What does it cost to become a certified doula in the UK?

There are so many different doula courses on offer, I think I counted eleven in the UK alone, and then there’s the US based courses and on-line courses available too.  

Back in 2002, when I was looking into becoming a doula and the internet was in its infancy, I could only find three doula courses.  Two of these are still running but the course I did, BOND (British School of Nurturing Doulas), no longer exists.
 
So, how much would it cost to become a ‘certified,’ or as we call them in the UK, ‘recognised’ doula?  As you may already know, there are no regulations governing doulas or the work doulas do. However, Doula UK, set up back in 2001, offer their own approved courses and follow a very comprehensive core curriculum. Doula UK also offer an on-going mentoring process, which is something all doulas sign up for when they join the organisation. You can only join Doula UK if you have completed one of their approved courses, so let’s take a realistic look at what’s on offer and what your investment is likely to be after completing the course.
 
I think that if you’re setting up any kind of business, then you would expect to invest some money - it’s quite unusual to make something out of nothing.  I also think that it’s important to know before you book onto a doula course your reasons for wanting to become a doula. I wrote a blog earlier this year about this that you might find helpful. 
 
So, let’s look at the costs involved:

Initial doula preparation courses (All Doula UK approved):

After the course and to get started:

•  Joining Doula UK:  £80/year; can be paid in instalments throughout the year
• Recognition Process: £200 to become a Recognised Birth Doula and £200 to become a Recognised Postnatal Doula
• DBS Check: £65 (not a requirement but you can get one through Mencap)
• Public Liability Insurance: £75-£125 per year (not a requirement)

 
Extras:

•  ​Website: £95 (Weebly, 2 year starter site)
• Personalised email: £28 (Gsuite, 2 years)
• Advertising: 5% - 10% of your turnover 

 
So I hope that helps when it comes to creating a budget for your start-up doula business.  There are many reasons why a business isn’t successful and if you’re interested,  I’ve identified a few of the reasons doulas don’t always get it to work.
 
I wish you every success in your new venture! Be sure to check out BirthBliss Academy dates and venues for our very popular doula course - we might be just around the corner from you!