Licensed Midwifery: Doula Care

The Licensed Midwifery: Doula Care Certificate of Achievement (18.5 units) prepares students to provide non-clinical physical, emotional, and informational support to individuals and families during pregnancy, labor, birth, and the postpartum period. The curriculum meets the education requirements to register as a Medi-Cal-enrolled Doula in California and aligns with national best practices in community-based birth work.

Students gain knowledge in anatomy, prenatal development, labor support techniques, postpartum care, trauma-informed communication, and ethical scope of practice. Hands-on practicum experiences and a clinical skills intensive allow students to apply comfort measures and observe physiologic birth in real-world settings. The certificate also includes training in culturally responsive care, client advocacy, and interprofessional collaboration.

This program supports entry into the growing field of birth work, including employment in community organizations, birth centers, hospitals, and home birth settings. It also provides a stackable pathway into the Licensed Midwifery AS Degree for students interested in pursuing professional licensure.

This program anticipates at least 15 annual completers.

This program goal is occupational. 

This certificate prepares students to meet the education requirements to register as a Medi-Cal-enrolled Doula in California, as outlined by the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). The curriculum provides foundational training in culturally responsive support across the prenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum periods, and aligns with the state’s goal to improve maternal and infant health outcomes, particularly in underserved communities.

Doula services are now reimbursed through Medi-Cal statewide, creating new employment opportunities for trained birth workers. However, access to affordable, accredited training remains limited, especially in rural and low-income areas. This certificate fills that gap by providing students with the knowledge, hands-on skills, and clinical exposure needed to serve clients in a variety of community and clinical birth settings.

The program supports Cerro Coso’s mission to expand workforce education and improve health outcomes in the college’s medically underserved service area. The Doula certificate also serves as an on-ramp to the Licensed Midwifery AS Degree and can be embedded within the broader midwifery pathway.

Program Learning Outcomes: 

1. Communicate using culturally responsive, trauma informed methods with pregnant individuals, families, and members of the birth team.
2. Apply evidence-based comfort and coping techniques to support clients during labor, birth, and the postpartum period.
3. Describe the doula’s role, ethical standards, and scope of practice in community-based and institutional birth settings.
4. Identify common physiological changes and basic assessment indicators during pregnancy and postpartum.
5. Document birth support activities and observation using appropriate terminology and methods.

Complete the following courses:

• MIDW C101 – Midwifery Fundamentals and Skills Laboratory (3)
• MIDW C102 – Introduction to Midwifery: History, Ethics, and Practice (2)
• MIDW C103 – Physical Health Assessment for Licensed Midwifery (1.5)
• MIDW C110 – Midwifery Practicum 1: Observation Phase (1)
• MIDW C120 – Midwifery Practicum 2: Assistant Phase I (3)
• MIDW C130 – Midwifery Practicum 3: Assistant Phase II (3)
• MIDW C140 – Midwifery Practicum 4: Assistant Phase III (3)
• HCRS C130 – Communication in Healthcare (2)