Online End-of-Life Doula Training & Death Doula Certification

For Those Called to Compassionate End-of-Life Care

Practical, self-paced education for those drawn to supporting people, animals, and families through life’s most tender moments.

A Gentle Place to Begin
Could death doula work be part of your path?
Explore what draws you to this work and how your experiences may connect with it.
Free · 8 questions · About 2 minutes
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Global Community
Learners in over 30 countries
5-Star Ratings
Student reviews and feedback
Practitioner-Led
Grounded in real experience
Personal Guidance
Feedback and educator support
Welcome to IEOLCA

Compassionate education for the many ways we care.

Whether you've supported someone through illness or loss, cared for a beloved animal, or spent years working in a helping profession, your experiences may have brought you to this work. At IEOLCA, we bring compassionate understanding together with practical skills and thoughtful guidance, helping you care for others with greater confidence, clarity, and respect.

End-of-life doula supporting an older adult through conversation and reflection
Presence. Reflection. Connection. The heart of end-of-life doula care
Explore Our Programs

Find the training that fits your path.

IEOLCA offers online End-of-Life Doula Certification and Pet Death Doula Certification, alongside focused courses in dementia care, medical aid in dying support, cultural rituals, and building a doula practice.

Accessible Tuition Options

Honor-based support for eligible programs.

Online & Self-Paced

Learn where and when it works for you.

Lifetime Access

Revisit lessons and resources anytime.

60-Day Money-Back Guarantee

A full refund within 60 days if the program is not the right fit.

Dementia & Memory Care Doula program
Focused training

Dementia & Memory Care Doula

Support people living with dementia and those who care for them through person-centered communication, dignity, and quality-of-life guidance.

Medical Aid in Dying Support program
Focused training

Medical Aid in Dying Support

Develop informed, scope-aware skills for offering nonmedical support before, during, and after assisted dying.

Cultural, Religious & Spiritual Rituals program
Focused training

Cultural, Religious & Spiritual Rituals

Explore meaningful end-of-life rituals and diverse traditions with sensitivity, respect, and cultural humility.

Business Essentials for Death Doulas program
Focused training

Business Essentials for Death Doulas

Turn your training into a thoughtful practice with practical guidance on services, pricing, agreements, boundaries, and outreach.

Student Stories

In their own words.

Why IEOLCA

Guidance you can feel. Skills you can use.

What students value is more than the curriculum: experienced educators, useful tools, ethical clarity, and connection as they grow into this work.

Practitioner-led learning, personal guidance

Co-founder and lead educator Amy-Lynne Mahon personally reviews required assignments and welcomes questions. Our teaching draws on lived and professional experience in end-of-life, hospice, spiritual, and bereavement care.

Practical tools you can use

Bring your learning into real situations with guidebooks, conversation prompts, worksheets, templates, and language you can adapt to your care.

Clear scope, ethics, and boundaries

Prepare to offer meaningful non-medical support while respecting consent, individual values, family relationships, care teams, and appropriate referrals.

A connection that continues

Certification graduates can access the Graduate Hub, their credential and digital badge, ongoing resources, and a complimentary IEOLCA Doula Directory listing.

About IEOLCA

Education rooted in dignity, presence, and practical care.

IEOLCA was created to make comprehensive end-of-life education accessible to people called to this work. Our approach is grounded in the Platinum Rule: supporting each person as they wish to be supported, with respect for their values, culture, relationships, and definition of meaningful care.

Co-founders Amy-Lynne Mahon and Perry Metheral bring experience in end-of-life care, hospice, spiritual care, grief and bereavement support, and postgraduate medical education. Together, they created IEOLCA to unite compassionate presence, clear scope, reflective learning, and practical preparation.

IEOLCA co-founders Amy-Lynne Mahon and Perry Metheral
Amy-Lynne Mahon & Perry Metheral IEOLCA Co-founders
Common questions

Questions you may be carrying.

What if I feel called, but I'm not sure I'm ready?+
That is a very common place to begin. Many students arrive with a sense of calling before they have language, structure, or clarity. IEOLCA training is designed to help you explore this work gently and practically.
Do I need a medical background?+
No. IEOLCA programs are focused on non-medical support. You do not need to be a clinician to study with us or to offer meaningful end-of-life doula support within scope.
Is this only for people who want to become professional death doulas?+
No. Some students are building a practice, while others are caregivers, hospice volunteers, chaplains, nurses, grief workers, or family members who want to feel more prepared and confident.
Can I study at my own pace?+
Yes. IEOLCA programs are online and self-paced, so you can move through the material in a way that fits your life. You can pause, return, and revisit the training as needed.
Do you offer accessible tuition options?+
Yes. We believe cost should not be the reason someone is unable to answer this calling. IEOLCA offers accessible tuition options of up to 70% off for students who need support. No formal application is required; we use a trust-based system.
I've trained elsewhere. Can I pursue IEOLCA certification?+
Yes. If you've already completed qualifying end-of-life doula training, our Bridge Pathway may help you build on that education and pursue IEOLCA certification without repeating the full program. Eligibility and assessment requirements apply; the pathway is $149 USD.
Where should I start?+
If you're exploring death doula work, start with our free free eight-question quiz. Afterward, you'll also have the opportunity to try a complete Life Review module from the Certified End-of-Life Doula program. If you're looking for foundational certification, you can explore the full program directly.
How much does certification cost?+
The Certified End-of-Life Doula program has honor-based tuition options from $262.50 to $875 USD. Every option includes the complete 28-module program, lifetime access, personal assignment feedback, and the IEOLCA Certified End-of-Life Doula credential after successful completion.
How long does certification take?+
The 28-module Certified End-of-Life Doula program is fully online and self-paced. Completion time varies by learner, so you can move through the lessons around your life and return to the material whenever you need it.

Still have questions? We’d be happy to hear from you. Write to us at office@ieolca.org →

A thoughtful next step

Explore your path—or begin your training.

Not sure where to begin? Our free eight-question quiz offers a gentle place to explore. Already ready to learn? Certification is waiting whenever you are.

All IEOLCA programs include a 60-day money-back guarantee.