Act 965 of 2025, the Certified Community-Based Doula Certification Act, gave authority to the Arkansas Department of Health to certify individuals as Community-Based Doulas to provide specified services within a scope of practice during a woman’s prenatal and postpartum periods and to receive compensation for such services.
A Certified Community-Based Doula may provide the following type of services:
- Providing childbirth education;
- Helping pregnant women navigate the healthcare system;
- Advocating for pregnant women before, during, and after the birth of a child;
- Connecting pregnant women with community resources; and
- Supporting pregnant women with continuous emotional and physical support throughout labor and birth and intermittently during the prenatal and postpartum periods.
Certified Community-Based Doulas don’t deliver healthcare services, they do not act as a physician, certified nurse midwife, or licensed lay midwife for their patients though they will have received education in areas such as childbirth and lactation that aids in their ability to provide comfort measures and support techniques.
To contact Women’s Health regarding Community-Based Doula certification, please call 501-661-2480 or 800-462-0599 ext. 2480.
Certified Community-Based Doula Rules
- Arkansas State Legislature Act 965
- Community-Based Doula Certification Rules (coming soon)
Certified Community-Based Doula Forms
- CCBD Initial Certification Application
- CCBD Automatic Certification Application
- CCBD Reciprocal Certification Application
- CCBD Renewal Application (coming soon)
Downloads and Resources
- CCBD Complaint Form (coming soon)
- CCBD Registry (coming soon)
Certified Community-Based Doula Approved Training Programs