LIVE Online Courses
General Class Registration Information
When will the classes be held?
Our next online doula/birth sister training will begin Tuesday, July 30th 2024, and will run for 10 consecutive weeks. Course sessions will begin at 4:00PM CST (5PM EST / 2PM PST) and each session will be approximately 4 hours in duration- Enroll Today!
To be certain that you will be notified of the launch, please visit our website and enroll in our free course The Birth Plan to be automatically added to our mailing list. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates on upcoming training.
How do I sign up for a course?
To enroll in a course, visit our Birth Sister training course page. Choose your date and a payment option and follow the instructions to set up your student profile. Once you have made your first payment you will be enrolled in the course but you still must complete your registration by logging into your student portal and moving through the portal to complete your registration form. The registration form is an important part of our application process. It provides us with your contact information and it gives us an opportunity to learn more about our students and your learning goals before class begins. It includes two 50 - 200-word essays.
How do I access the LIVE virtual training session?
Training will be accessible through a virtual classroom link. Links will be shared by email prior to the scheduled video/ virtual session.
I want to attend the live sessions. What should I expect?
While the sessions will be recorded for future usage, we do recommend that students join us live for the best learning experience. Additionally, we ask that students prepare to be present with active video and audio settings. Students will primarily be muted unless they are making a comment or asking a question, and we recommend the use of headsets to reduce the likelihood of audio feedback issues.
What happens if I miss a day of training?
Recordings for each class will be made available within 48 hours of the end of the class. You will have access to all recordings for 6 months after the course has ended.
How long will I have access to the video/ virtual sessions?
Upon completion of training, you will have access to all video/virtual session recordings for six (6) months after the end of training.
When will Live & In-person training return?
At this time we have decided to keep our course in an online format for the foreseeable future. Exceptions may be made for organizations who want to conduct a private course for a set group of students. If you are interested in bringing Nicole to your area for a pre-selected group of students please contact us at [email protected]
Do you offer one-on-one or private Birth Sister training?
One of our main goals is to train as many Birth Sisters as possible to support black women and families. One-on-one training does not align with these efforts. That said, we are open to working with you to provide in-person training for a group of 15 or more students. If you are interested in learning more please contact us at [email protected].
Payment Information
How much is the investment?
The investment for training is at $1050.00 USD.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept all major credit cards via our enrollment system. If online payment is not an option for you please reach out to us at [email protected]
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes, payment plans are available. Access to payment plans do expire as we get closer to the course start date. To be able to take advantage of our longest payment plan options sign up as soon as possible. As an example, the 6-month payment plan for training in October is no longer available after July.
How does my payment plan work?
All payment plans offered will be set up on an automatic payment system and will charge your account automatically every month. The date of your initial payment (the date you enroll) will be the billing date for all future payments. For example, if you make your 1st payment on March 15th your next payment will automatically be charged on April 15th.
Will I be able to make changes to billing date or payment amount after I enroll in a payment plan?
No. Please be mindful of the date you enroll in the course as your payment amount cannot be changed after you have enrolled in your payment plan.
What if my automatic payment is declined?
In the event of a decline, the system will automatically make three (3) additional attempts for a successful charge. If all attempts are declined the student will be disenrolled from the course and the payment plan. If you are disenrolled from the course due to insufficient funds and/or declined payment(s) you will not be eligible for a refund and your space in the class will no longer be guaranteed.
It is the responsibility of the student to monitor their accounts and payment plan due dates and to reach out if any enrollment or payment issues should arise. If you have been disenrolled due to a declined payment and would like to re-enroll please contact us immediately at [email protected].
While your payment plan cannot be reinstated we will provide you with an opportunity to re-enroll. To re-enroll, the remaining balance must be rendered in full. We will send you an invoice for the remaining balance. This invoice will be marked as due upon receipt and must be paid in full at least two (2) weeks before day one (1) of training OR within two weeks of receiving the invoice if class has already started.
If I am not able to attend the training, do you offer refunds?
Yes, we do offer partial refunds. However, the first $100 of your registration is considered a non-refundable deposit. You can transfer that deposit to another course within one year of your initial training date.
If you cancel more than 30 days before the training, the remainder of your payments are refunded at 50%. Example: You have paid a total of $550, and cancel 2 months before the class, you will receive a refund of $250.
If you cancel within 30 days of the training the remainder of your payments are refunded at 25%. Example: You have paid a total of $550. You would receive a refund of $112.50.
If you cancel within a week of training your registration is completely non-refundable.
Training and Certification Questions
What is a Birth Sister?
A Birth Sister, most commonly called a doula, is a professional birth worker who provides non-medical support to mothers and families. A Birth Sister provides evidence based information, techniques, support, and resources to help a family through pregnancy, labor, birth and the postpartum period. They also provide tools to help the mother advocate for herself and her baby. It is important to note that a Birth Sister does not offer any medical advice. She is not a medical professional. For more information about the Sista Midwife Productions Birth Sister Training, access one of the courses here.
What does an SMP Birth Sister Training course cover?
The SMP Birth Sister Training gives you the information you need to support families during pregnancy, during labor, and in the postpartum period. Our training is based on the community model of pregnancy and birth support. Please refer to one of our Community Birth Sister Training Course pages for details on the topics that will be covered.
Does Sista Midwife Productions certify Midwives or Lactation consultants?
No. Sista Midwife Productions does not certify midwives or lactation consultants. We train Birth Sisters (doulas) and certify them after they have successfully completed the certification requirements.
Is this training DONA?
No. Sista Midwife Productions is not affiliated with DONA.
Do I need to have prior experience?
No. Prior experience is not needed to complete training. Those without experience take away all the informational tools they need to get started as a birth worker. Those with experience receive new insights, motivation, and inspiration to carry on in the work.
What should I do to prepare for class?
There are no prerequisites for our training. You will need good and consistent internet access.
Do you offer a certification?
Yes, we do offer certification. Please note that there are currently no state or national regulations for the certification of Birth Sisters or doulas
Will I be certified after this training?
No. At the completion of this training, provided that you have completed your reflections and passed the post test, you will receive a certificate of completion/attendance. You will have THIRTY days to complete all requirements to receive your certificate of completion. You will then be eligible to get certified. Full certification requires a few extra steps, but even without certification, you will be ready to serve mothers and families.
Do I have to provide birth services for free after this class?
No, you do not have to offer pro-bono birth services for certification. After training, you will have all the resources you need to support women pre-conceptually, during pregnancy, during birth as well as during the postpartum period. Becoming a Birth Sister is an entrepreneurial endeavor. With their certificate of completion, (even before becoming certified) we encourage Sista Midwife trained Birth Sisters to begin taking paying clients immediately. We do discuss ideas about when and how to provide pro-bono services during the business portion of our course.
How do I get certified?
The first step to certification includes attending training class or listening to all of the training recordings, submitting your weekly reflections, and passing the post test. Following training, the primary certification requirements include required reading, attending two births, doing prenatal and postpartum home visits, participating in a local community event, sitting in on a childbirth education class and creating a resource list. Full certification information will be provided during the first day of training and at other times throughout the course.
How long does certification take?
After your training course is finished, you will have up to TWO years to complete your certification requirements and submit them for review. Previous students have completed their certification requirements within 6 months to one year and on average it takes about one year. Remember, there are currently no state or national regulations for the certification of Birth Sisters or doulas.
What if I lose/misplace my certificate of completion? A replacement certificate can be provided with a written request. A new hard copy of your certificate can be mailed to you for a fee of $15 per copy; Digital copies will be available for $5.
Where can I find recommended birth books?
We find that your local library; your favorite web search engine; and major book retailers like Barnes & Noble, and Borders are all great places to search for these titles. We also recommend visiting a smaller local black owned bookstore and requesting that they order a copy. They often can do this at no additional cost to you.
My question was not answered: Thank you for your interest in our training program. For all other questions please contact us at [email protected].