without reasonable accommodation.
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Arkansas Department of Health has released their approved doula training programs for 2026 on their website.
Currently the only local certifying organization for the state of Arkansas is Ujima Maternity Network.
There are a lot of training options available online as well. If you go this route, it is strongly recommended to consider reaching out to one of the local doulas in your area for mentorship. You can see who all is certified and approved by our organization on our directory. Take the time to find an organization that best aligns with your needs, values, and desires in this work.
Consider joining DA-AR as a Student Doula Member as you embark on this journey. You will gain access to mentorship opportunities with practicing doulas in the state, continued education, first updates on reimbursement in the state, and discounted attendance to our annual conference and events all for only $25/year.
Below is the list of 2026 approved training organizations:
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DA-AR is not a training organization. We are the professional development organization for doulas in Arkansas. We offer continued education, networking, and enrichment opportunities for our members. In accordance with Act 965 and the Arkansas Department of Health, DA-AR is also able to help credential doulas by offering AR-CCBD certification.