Is the Black Doula Training Legit?
Is The Black Doula Training Legitimate?
Yes! The Black Doula Training is a legit professional doula education and certification organization committed to preparing doulas through structured education, competency-based requirements, documented experience, and professional development.
We understand that prospective students may encounter reviews, social-media commentary, or conflicting information while researching our organization. That information may come from current students, former students, individuals who did not complete or satisfy our certification requirements, individuals whose enrollment was terminated for violations of academic-integrity policies including prohibited use of artificial intelligence or individuals who simply disagreed with our policies, standards, or certification process.
A negative experience with a certification requirement, academic-integrity decision, enrollment decision, or organizational policy does not, by itself, determine whether an organization is legitimate. That’s why we encourage prospective students to go beyond reviews—including ours.
Review our requirements. Review our policies. Review the independent organizations that recognize our credentials. Follow the links directly to the source.
Don’t choose who to believe. Verify the facts for yourself.
VERIFY OUR RECOGNITION
Maryland Department of Health
The Black Doula Training is recognized by the Maryland Department of Health as an approved doula certification organization for Maryland Medicaid. Maryland’s official documentation specifically lists Black Doula Training (BDT) and identifies the required TBDT credentials for enrollment.
What does this mean for BDT students?
Simply attending a BDT training does not automatically qualify a student to enroll as a Maryland Medicaid doula provider.
Students must earn the applicable official certification credential(s) required by Maryland. A certificate of attendance, course completion alone, or a temporary certification is not a substitute for the official certification requirements identified by Maryland Medicaid. Maryland also has additional provider-enrollment requirements beyond certification.
Training is the education. Certification is earned by completing the required certification pathway.
DC Department of Health Care Finance
The Black Doula Training is listed by the DC Department of Health Care Finance as an approved doula certification organization. DHCF’s current approved-organization page specifically lists Black Doula Training among the organizations whose certification is acceptable for purposes of qualifying for DHCF enrollment. DHCF
What does this mean for TBDT students?
Attending a training or receiving a course-completion document does not by itself make someone a DC Medicaid-enrolled doula.
DHCF states that a doula must already have certification—or become certified—through one of its approved certification organizations before proceeding through the Medicaid provider-enrollment process. Additional DHCF enrollment requirements still apply. DHCF
For BDT students, that means completing the requirements necessary to earn the official certification, rather than relying on a certificate of attendance, course completion, or temporary certification as though it were the final credential.
You cannot purchase the final credential. You must complete the certification requirements to earn it.
FEATURED BY WMAR-2 NEWS
Independent Media Coverage
The Black Doula Training and its President, Nikita Johnson, were featured by WMAR-2 News in a story examining the role of Black doulas in addressing maternal-health disparities.
The feature highlighted The Black Doula Training’s work educating and preparing doulas to support families, particularly Black mothers and other communities experiencing disparities in maternal healthcare. WMAR also discussed our training approach and the importance of ensuring doulas enter the profession knowledgeable and prepared to support families. WMAR 2 News Baltimore
WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
We don’t expect prospective students to rely solely on what we say about ourselves.
Independent media coverage provides another opportunity to review our organization, leadership, mission, and work through a source completely separate from The Black Doula Training.
CARROT FERTILITY
Doula Credential & Eligibility Verification
The Black Doula Training is included in the NCS Doula Carrot Doula Certification and Training Guide as a doula training and certification provider for doulas researching Carrot-related credential pathways. NCS Doula
What does this mean for BDT students?
Carrot requires doulas seeking eligibility to provide documentation establishing their professional qualifications. Carrot states that it may verify those qualifications directly with certification organizations and may use submitted certifications to confirm the authenticity of a doula’s credential. Carrot
For students of The Black Doula Training, this distinction is extremely important:
Completing a training is not the same as earning an official doula certification.
A certificate of attendance, course-completion document, or temporary certification should not be represented as a final TBDT certification credential when it is not one.
To receive an official certification from The Black Doula Training, students must complete the applicable certification requirements established for their program. Only after those requirements have been satisfied will TBDT verify the individual as holding the corresponding official certification.
Carrot independently evaluates doulas for eligibility, and TBDT certification does not guarantee acceptance, reimbursement, or inclusion in Carrot’s provider database. Carrot expressly reserves the right to determine individual eligibility and to change which credentials meet its standards. Carrot
WHY DOES OFFICIAL CERTIFICATION MATTER?
Carrot’s current terms require credentials to remain active when services are provided and prohibit inaccurate, misleading, or falsified records. Carrot may also contact credentialing organizations directly to authenticate certifications. Carrot
This is why The Black Doula Training will only verify credentials that have actually been earned.
Training can be purchased.
Official certification must be earned.
Get Your Official Certification Through Black Doula training
DON’T CHOOSE US BECAUSE WE’RE BLACK-OWNED. CHOOSE US BECAUSE YOU’RE READY TO EARN IT.