Pathways & Requirements
Illinois Medicaid-Certified Doula Program
Become an Illinois Medicaid-Certified Doula
To be reimbursed for doula services provided within the Medical Assistance Program, a doula must be certified by the Illinois’ Medicaid-Certified Doula Program which is administered by SIU School of Medicine. To obtain a certificate via either the Training Program Pathway or Legacy Pathway, an application must be submitted and approved through SIU’s Illinois-Medicaid Certified Doula application system. Upon approval, the doula will receive a certificate. The certificate is needed to apply to enroll for the Medicaid reimbursement system (IMPACT) which is operated by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services.
Training Program Pathway
The training program pathway is for newer doulas who have completed a doula training program with an approved doula training provider.
- 18 years old
- Active doula (3 perinatal doula experiences within past 12 months)
- Completion of birth doula training from an approved provider
- Completion of courses below if they are not a part of approved provider training:
- Cultural Competency/Bias Training
- HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
- Trauma-informed Care
- CPR/Basic Life Support
- Anatomy and Physiology (Pregnancy and Birth)
- Submit all application paperwork to SIU SOM’s Office of Certification System
After submitting all items and once you’re approved, you must submit your SIU School of Medicine Medicaid-Certified Doula certificate to apply to enroll in the Department of Healthcare and Family Services IMPACT system.
Legacy Pathway
The legacy pathway is for more experienced doulas who’ve gone through more births and completed some required training, but have not gone through an approved provider training program.
- 18 years or older
- Active doula (5 perinatal doula experiences in the past 3 years)
- Completion of courses below:
- Cultural Competency/Bias Training
- HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
- Trauma-informed Care
- CPR/Basic Life Support
- Anatomy and Physiology (Pregnancy and Birth)
- Submit all application paperwork to SIU SOM’s Office of Certification System
After submitting all items and once you’re approved, you must submit your SIU School of Medicine Medicaid-Certified Doula certificate to apply to enroll in the Department of Healthcare and Family Services IMPACT system.
Common Training Requirements
Both pathways to doula certification require training in these four areas. Recommended training courses are listed; if an applicant has completed training elsewhere, the documentation/evidence of completion can be submitted while applying to one of the pathways. Additionally, some doula training programs include some or all of these topics as part of their curriculum. If you have not completed all trainings listed below, make sure to indicate on your application form whether you have a way to complete them or need assistance with completion.
- HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
- Digital Compliance
- North American Learning Institute
- Biologix Solutions LLC, select HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
- CPR/Basic Life Support
- American Red Cross: Adult, Child, and Baby First Aid/CPR/AED (times and locations vary)
- American Heart Association: Basic Life Support (times and locations vary)
- National CPR Foundation: Standard – CPR /AED (online training)
Free training may be offered at local hospitals and fire departments.
- Cultural Competency/Implicit Bias Training
- Illinois Academy of Family Physicians: To access this free training, visit the Illinois Academy of Family Physician’s OnDemand Education YouTube channel, and select "Implicit Bias Training." Watch the 1 hour presentation, and then complete this brief knowledge check to access your certificate.
- Trauma-informed Care
How to Apply
See a list of required application items, download the handbook and find three different options for applying to the program.
About the Program
SIU School of Medicine's Office of Certification Strategies administers the Illinois Medicaid-Certified Doula Program with oversight and guidance by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services.