Chapter 403. Certification of Doulas
12VAC5-403-10. Definitions.
The following words and terms shall have the following meanings when used in this chapter unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Antepartum" means the period of pregnancy prior to labor and delivery.
"Certifying body" means an organization approved by the State Board of Health that has as one of its purposes the certification of doulas.
"Community-based doula" means a doula who often has shared lived experiences and is trained to provide extended, culturally congruent support to families throughout pregnancy to include antepartum, intrapartum, during labor and birth, and up to one year postpartum. Community-based doulas provide an expanded set of services and play a crucial role in improving outcomes and experiences for communities most affected by discrimination and disparities in health outcomes.
"Doula" means a trained nonmedical professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to a pregnant person during the antepartum or intrapartum period or during the period up to one year postpartum.
"Intrapartum" means the period of pregnancy after the onset of labor through delivery.
"Postpartum" means the period of pregnancy following birth.
"State-certified doula" means a trained, community-based nonmedical professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to a pregnant person during the antepartum or intrapartum period or during the period up to one year postpartum who has been certified by a certifying body approved by the State Board of Health.
"Training entity" means an organization that has a training and education programs that are approved by a certifying body approved by the State Board of Health to meet the curriculum requirements for community-based doula certification.
Statutory Authority
§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-77.1 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 38, Issue 8, eff. January 6, 2022.
12VAC5-403-20. State-certified doula.
Any person seeking to be a state-certified doula under this chapter shall be a community-based doula and shall (i) meet the qualifications and education requirements established in this chapter and (ii) hold a certification as a certified doula from a certifying body approved by the State Board of Health.
Statutory Authority
§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-77.1 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 38, Issue 8, eff. January 6, 2022.
12VAC5-403-30. Qualifications.
A. Any person seeking to be a state-certified doula under this chapter shall complete at least 60 hours of doula training. Training shall be provided by one or more entities approved by a certifying body approved by the State Board of Health.
B. The training and education requirements outlined in 12VAC5-403-50 shall not apply to doulas who have already obtained an initial level of certification within three years prior to January 6, 2022, and are applying to be a state-certified doula through the certifying body approved by the State Board of Health, provided that the applicant provides proof of completion of any unmet training and education requirements within one year of application.
Statutory Authority
§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-77.1 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 38, Issue 8, eff. January 6, 2022.
12VAC5-403-40. Minimum standards for certifying bodies.
A. The State Board of Health shall approve a certifying body that has adopted standards from a nationally recognized organization that has a doula certification that reflects national best practices pertaining to community-based doula training and certification to establish certified doula training and education programs and to approve or accept continuing education courses for renewing doula certification in Virginia.
B. The certifying body shall:
1. Maintain a registry of state-certified doulas that is accessible to the public and displays the certification status of doulas.
2. Submit to the State Board of Health an annual report by the end of every fiscal year that identifies the number of new and cumulative state-certified doulas and the number of new and cumulative training programs approved for the purpose of providing doula certification.
C. The certifying body shall require its certificate holders to:
1. Adhere to a code of ethics set forth by the certifying body.
2. Complete at least 60 hours of training and education provided by one or more training entities approved by the certifying body.
Statutory Authority
§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-77.1 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 38, Issue 8, eff. January 6, 2022.
12VAC5-403-50. Curriculum requirements.
A. Unless the exception in 12VAC5-403-30 B is met, any person seeking to be a state-certified doula under this chapter shall complete doula training and education programs that have been approved by the certifying body. The curriculum requirements for the certified doula training and education programs are outlined in the Virginia Curriculum Requirements for the State-Certified Doula and shall be approved by the certifying body.
B. The curriculum requirements for the certified doula training and education programs shall include a minimum of 60 hours in the following topics:
1. Maternal and infant health concepts and approaches ( two hours).
a. Provision of perinatal support services from first trimester to 12 months postpartum.
b. Provision of emotional and social support, including navigating pregnancy loss.
2. Lactation anticipatory guidance and support (10 hours).
3. Service coordination and system navigation (20 hours).
a. Provision of in-home prenatal and postpartum care support.
b. Assessing psychosocial and health needs, including perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) screening.
c. Goal setting and prioritization of psychosocial and health needs.
d. Antepartum (high-risk) maternal care support.
e. Labor support.
f. Education and referrals for developmental screenings.
g. Resource navigation for wraparound services (i.e., intimate partner violence, domestic violence, oral health, family planning).
4. Health promotion and prevention ( eight hours).
a. Provision of perinatal health education.
b. Provision of newborn parenting education
c. Provision of wellness and self-care coaching.
5. Advocacy, outreach, and engagement ( five hours).
a. Serving as an advocate for respectful maternal care.
b. Intentional reflection of the community served.
c. Care coordination and social service navigation.
d. Provision of reproductive rights education, informed choice and decision making, and birth planning.
e. Child abuse and neglect mandatory reporting.
6. Communication ( two hours).
a. Respectful, client-centered maternal care.
b. Active listening.
c. Navigating patient families, medical support staff, and other support systems.
d. Responding to challenges.
7. Cultural humility and responsiveness ( eight hours).
a. Intersectionality and cultural humility, including language access.
b. Health literacy.
c. Trauma-informed care.
8. Ethical responsibilities and professionalism ( five hours).
a. Code of ethics, standards of practice, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (P.L. 104–191).
b. Required charting and documentation.
c. Serving as an accountability partner.
Statutory Authority
§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-77.1 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 38, Issue 8, eff. January 6, 2022.
12VAC5-403-60. Continuing education.
Any person seeking to be a state-certified doula under this chapter shall be required to complete a minimum of 15 hours of continuing education every two years from the date of certification from a training entity approved by the certifying body pursuant to 12VAC5-403-40. These hours shall be in courses outlined in the Virginia Curriculum Requirements for the State-Certified Doula.
Statutory Authority
§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-77.1 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 38, Issue 8, eff. January 6, 2022.
12VAC5-403-70. Certification not required.
This regulation does not require a doula to be certified by a certifying body approved by the State Board of Health in order to practice as a doula in Virginia.
Statutory Authority
§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-77.1 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 38, Issue 8, eff. January 6, 2022.