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Become a doula: test-drive the job before you change career
Test-drive the job before you commit: a doula's real day-to-day, listening, birth, the postnatal weeks, the legal limits and what AI changes.
- 13 five-minute lessons
- 3 levels
- 13-page PDF guide
- English & French
- Certificate of completion
Why a doula stays essential in the age of AI
- A doula is physically there: a hand to hold, a calm voice, a meal cooked.
- Sensing that a new mother is struggling takes presence and attention, not an app.
- Families trust their privacy to a person they know, not to a machine.
Is it for you? Five signs
- You listen without judging.
- You stay calm when emotions run high.
- You accept that you do not treat.
- You are available, even at night.
- You like giving practical help.
Not sure yet? That's what the €6.90 guide is for. Refund within 14 days if it isn't you.
Thinking about a career change? Read our complete career change guide →
A typical day
- 9:30 am: a visit to Lea, six months pregnant, who wants to talk about her fear of labour.
- 11 am: you help her write down questions for her midwife, without answering them for her.
- 1 pm: a call to a maternity unit to check its rules on birth companions.
- 3 pm: a postnatal visit to Ines: a meal cooked, a protected nap, her birth story heard.
- 5 pm: Ines has been crying often for two weeks: you encourage her to tell her midwife.
- 9 pm: you check your on-call bag, as one family is due this week.
How to become a doula
In France, the doula job is not regulated: there is no state diploma, and the French Health Ministry has stated that a doula can in no case replace a midwife or a doctor. Changing career usually means a private training course, lasting from a few days to nine months depending on the provider, and time spent talking with practising doulas. Most start as micro-entrepreneurs, with professional liability insurance recommended. Allow time to become known and to build links with local midwives. In English-speaking countries, doula training is also mostly private and unregulated, so check each course carefully. The G-Learn trial is a first step to see whether the job suits you; the G-Learn certificate is not a diploma and gives no right to provide care.
Pay
Income varies widely by region and status. As a guide, in France a doula visit is often charged €40 to €70 and full support €300 to €1,000 (WikiCréa, 2023), with no reimbursement by the national health insurance.
The hard parts
- On-call around due dates and night-time births weigh on personal life.
- You must accept never giving care or medical advice, even when asked.
- Income is irregular and the job is little known, sometimes viewed with suspicion by health professionals.
Sources: Ministère de la Santé — réponse à la question écrite n° 3363 (JO 20/11/2007) · Académie nationale de médecine — Les doulas : une profession émergente ? (2008) · WikiCréa — S'installer doula (2023) · Insee — Les naissances en 2025
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the doula's role
- Know the legal limits
- Support pregnancy without giving care
- Be present on the day of the birth
- Support the postnatal period
- Prepare to set up on your own
The programme
Level 1 – Beginner
- D1The role and daily work
- D2The legal limits of the role
- D3The pathway and the emotions
- D4The doula's stance
Level 2 – Intermediate
- I1Setting the frame and contract
- I2Birth plan and bag
- I3Being present at the birth
- I4Support after the birth
Level 3 – Expert
- E1Loss, vulnerability, violence
- E2Neutrality, influence, honesty
- E3The team around the family
- E4Status, offer and pricing
- E5Limits, supervision and AI
The full guide: 6 chapters
- The fundamentals of the job
- Supporting a family
- Facts & figures
- The toolkit
- Case study: the 2008 debate
- Doula glossary
Prices
The whole job in 13 pages, PDF, English or French.
13 five-minute lessons, quizzes and 3 certificates, English or French.
Path + full guide, English and French editions included.
1-hour interactive course with final exam and a certificate in your name.
14-day money-back guarantee · Instant download · Secure payment
Frequently asked questions
Can I become a doula at 40?
Yes. Many doulas come to the job after another career or after becoming parents. What matters is listening, availability and strict respect for the limits of the role.
Do you need a qualification to be a doula?
No, the job is not regulated in France and there is no state diploma. A serious training course is still strongly advised, and a doula must never carry out a medical act.
Can a doula replace a midwife?
No. Midwifery is a regulated medical profession. A doula offers presence and practical help alongside medical care, never in its place.
What is included in the doula course?
A 13-page PDF guide that covers the whole job, and a 3-level path of 13 five-minute lessons (beginner, intermediate, expert), each with a quick quiz, plus a certificate of completion per level.
Is the course available in English and French?
Yes. You choose English or French at checkout; the Complete Pack includes both languages.
How do I receive the course?
Immediately after payment you receive a download link by email, with your invoice. The files are A4 PDFs you can read on any device or print.
Is the certificate an official qualification?
No. G-Learn certificates confirm you completed the course. They are not a state diploma or a licence to practise.
Can I get a refund?
Yes: if the course is not what you expected, ask within 14 days of purchase for a full refund. Prices start at €6.90.