Birth Wellness Coach Apprenticeship

Advanced Paid Practice and Mentorship

The Birth Wellness Coach Apprenticeship is a twelve month, paid, competency based program for certified doulas who are ready to move from training into confident, supported, real world practice.

This is where knowledge becomes embodied skill.

Apprentices work with real families under clinical supervision, receive ongoing mentorship, earn income, and deepen their capacity to provide ethical, trauma informed, non clinical perinatal support across pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

This program is designed for doulas who want more than a certificate. It is for those who want structure, accountability, sustainability, and long term professional readiness.

Who This Apprenticeship Is For

This apprenticeship is open to any certified doula or Birth Wellness Coach who has completed foundational training and is ready to step into guided practice.

You may be a good fit if you are:

• A newly certified doula who wants real world experience with support

• A practicing doula who wants deeper mentorship and skill refinement

• A birth worker seeking stable income while building confidence

• A community based provider interested in trauma informed, ethical care
  Someone who values collaboration, supervision, and reflective practice

• This is not a self paced program. It is relational, supervised, and intentionally structured.

Program Overview

Length
Twelve months

Format
Paid apprenticeship with supervised client care, mentorship pods, and continuing education

Caseload
Ten-twelve families total across the year

Credential Outcome
Advanced Certification as a Birth Wellness Coach and Doula

Apprentices are W2 part time employees and are paid through a structured wage progression tied to demonstrated competencies and quarterly evaluations.

What Apprentices Do

Apprentices provide full spectrum, non clinical perinatal support to families, including

• Prenatal visits

• Birth attendance with continuous on call and in person support
  Immediate postpartum support

• Postpartum visits

• Education, emotional support, and comfort measures

• Documentation and reflective charting

All care is provided within a clearly defined non clinical scope of practice and under the supervision of experienced Clinical Leads.

Client Care Structure

Each apprentice supports ten families during the program.
Each family includes

• Three prenatal visits

• One birth with continuous labor support

• Immediate postpartum support during the first two hours after birth

• Three postpartum visits at day three, week one, and week three

• Complete documentation and verification

• Apprentices participate in debriefs after every birth and receive ongoing feedback on care, boundaries, and professional development.

Pod Based Mentorship Model

You are not doing this alone.

Each apprentice is placed in a small pod that includes

A Clinical Lead with at least eight years of experience
Peer apprentices for reflection and accountability
Structured case review and support

Support includes

Weekly group mentorship calls
Peer debriefs and reflection
Monthly coworking sessions
Quarterly in person workshops
Ongoing access to Clinical Lead guidance

This model is designed to prevent burnout, build confidence, and normalize learning through supported practice.

Continuing Education

Apprentices complete at least six continuing education modules during the program.

Available topics include

Trauma informed practice
Emergency advocacy and systems navigation
Infant feeding support
Grief and loss care
High conflict and custody related support
Advanced comfort measures
Reflective practice and trauma stewardship
Content creation and community education

These modules support depth, sustainability, and professional growth.

Core Competencies Mastered

By the end of the apprenticeship, apprentices independently demonstrate mastery in

Ethical scope of practice
Trauma informed and culturally responsive care
Perinatal education
Informed decision making support
Emotional and physical support
Mental health awareness
Infant feeding support
Documentation and record keeping
Advocacy within systems
Social services navigation
Abuse and risk response
Nutrition awareness
Professional sustainability

Competency is demonstrated through real client care, documentation, and mentor evaluation.

Certification Outcome

Apprentices who successfully complete the program receive

Advanced Certification as a Birth Wellness Coach and Doula
Preparation for employment, private practice, or leadership roles within community based maternal health systems

Graduates leave this program with experience, confidence, and a body of real work behind them.

How to Apply

This apprenticeship is application based and cohort limited.

Applicants must hold a current doula or Birth Wellness Coach certification or be in the final stage of certification.

To apply

Complete the application form
Submit proof of certification
Participate in an interview or review process

Cohorts are intentionally small to ensure quality mentorship and care.