This is a common question for many aspiring doulas. The right choice depends on your personal learning style, schedule, budget, and goals. In this blog, I’ll walk you through the pros and cons of both options to help you decide what might work best for you.
In-Person Doula Training: Its Benefits
Hands-on experience
Participants can practice comfort measures, physical support techniques, and communication skills with direct guidance from instructors and feedback from peers.
Live demonstrations
Seeing techniques modeled in real time offers a richer understanding of body language, positioning, and touch—especially for kinesthetic learners.
Real-time support and feedback
Immediate guidance from instructors during practice sessions allows students to refine their technique and build confidence on the spot.
Social aspect
In-person training fosters a strong sense of community with peers. Students can debrief the class experience with one another and interact more easily. They often share lunchtime together and sometimes form long-term bonds.
Stronger emotional connection
Face-to-face learning may create deeper connections between students and instructors, building trust and creating a supportive learning space.
Networking opportunities
In-person events often lead to spontaneous conversations, resource sharing, and new professional connections that can lead to future referrals or collaborations.
In-Person Doula Training: Potential Drawbacks
While in-person workshops offer many valuable experiences, there are a few considerations to keep in mind:
Time Commitment
Most in-person trainings span several full days. This may mean taking time off work, arranging childcare, or juggling other personal obligations.
Cost of training and associated expenses
In-person training requires a larger financial investment than online options.
Additional Costs
Beyond tuition, you will need to cover travel expenses. This may include hotel stays, meals, parking, or gas—making it more expensive than online alternatives.
Logistical Challenges
Traveling to the training location might not be feasible for everyone, especially if you live in a rural area or have limited transportation.
Physical Fatigue
Spending multiple days in a classroom or engaging in hands-on activities can be exhausting, especially when balancing responsibilities outside of training hours.
Accessibility Challenges
For those with chronic illness, disabilities, caregiving duties, or tight finances, attending in person may simply not be feasible.
Information Overload
In-person trainings are usually immersive and fast-paced. Some trainings might attempt to cover a vast amount of information in a short period, potentially overwhelming participants and leaving less time for deeper learning or practical application of skills.
Online Doula Training: Its Benefits
Convenience and flexibility:
Online doula trainings offer flexibility for people with busy schedules or limited access to in- person workshops. There’s also less time spent away from family and work obligations.
Accessibility:
Online options can make doula training more accessible for individuals in remote locations or with physical limitations.
Cost-effective:
Online doula courses may be more affordable than in-person training, especially when factoring in travel and accommodation costs.
Things to Consider When Choosing
Learning Style
If you thrive in hands-on, interactive environments and enjoy face-to-face learning, an in-person workshop may suit you best. If you’re comfortable learning independently and enjoy flexibility, online doula training might be a better fit.
Budget & Schedule
If time off work or travel expenses are a concern, online training can be a more accessible option. Keep in mind the additional costs of in-person training—such as gas, flights, hotels, meals, and babysitting—that can quickly add up.
Quality & Credibility
Don’t assume an online doula training is lower in quality! Many online programs offer engaging, high-quality instruction. Our online doula training workshops at Sierra Doula Academy are live and interactive. We also provide ongoing support and guidance long after leaving our workshops, offering doula mentoring, one-on-one coaching, and community forums to stay connected and well supported.
Final Thoughts
Whichever path you choose for your doula training—online or in-person—keep these two things in mind:
- All workshops have limitations.
No matter what format you choose, there’s only so much that can be covered in a few days. Your learning won’t end when the doula workshop does– It’s just the beginning. Plan to deepen your knowledge through continued reading, ongoing education, and specialized training. - Your greatest learning will come through experience.
Supporting families is where your confidence, intuition, and practical skills will truly take root. Each birth will teach you something new. Both formats can guide you toward becoming a grounded, compassionate, and capable birth worker. Choose the training option that fits your life best right now—and trust yourself to take that next step toward becoming the doula you’re being called to become.
Want to explore doula training options with us?
We offer both online doula training and in-person DONA-approved doula training. Contact us to get started!
