The IEOLCA End-of-Life Doula Certification Program is a flexible, self-paced online training designed for people who want to offer calm, grounded, non-medical support during one of the most meaningful transitions in life.
Through structured training modules, short guided video lessons, a comprehensive Doula Guidebook, a practical Resource Companion, and step-by-step practice tools, you’ll learn everything you need to begin, or deepen, your end-of-life doula practice with confidence and compassion.
This short overview walks you through how our evidence-informed, self-paced certification program is structured, and what sets IEOLCA apart as a trusted doula training organization. You’ll learn what’s included, how the curriculum flows, and the support designed to help you begin this work with clarity and confidence.
Learn what makes IEOLCA one of the most trusted and accessible end-of-life doula training programs worldwide.
The International End-of-Life Care Association (IEOLCA) offers a structured, self-paced end-of-life doula training program for people who want to support others through dying, death, and grief with clarity and confidence. Our focus is on non-medical, heart-centered care that complements hospice, palliative, and community-based services.
The IEOLCA curriculum combines short video lessons, a 164-page Guidebook, a 143-page Resource Companion, and practical planning tools. Each stage builds on the last so you can translate what you learn into real-world support at the bedside, in homes, and across your community.
Students come from many backgrounds: family caregivers, helping professionals, spiritual companions, community leaders, and people who have walked closely with serious illness or loss. Wherever you are starting from, this program offers a clear pathway into the role of death doula / end-of-life doula.
IEOLCA’s approach is guided by the Platinum Rule—treating others as they wish to be treated. You will learn to listen deeply, honor what matters most to the person who is dying, and support families through one of life’s most tender transitions with professionalism, steadiness, and care.
Hear from graduates who have completed the IEOLCA End-of-Life Doula Certification and brought this work into their lives, communities, and practices.
IEOLCA’s online End-of-Life Doula Certification is designed for everyday people and helping professionals who feel called to companion others through dying, death, and grief.
This training is designed for:
Our online death doula training and certification is built for people who feel called to sit at the bedside, listen deeply, and offer calm, grounded support. You do not need to be a nurse or have clinical experience – a willingness to learn, reflect, and show up with presence is what matters most.
Whether you are caring for a family member, serving as a hospice or spiritual companion, working in health care, or exploring a new vocation in end-of-life care, the International End-of-Life Care Association (IEOLCA) offers a trusted, self-paced end-of-life doula course that helps you serve with clarity, confidence, and compassion.
The International End-of-Life Care Association (IEOLCA) is a global education organization dedicated to providing accessible, self-paced end-of-life doula training for people who feel called to support others through dying, death, and grief. Our programs welcome learners from many countries, cultures, and care settings, offering clear structure and compassionate guidance.
Our mission is to expand access to skilled and heart-centered non-medical end-of-life care. We prepare doulas who can show up with presence, grounded confidence, cultural humility, and a steady ability to support families during one of life’s most sacred transitions.
IEOLCA’s approach is rooted in the Platinum Rule: treat others as they wish to be treated. This guiding principle shapes our teaching, mentorship, and community so that every student learns to support others with respect, clarity, and compassion.
Experienced facilitators guiding you through grounded, heart-centered doula training.
The IEOLCA program is a comprehensive, self-paced training with 40 hours of instruction across the full curriculum. You'll progress through short, accessible videos, hands-on practice, and real-world tools you can apply immediately.
The curriculum follows three phases—Foundations, Core Training, and Integrative Practice—supported by the 164-page IEOLCA Guidebook and the 143-page Resource Companion. Together they build your confidence and competency from your first module to your final certification.
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.
We’ve taken all the risk out of this. The value of the IEOLCA Certification Program is over $875, but today you can enroll for only $349 USD for a limited time.
Your enrollment is backed by our personal 60-day money-back guarantee. Explore the material, complete the modules, and use the tools. If you don’t feel the program is right for you, we’ll refund your full tuition - no questions asked.
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 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 comprehensive 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 work is meaningful. It speaks to your ability to offer presence, steadiness, and compassion when they’re needed most. Becoming a doula isn’t only about learning new skills; it’s about choosing to walk beside others with intention and heart.
The IEOLCA Certified End-of-Life Doula Training Program gives you a clear, grounded path forward. You’ll build confidence, deepen your understanding, and become part of a global community dedicated to supporting the dying and their loved ones with dignity and humanity.
There has never been a greater need for compassionate, skilled doulas. Your journey can start today.
“I feel prepared, grounded, and ready to support others.”
