[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]​​More expectant parents than ever before use the services of midwives and doulas to help them through pregnancy and childbirth. These healthcare professionals both offer support before, during, and following labor and delivery. While the roles of midwives and doulas share some similarities, they have very different training and responsibilities. If you are considering [hen-ui-link href=”/nurse-midwife/”]how to become a midwife[/hen-ui-link] or doula, this guide will help you explore the [hen-ui-link href=”/nurse-midwife/nurse-midwife-vs-doula/”]key differences[/hen-ui-link] between the two fields, as well as the educational, licensing, and credential requirements, and career and salary prospects.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-flex gap=”xl” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-flex gap=”xs” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Popular Online Nursing Programs[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ color=”subtext”]Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”belowTheFold” /][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]In Brief: Comparing Midwives and Doulas[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]Other Types of Midwives[/hen-ui-text]:[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]- Certified midwives (CM) complete a graduate degree in midwifery, but do not have to become an RN first. CMs are licensed in only a few states.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]- Certified professional midwives (CPM) usually complete an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in midwifery, but a few train by apprenticeship model. They do not need to become an RN first. They can obtain licensure in most, but not all, states. CPM training focuses on out-of-hospital birth, such as birth centers and home births.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Key Differences Between Midwives and Doulas[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The midwife and doula both provide services that lead to better health outcomes for parents and babies, but their specific roles differ considerably. Midwives are healthcare providers authorized to give medical care throughout pregnancy and labor and birth. Doulas, while not qualified to deliver babies or offer any other medical services, provide education, advice, and support before, during, and after childbirth.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]How To Become a Doula[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Educational requirements vary somewhat for birth doulas and postpartum doulas. A birth doula has training in pain management techniques, [hen-ui-link href=”/careers/labor-and-delivery-nurse/”]labor and delivery[/hen-ui-link], and emotional and physical support before, during, and after the childbirth experience. Birth doulas typically complete 7-12 hours of childbirth education, 16 hours of birth doula training, and attend between two and five births.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]A postpartum doula receives training in breastfeeding and other infant feeding methods, emotional and physical support, basic newborn care, and home visitation techniques. They must complete approximately 27 hours of postpartum doula education and provide postpartum support to at least two clients. Both birth and postpartum doulas receive training in business practices, cultural sensitivity, and ethical guidelines.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Depending on the certifying organization, certification training involves workshops and readings, birthing observation and assistance, evaluations from doctors or midwives, and business education. If you choose to pursue certification, keep in mind that each certifying organization has its own scope of practice and philosophy. Many of the major certifying organizations, including DONA International and ICEA, offer in-person and online training.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]How To Become a Nurse Midwife[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]If you plan to [hen-ui-link href=”/nurse-midwife/how-to-become-a-nurse-midwife/”]become a nurse midwife[/hen-ui-link], you need at minimum an RN license and a bachelor’s degree in nursing. A certified nurse midwife must hold an MSN or a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree with a midwifery specialty from a school accredited by the [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.midwife.org/accreditation” target=”_blank”]Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education[/hen-ui-link]. Graduate programs usually require applicants to have 1-2 years of clinical experience.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]After completing your graduate nursing degree, you can take the national exam for CNM certification through AMCB. Once you pass your certification exam, you need to apply for a state license as an advanced practice registered nurse.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]How to become a Certified Professional Midwife[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The CPM certification offered through NARM does not require an RN license or a postsecondary degree, but most CPMs complete an associate’s or bachelor’s degree program in midwifery. While CPMs may practice in a variety of settings, their training places a special emphasis on free-standing birth centers and at-home births. Unlike CNMs, CPMs do not have prescriptive authority and cannot provide primary care services.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Can a Nurse Also Work as a Doula?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurses usually do not become doulas before deciding [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/articles/how-to-become-a-cannabis-nurse/”]to enter a nurse midwife program[/hen-ui-link], but some people do so they can make sure they enjoy attending births prior to committing to a graduate degree program. Some midwives choose to acquire doula or birth companion training to provide additional support to their patients, although training in labor support is included in most midwifery programs.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurses may decide to work as doulas because they want to connect with their patients outside their clinical role as licensed nurses, use alternative techniques to manage stress and pain, and assist them through childbirth without epidurals or medication. Because licensed nurses have a wider scope of practice than doulas, they must be careful to keep these two roles separate and make expectations clear to patients about what services they will perform.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurses may take doula training to earn continuing education credits required for recertification in their nursing specialty. Exploring the doula role through [hen-ui-link href=”/articles/things-nurses-should-know-about-continuing-education/”]continuing education courses[/hen-ui-link] provides nurses with a non-clinical perspective on childbirth and techniques to encourage and comfort patients during labor and delivery.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Because doulas may enter the field without advanced nursing training, many students choose to become doulas to gain experience before they decide to enter nursing school. They learn what the field is like without committing the time and money required for a nursing degree. Once they complete their doula training, they can start working right away, using their earnings to pay for a midwife degree in the future.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Frequently Asked Questions: Midwife vs. Doula[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-accordion variant=”no-background”] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Should I become a midwife or a doula?” expanded=”true”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The answer depends on your personal and career preferences. Doulas can enter the field after a short training course, but midwives typically hold a nursing degree and certification which can take five years or more. Midwives are healthcare practitioners, earn higher salaries and have a far wider scope of practice. However, doulas may have more flexibility in their schedules, often working independently.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Can nurses become doulas?”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]There are no entry restrictions for becoming a doula. Some nurses choose to acquire doula training to help them support their patients in different ways than as a trained and licensed RN. Because the scope of practice is very different for licensed nurses, nurses who also work as doulas need to clearly delineate their roles.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”How long does it take to become a doula?”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]​​You can become a doula with just a few weeks of training and assisting with childbirths. However, to become a certified doula, you must complete the requirements of a certification organization, which can take up to a year. Becoming certified is not required to enter the field but will give you a competitive edge in the job market.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Are doulas in high demand?”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The demand for doulas has been growing since at least 2016, when the [hen-ui-link href=”https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/250274/WHO-RHR-16.10-eng.pdf” target=”_blank”]World Health Organization[/hen-ui-link] recommended that doulas assist all births globally. Their acceptance has also increased as more expectant parents choose natural childbirth and birth center or at-home birth options, and as Medicaid and private insurance coverage for doulas becomes more widespread.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item][/hen-ui-accordion][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Meet Our Contributor[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”lg”][hen-ui-expert-bio name=”Talita Oseguera, CNM, WHNP-BC” layout=”horizontal” background=”white” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ slot=”contentRight”]Talita Oseguera, CNM, WHNP-BC is a certified nurse midwife and reproductive justice advocate. She has a background in community-based health care centered on equity and the advancement of historically marginalized groups, empowerment of women, and partnership with families. She has been a full-spectrum doula since 2013 and has devoted her professional and academic career to both birth and research justice. Talita is committed to improving reproductive justice, honoring and amplifying the voices, experiences, and issues of Black women and individuals across the sexual, reproductive and perinatal continuum, moving alongside birth workers of color who reflect the communities they serve, improving care for and with Black women and individuals, and keeping birth sacred.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Reviewed by:[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”lg”][hen-ui-expert-bio name=”Meredith Wallis, CNM, NP” img-src=”https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/image/upload/e_grayscale/c_scale,f_auto,w_300/v1585770487/experts/Meredith_Wallis_200x200.png” img-alt=”Meredith Wallis, CNM, NP” layout=”horizontal” background=”none” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ slot=”contentRight”]Meredith Wallis, CNM, NP, is a certified nurse midwife, nurse practitioner, and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). She received her master’s degree in midwifery from Oregon Health & Science University in 2011. Wallis specializes in out-of-hospital birth, lactation support, and childbirth education. Her professional passions include holistic medicine, vaginal birth after cesarean delivery, and evidence-based care.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ slot=”contentRight”]Wallis is a paid member of our Healthcare Review Partner Network. [hen-ui-link href=”/healthcare-review-partners//”]Learn more about our review partners[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Related Resources[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-article-row variant=”slider” ids=”34368,34367,34365,49784″][/hen-ui-article-row]