Is DNT Network Accredited? What “Accreditation” Really Means in Doula and Perinatal Education
If you’re thinking about registering for a doula or perinatal support certification, it’s completely natural to pause and ask an important question: Is this program accredited? Many prospective students reach out to DNT Network with this exact concern, especially after seeing other programs that cost significantly more and use strong language around approval or recognition.
This is a smart question—and one that deserves a clear, transparent answer.
In the traditional academic sense, DNT Network certifications are not accredited by a college or university accrediting body. They are not degree programs, and they are not affiliated with higher-education institutions. However, this is not unusual or concerning within the doula and perinatal support field. In fact, it is the norm.
Unlike professions such as nursing or social work, there is no single national academic accreditation requirement for doulas, postpartum doulas, lactation specialists, infant sleep consultants, or many other perinatal roles in the United States. The vast majority of certifications in this field are offered by independent professional organizations rather than universities. These certifications exist to prepare people for real-world, client-facing work—not to confer academic credit.
You may have noticed that some well-known programs advertise that they are “approved,” “endorsed,” or “recognized” by third-party organizations. It’s important to understand what this means in practice. These approvals are not academic accreditation. They are organizational reviews that often require substantial fees, annual renewals, and ongoing licensing costs. Those expenses are typically built into higher tuition prices. Two programs may teach very similar material, but one may cost significantly more simply because it pays for external endorsements and branding.
DNT Network made a deliberate choice not to take that path. Instead of passing review fees on to students, the focus has been on keeping education accessible while investing directly in curriculum development, instructor expertise, and practical training. This means students are paying for learning and skill-building—not logos or labels.
What matters most for most students is not academic accreditation, but whether a certification is recognized and accepted in real working environments. In practice, DNT Network certifications are widely accepted by families, doula agencies, community organizations, and care networks across the U.S. and internationally. Many graduates go on to work independently with private clients, join established doula agencies, or provide services through employer-sponsored and insurance-supported benefit programs, such as those offered by large employers and fertility benefit platforms.
For example, a postpartum doula may use their certification to join a local agency serving hospital referrals, while another graduate may build a private practice supporting families in their community. A lactation specialist may work alongside midwives or birth centers, while an infant sleep consultant may support families virtually across state lines. In each of these cases, what clients and organizations look for is solid training, professionalism, and demonstrated competence—not whether the certificate came from an academic institution.
This is where DNT Network’s educational approach becomes especially important. Courses are built around evidence-based information and real-life application rather than memorization or test-only learning. Students work through realistic scenarios, communication challenges, and case-based reflections that mirror what actually happens when supporting families. For instance, rather than simply learning ideal feeding recommendations, students explore how to support a parent experiencing food insecurity, exhaustion, or conflicting advice from healthcare providers. Rather than memorizing sleep guidelines, students practice explaining options compassionately to families with different values, resources, and cultural contexts.
Many students who enroll with DNT Network have already compared other programs—sometimes after years in the field. Experienced doulas, parents, nurses, and childcare professionals often tell us that even with prior knowledge, the coursework helped them refine how they communicate, set boundaries, and support families more effectively. This practical focus is a key reason students choose DNT Network even when more expensive options are available.
Affordability is not an afterthought—it is part of the mission. By avoiding unnecessary third-party costs, DNT Network is able to offer certifications that are fully online, self-paced, and accessible to students balancing work, family, or caregiving responsibilities. Lifetime access allows graduates to revisit materials as their practice grows, without worrying about renewals or hidden fees.
Choosing a certification is a personal and professional decision. The right program depends on your goals, where you plan to work, and how you want to support families. If you are looking for a university degree, an academic program may be more appropriate. If you are seeking practical, recognized training that prepares you to work directly with families in real-world settings, a professional certification like those offered by DNT Network may be exactly what you need.
If you’re still unsure, that’s okay. Asking thoughtful questions is part of making an informed choice. We’re always happy to talk through your goals, your concerns, and your plans—so you can decide with confidence whether this path aligns with the work you want to do.
