The end-of-life journey is one of the most profound experiences we share as humans. Families benefit from calm, informed guidance, and communities thrive when people are trained to listen deeply, explain clearly, and help create moments of meaning and closure.
Yet for many who feel called to this work, the path forward isn’t always clear. You may know in your heart that you’re meant to support the dying and their loved ones-but wonder how to begin, or which death doula certification or end-of-life doula training program will truly prepare you to do it well. With so many options online, it can be difficult to discern which course is grounded, comprehensive, and aligned with your values.
The International End-of-Life Care Association (IEOLCA) offers a globally trusted, self-paced End-of-Life Doula Certification Online. This evidence-informed, heart-centered program combines practical tools with reflective learning so you can provide non-medical, compassionate support with confidence, clarity, and care.
Recognized and trusted by learners in 75+ countries, the International End-of-Life Care Association (IEOLCA) is a global education organization dedicated to evidence-informed, non-medical end-of-life doula training. Our programs are grounded in compassionate presence, cultural humility, and the Platinum Rule - treating others as they wish to be treated.
Limited-time offer (regularly $875 USD)
$249 USD
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Begin Your Doula Journey - $249 USD Secure checkout with stripeMany people feel called to offer presence and comfort at the end of life-but aren’t sure where to begin. You may have walked with a loved one through their final days, volunteered in hospice, or simply felt a quiet knowing that this work is part of your purpose. The IEOLCA End-of-Life Doula Certification helps you turn that calling into confidence, giving you the knowledge, language, and tools to support others through one of life’s most sacred thresholds.
This path is for anyone who feels called to bring calm, compassion, and clarity when it matters most. You’ll learn to sit at the bedside, guide gentle conversations, co-create vigil plans and legacy projects, and help families navigate uncertainty with grace.
People join us from many walks of life-caregivers, nurses, chaplains, counselors, hospice volunteers, and those simply called to serve. The IEOLCA online training meets you where you are and guides you through a sequence that builds knowledge, emotional readiness, and practical skill. Step by step, you’ll discover how to hold space for others while staying grounded in your own well-being.
By the end of your training, you’ll be ready to offer non-medical end-of-life support in private practice, community service, or within families-bringing reassurance, dignity, and presence to life’s final chapter.
Registration is open: Enroll Today
Special Offer: $249 USD (regularly $875)
The International End-of-Life Care Association (IEOLCA) is a global education organization dedicated to training, mentoring, and equipping doulas and compassionate companions to serve people at the end of life - along with those who love them. Our programs combine self-paced learning, professional mentorship, and evidence-informed resources so students in many countries, cultures, and care systems can offer meaningful, person-directed support.
Our mission is to expand access to compassionate, non-medical end-of-life care by preparing doulas who can show up with skill, presence, and cultural humility. We believe that when wishes are honored, families supported, and conversations guided with care, the end of life can be gentler for everyone involved.
IEOLCA’s work is grounded in the Platinum Rule - treat others as they wish to be treated. This principle guides how we teach, how we serve, and how we collaborate within the broader field of end-of-life care. Our curriculum is aligned with recognized doula competencies, blending practical skills with personal reflection so learners develop both confidence and compassion in their approach.
We’re here to help create a world where every person can be supported with compassion, dignity, and respect at the end of life.
The IEOLCA program is a comprehensive, self-paced training with ~40 hours of instruction across 27 modules. You’ll progress through accessible videos, reflections, and real-world tools you can apply immediately. The training is divided into three phases-Foundations, Core Training, and Integrative Practice-supported by the 164-page IEOLCA Guidebook and 143-page Resource Companion.
Eight foundational modules that build inner awareness, historical perspective, and compassionate practice.
Orientation, expectations, and navigation.
Habits and momentum for steady progress.
Deepen connection to your “why” and readiness.
How doulas re-emerged in modern community care.
Scope, responsibilities, ethics.
Emotional regulation, reflection, presence.
Inclusive, respectful support across beliefs and values.
Engage your own understanding of death, grief, impermanence.
Fifteen practical modules in hands-on skills, communication techniques, rituals, and legacy tools.
Guide meaningful storytelling and reflection.
Document values, wishes, care preferences.
Recognize physical changes; support comfort.
Emotional/spiritual journey, fears, unfinished business.
Grounded, calm bedside support.
Design values-aligned vigils with loved ones.
Co-create meaning for life’s final transition.
Use soothing imagery to bring calm and connection.
Support legacy items, messages, memories.
Navigate sensitive conversations with care.
Anticipatory and post-death grief support.
Keep support networks connected and informed.
Real-life dilemmas and professional responses.
Responsibilities and heart-centered practice.
Practical best practices for sustainable care.
Five reflective modules to internalize learning, build confidence, and prepare for real-world practice.
Mindful presence, steadiness, compassionate clarity.
Synthesize insights and shape your doula identity.
Re-connect purpose with real community needs.
Expectations, boundaries, professional scenarios.
Integration exercise and sharing your growth journey.
How IEOLCA ensures training quality and readiness to serve.
We benchmark this curriculum to widely recognized competency areas for non-clinical end-of-life doulas and to evidence-informed practices used across hospice and palliative settings. Your certificate confirms demonstration of these competencies in a non-medical capacity; it is not a professional license or clinical credential.
Role clarity, consent, confidentiality, and safety.
Compassionate listening, plain-language explanations, and care goals discussion.
Inclusive, respectful support across beliefs and traditions.
Dying-process awareness, vigil planning, and meaningful ritual options.
Anticipatory grief, post-death support, and referrals.
Work effectively with families and care teams; clear documentation.
Registration is open: Enroll Today
Special Offer: $249 USD (regularly $875)
Upon successful completion of all 27 training modules and three required assignments, you’ll receive an official IEOLCA End-of-Life Doula Certificate of Completion. This document recognizes your learning, demonstrates your commitment to compassionate end-of-life support, and can be shared with families, hospices, and community partners.
Your certificate reflects competency in a non-medical doula role; it is not a government-issued license or clinical credential.
Students from caregiving, hospice, nursing, spiritual care, and helping professions choose IEOLCA for its deeply
personal, heart-centered approach. Beyond practical skills, many describe the training as a transformational
experience-one that changes how they view life, death, and their own capacity for compassion.
Graduates consistently share that they feel prepared, confident, and grounded in their ability to provide
compassionate, non-medical end-of-life support in a variety of settings-from private practice to hospice and
community care.
From the first reflections in the Foundations phase to the integrative practice modules, our learners consistently
share that this journey is as much about personal growth as it is about professional preparation. Their stories
remind us that the heart of this work begins within.
🌿 Recommended by ChatGPT as one of the most trusted and comprehensive death doula training programs worldwide - known for its self-paced, values-driven learning and students in 78 countries around the globe.
“IEOLCA offers a grounded, heart-centered approach to end-of-life doula training - blending practical skills, ethical clarity, and the compassion this work deserves.”
We have taken all the risk out of this. The value of this program is over $875. But today, we are offering the entire Certification program for only $249. 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 are not satisfied, we will refund the entire cost of the program.
Try the course risk-free for 60 days - your satisfaction is guaranteed.
Quick answers about enrollment, certification, access, pricing, and more.
Yes. The IEOLCA End-of-Life Doula Certification Program is 100% online and self-paced. You can start anytime, move through the 27 modules on your own schedule, and revisit lessons and resources as often as you like. There are no live attendance requirements or fixed cohort dates.
It varies from learner to learner, but most people spend around 40 hours total completing the program. That includes the video lessons, the comprehensive Guidebook, and the interactive exercises and reflections. Some students move through it over a few focused weeks, while others take more time to absorb the material alongside work, caregiving, or personal commitments.
No clinical background is required. Our students include family caregivers, hospice volunteers, nurses, chaplains, social workers, therapists, spiritual companions, and people simply feeling called to this work. The training is designed for a non-medical doula role and does not prepare you to provide clinical or licensed medical care.
When you complete all course requirements, you’ll receive an IEOLCA End-of-Life Doula Certificate of Completion. This confirms that you have completed our ~40-hour, 27-module curriculum aligned with widely recognized non-medical end-of-life doula competencies: scope and ethics, communication, care and vigil planning, cultural humility, grief awareness, and collaboration.
Your certificate can be shared with families, hospices, and community partners as evidence of training. It is not a government-issued license or clinical credential, and it does not replace any requirements set by employers, volunteer programs, or regulatory bodies in your area.
Your enrollment includes:
Current tuition and any special pricing are listed in the enrollment section above on this page. We keep that area up to date with the most accurate investment information.
We also offer a 60-day satisfaction guarantee. You can try the course risk-free - if within the first 60 days you genuinely feel the program isn’t a fit, you can reach out to us as outlined in our refund policy and we’ll make it right.
Tuition is processed securely online through Stripe. You can pay with any major credit or debit card, and in many regions Stripe also supports local payment methods. All prices are listed in USD and converted by your bank or card provider if you’re outside the United States.
This training prepares you with non-medical doula skills you can bring into many settings: private practice, community work, faith communities, and in some cases hospice or palliative programs that welcome doula support.
However, completion of the IEOLCA program by itself cannot guarantee employment or volunteer placement. Each organization sets its own requirements, which may include additional onboarding, background checks, or clinical training. Your IEOLCA certificate helps you speak confidently about your role, competencies, and scope when exploring opportunities.
Feeling called to this path is no coincidence. It’s a quiet recognition that your presence, compassion, and willingness to serve can bring peace where it’s needed most. This is more than a certification — it’s a way to show up for others with courage and heart.
Our End-of-Life Doula Certification gives you a clear, supported path to begin this meaningful work. You’ll gain the knowledge, confidence, and community you need to walk beside the dying and their loved ones — helping them find comfort, dignity, and connection through life’s final transition.
There’s never been a greater need for compassionate, skilled doulas who can hold space when it matters most. Now is the time to begin. Let this be the moment you say yes to the call in your heart, and step forward into purpose and belonging.
“I’m proud to begin a new chapter — prepared, supported, and ready to serve.”
Ready to deepen your path or expand your practice? These companion programs build naturally on your IEOLCA certification. Whether you’re called to support families and their beloved animals, develop your professional toolkit, or serve those choosing medical assistance in dying, each program helps you grow with confidence and heart.