End-of-Life Doula Certification
Online Training Program
If you're called to support others at the end of life, this self-paced certification program gives you everything you need to begin. You’ll gain practical tools, spiritual grounding, and deep confidence to walk alongside the dying and their families with compassion and clarity.
End-of-Life Doulas are transforming the way we care for those facing end-of-life.
At some point, many of us are called to be present during life’s most vulnerable transitions. We sit at the bedside of someone we love. We feel the ache of loss and the beauty of presence. We recognize that death is not just a medical event—it’s a human one. And within that realization, a deeper calling may begin to stir: the desire to walk alongside others in their final days with compassion, steadiness, and reverence.
But what does that path look like? How do you begin? And how do you know you're "doing it right" when there's no roadmap?
Many people feel an intuitive pull to become a Death Doula, but they’re unsure how to begin or whether they’re truly qualified. Others may already be supporting loved ones or working in healthcare and want to offer deeper, more meaningful guidance at the end of life. Wherever you are starting from, this sacred calling deserves a clear and empowering way forward.
That’s why we created the IEOLCA End-of-Life Doula Certification Program: a fully online, self-paced training program designed to help you grow into this role with confidence, clarity, and heart. This program honors both the practical realities of end-of-life care and the emotional and spiritual depth it demands. It offers a structured path for people who feel called to serve—and need real tools to do so.
THE IEOLCA TRAINING was developed by a certified End-of-Life Doula and a seasoned Spiritual Health Practitioner with decades of combined experience in hospice, palliative care, spiritual care, mental health, and hospital settings. Together, they bring a rare blend of grounded expertise and soulful presence to this work.
The result is a certification program that goes far beyond surface learning. It blends practical, real-world tools with deep self-reflection. It challenges you to grow—not just as a doula, but as a human being. It guides you through meaningful learning, real-world applications, and personal transformation—all on your own schedule, in your own space.
You’ll learn how to listen deeply, plan vigil support, navigate difficult conversations, honor cultural and spiritual values, and companion others through dying, grief, and remembrance. Most of all, you’ll learn how to show up—not with all the answers, but with the kind of presence that helps others feel safe, seen, and cared for.
You feel the call. We provide the path.
Whether you're drawn to this work through personal loss, a desire to deepen your sense of purpose, or a vision of offering heart-centered support to others, the IEOLCA Certification Program is here to meet you where you are—and guide you forward with care. Some come to this path as caregivers or family members who want to better support a loved one. Others arrive as professionals—nurses, hospice volunteers, chaplains, counselors—seeking to expand their skills with a more holistic, human-centered approach. And many feel the quiet call of the soul to be of service in a deeper way, even if they don't yet know what it will look like in practice.
No matter your background, this training is designed to help you walk alongside the dying with confidence, clarity, and compassion. It offers more than just information—it offers transformation. Through carefully structured, step-by-step modules, you’ll move through a thoughtful sequence that builds your understanding, your emotional readiness, and your capacity to hold space for others.
You’ll have the support of THE IEOLCA GUIDEBOOK—a beautifully written, 164-page companion filled with reflections, case examples, and practical exercises. You’ll also gain access to a comprehensive RESOURCE COMPANION that includes planning tools, templates, scripts, and worksheets you can use with clients or loved ones right away.
By the end of this course, you won’t just be more informed—you’ll be more prepared to serve. Whether your path leads to private practice, community volunteering, family caregiving, or spiritual accompaniment, you’ll emerge with the skills and mindset needed to offer presence, reassurance, and dignity during one of life’s most sacred transitions.
THE IEOLCA END-OF-LIFE DOULA CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
The IEOLCA End-of-Life Doula Certification Program is a comprehensive, self-paced training designed to fully prepare you for compassionate doula work. With approximately 40 hours of instruction, the course is broken into 27 learning modules that include short, accessible videos, hands-on exercises, and real-world tools you can immediately apply. You’ll move through the content at your own pace, in a sequence that is intentional, supportive, and transformative.
The training is divided into three distinct phases—Foundations, Core Training, and Integrative Practice—each building on the last to deepen your knowledge, expand your emotional readiness, and equip you with practical skills. Along the way, you’ll have the support of two powerful tools: our 164-page IEOLCA Guidebook, which mirrors and expands upon the course content with reflection prompts and case examples, and our 143-page Resource Companion, packed with templates, planning forms, worksheets, and scripts to use with clients and families.
By the end of this course, you’ll have a solid foundation in doula scope and ethics, dying process care, legacy projects, vigil planning, communication, grief support, and professional preparation. Whether you’re coming to this work as a caregiver, healer, volunteer, or spiritual companion, this certification gives you everything you need to confidently support others through life’s most sacred transition.
PHASE 1: FOUNDATIONS TRAINING
Begin your journey with personal reflection and the emotional roots of doula work.
Begin your journey with the essentials in our Foundations Training—an exploration of your role, self-awareness, mortality, and the cultural roots of doula work. These modules provide the emotional, historical, and personal foundation for your future practice.
1. WELCOME TO YOUR END-OF-LIFE DOULA TRAINING: Orientation to the course, what to expect, and how to navigate your self-paced journey.
2. INTRODUCTION TO SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING: Learn how to stay motivated and build habits that support meaningful and steady progress.
3. EXPLORING THE CALL: Reflect on what draws you to this work and deepen your connection to your personal "why."
4. HISTORY OF DEATHCARE & THE REEMERGENCE OF DOULAS: Understand the historical context of deathcare and how doulas are reclaiming this role in modern society.
5. UNDERSTANDING THE DOULA ROLE: Define the scope, responsibilities, and ethical foundations of death doula work.
6. SELF-AWARENESS PRACTICES: Explore tools for emotional regulation, reflection, and presence that are key to compassionate care.
7. CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS IN DOULA WORK: Learn how to offer inclusive, respectful support across diverse beliefs, values, and traditions.
8. EXPLORING OUR MORTALITY: Engage with your own understanding of death, grief, and impermanence to better support others.
PHASE 2: CORE TRAINING
Practical tools, communication skills, rituals, and grief support.
Core Training gives you the practical tools and advanced knowledge needed to support clients. You’ll cover everything from vigil planning to grief, communication, legacy work, and ethical boundaries.
1. REVISITING LIFE’S MOMENTS: THE LIFE REVIEW: Learn how to guide clients through meaningful storytelling and reflection.
2. CREATING A DYING PLAN: Support clients in outlining their wishes, values, and care preferences for their final chapter.
3. THE DYING PROCESS (PARTS 1 & 2): Understand the physical, emotional, and spiritual changes that occur in the final days of life.
4. COMPASSIONATE PRESENCE DURING THE DYING PROCESS: Cultivate skills in being grounded, calm, and supportive at the bedside.
5. CREATING A VIGIL PLAN: Learn how to plan and hold space for vigils that reflect a person’s values and bring comfort to loved ones.
6. RITUALS AND CEREMONIES: Explore how to co-create meaningful rituals for life’s final transition.
7. GUIDED IMAGERY: Practice using soothing, imaginative tools to bring calm and connection during difficult moments.
8. END-OF-LIFE PROJECTS: CREATING LEGACIES AND MEANING: Support clients in crafting legacy items, messages, and memories for their loved ones.
9. COMPASSIONATE COMMUNICATION: Learn how to navigate sensitive conversations with honesty, empathy, and care.
10. UNDERSTANDING GRIEF: Gain insight into the grieving process and how doulas can support both anticipatory and post-death grief.
11. SUPPORTING FAMILIES AND CIRCLES OF CARE: Help clients and their loved ones stay connected and supported throughout the dying journey.
12. COMMON DOULA CHALLENGES: Examine real-life dilemmas and how to navigate them with professionalism and compassion.
13. ETHICS, BOUNDARIES, AND PROFESSIONALISM: Clarify your responsibilities and stay aligned with ethical, heart-centered care.
14. DO’S AND DON’TS OF DOULA WORK: A summary of practical best practices for sustainable and effective doula care.
PHASE 3: INTEGRATIVE / REFLECTIVE PRACTICE
Reflect, integrate, and prepare to walk forward in practice.
In the final Reflective/Integrative Phase, you'll integrate everything you've learned, reflect on your journey, align your calling with real-world opportunities, and prepare for confident practice.
1. APPLYING SKILLS IN PRACTICE: BUILDING CONFIDENCE: Learn how to bring your knowledge into real client scenarios with presence and professionalism.
2. REFLECTING ON YOUR JOURNEY: Pause to acknowledge how far you’ve come—and identify the values that will guide your path forward.
3. ALIGNING YOUR “WHY” WITH COMMUNITY NEEDS: Discover how to connect your unique calling to the needs of your community and future clients.
4. BUSINESS ESSENTIALS FOR END-OF-LIFE DOULAS: Explore practical next steps for offering doula care as a paid or volunteer service, including contracts, pricing, and outreach.
5. CLOSING THE TRAINING: CONGRATULATIONS & NEXT STEPS: Prepare for certification, continued learning, and serving others with clarity and compassion.
THE IEOLCA GUIDEBOOK & RESOURCE LIBRARY
Downloadable volumes to support your learning and future practice.
THE IEOLCA GUIDEBOOK (164 pages) is your comprehensive learning companion, designed to walk hand-in-hand with the training modules. It includes expanded content, real-world examples, reflection exercises, and self-assessment prompts to deepen your learning experience.
THE RESOURCE COMPANION (143 pages) is a practical toolkit filled with downloadable templates, client planning forms, legacy project worksheets, business tools, and communication scripts to help you begin your doula practice with confidence and clarity.
Together, these two volumes support not just your training, but your transformation—so you feel equipped and empowered to offer heart-centered care at end of life.
IEOLCA END-OF-LIFE DOULA CERTIFICATION
Receive your official certificate of completion and begin offering compassionate doula care.
Upon completing the program, you’ll receive a Certificate of Completion, acknowledging your comprehensive training and preparing you to confidently support individuals and families through the end-of-life journey.
Whether you feel called to begin a career as a death doula or simply wish to deepen your understanding of this sacred work, this program will change your life. You’ll gain the skills, insight, and confidence to step into this role with compassion, clarity, and purpose.
Designed by one of the most trusted and qualified organizations in the field, this training equips you with everything you need to start your own death doula practice—or bring this meaningful knowledge into your personal or professional life. Whether you plan to work independently or within a care team, you’ll be well-prepared to walk alongside others in one of life’s most profound transitions.
WHAT OUR DOULAS ARE SAYING
“This course is more in-depth and self-reflective than the one I took before. Thank you for making this available.”
– Annette K.
“It’s giving me such a sense of direction and well-being. This has been an amazing journey.”
– Lisa F.
“Absolutely amazed with the material and details, especially for the price.”
– S.M.
60-DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE
Try the course risk-free for 60 days—your satisfaction is guaranteed.
We have taken all the risk out of this. The value of this program is over $875. But we have a special offer for you. It’s a super-low-discount. Today, we are offering the entire certification program for only $185. We can offer this discount because it’s only for a limited time.
And it comes with our personal 60-day money-back guarantee. Use it, and if you don’t like it, we will refund the entire cost of the program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need any previous experience or qualifications to become a death doula?
No previous experience is required. This course is beginner-friendly and designed to guide you step-by-step, whether you're entering this work for the first time or looking to deepen your skills.
How long do I have access to the course?
You’ll have unlimited, lifetime access. Move through the program at your own pace and revisit the materials any time you need.
What’s included in the certification?
You’ll receive 27 training modules, over 40 hours of instruction, a 164-page guidebook, a downloadable resources companion, and a personalized certificate of completion.
Is this certification recognized?
IEOLCA is an independent training organization recognized internationally. While death doulas are not regulated by a licensing body, our certification is respected by communities, families, and care organizations worldwide.
Can I use this training to start a business or volunteer?
Yes. Many graduates go on to serve clients privately, offer volunteer support in hospice or healthcare settings, or integrate this training into related roles such as chaplaincy, coaching, or grief work.
Begin Your IEOLCA Journey Today
Proud to begin a new chapter—trained, prepared and ready to serve.
Feeling called to this path is no coincidence. It reflects a part of you that’s ready to serve—and it’s time to listen.
This course is here to support your next step—whether you’re just beginning or ready to go deeper. It’s accessible, affordable, and designed to help you feel prepared, confident, and connected to your purpose.
You don’t have to do this alone. Let us walk with you as you begin your path.
Click below to get started. Everything you need is waiting for you.
You have what it takes to make this real. Let’s begin.