What is an Educational Unit?
In many professions a person is asked to submit proof of continuing education in order to maintain their status in that profession. Take, for example, your registered massage therapist, local nursing staff, and chiropractors!
Doula Canada values the need for continuing education.
The goal of ensuring our students are the top professional birth workers and support persons led us to incorporate continuous learning into our certification streams – also know as an Educational Unit (EU).
An Educational Unit is a “point” you obtain by attending other trainings that will help you to grow your business.
One Educational Unit is granted for every one (1) hour of additional learning you participate in. Example: A 4 hour workshop is weighted as 4 EU credits.
The total number of educational units required for certification can be found on the specific program pages. Some courses require EUs in specific topics (e.g. Labour doula requires EUs in infant feeding).
A student can use a maximum of 6 educational units per a course toward certification.
Don’t have previous business experience? Haven’t experienced breastfeeding a child yourself? The Educational Unit requirement is an opportunity to take courses that will customize your training to your unique learning needs, but also build your skills to become a more confident support person!
We encourage our students to search their community to see what may be available. However we also recognize a variety of online webinars, workshops and courses that make Educational Unit learning accessible to all. (Example: City of Toronto breastfeeding modules).
Taking Educational Unit credits is an opportunity to develop your skills in areas you feel you need more knowledge, and also a way to possibly add additional income streams that compliment your birth or postpartum related business.
Beginning in 2022:
Doula Canada will request that every three (3) years alumni submit a form with supporting documentation outlining a minimum of 12 completed EU credits in that three year period (4 per a year, or 4 hours of continued professional learning per a year). There is no fee to submit this form or “re-certify,” but it will become a standard requirement to remain a Doula Canada member.
Interested in having a course or program added to our pre-approved Educational Units list? Please email info@doulatraining.ca to request an application form from our administrative team.
Note: applications must be submitted by the developer or instructor of the course.
