FAQs

What is the difference between the Companion Animal Doula and the Companion Animal Doula for Alumni courses?

Two tracks are available for this program:

  • If you are an End-of-Life Doula Professional Certificate alumni, you have the option to take the 4-week course (with the first two weeks as a review from your certificate training) or you may take the 2-week alumni course specialization focusing on companion animal end-of-life care.
  • If you are not an End-of-Life Doula Professional Certificate alumni, you must take the 4-week program to acquire skills related to doula essentials and compassionate care.

What is the cost of the program and are there scholarships?

The 4-week certificate course costs $600. The alumni 2-week course costs $300.
Please see information on the Tuition & Scholarship page regarding the University of Vermont Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Scholarship.

Are there any required textbooks that must be purchased for the course?

Yes. Students will need to purchase Cultivating the Doula Heart: Essentials of Compassionate Care by Francesca Lynn Arnoldy. While not required, students are also encouraged to purchase The Pet Loss Companion: Healing Advice from Family Therapists Who Lead Pet Loss Groups by Ken Dolan-Kel and Nancy Saxton Lopez. Copies of both books can be purchased online.

Does this course qualify for UVM employee tuition remission?

No. Non-credit courses do not currently qualify for tuition remission.

Are payment plans available?

No, we do not have payment plans, you must pay in full by credit card when you register.

What is the refund policy for this program?

If you need to cancel your attendance, you must notify us via email at learn@uvm.edu or call us at (802) 656-2085 at least three business days prior to the start date of the course to receive a full refund, less a $25 cancellation fee. If a medical condition necessitates cancellation/withdrawal (documentation provided), this will be reviewed by our Studies Committee for any type of refund.

What is an End-of-Life Doula specializing in animal companion care?

End-of-Life Doulas specializing in animal companion care complement the work provided by palliative and hospice care for pets provided by veterinarians. Doulas support animals and their owners with compassionate care in a number of ways, including emotional and informational support during this difficult time.

Do I need any prior knowledge of End-of-Life Care or are there any prerequisites for the program?

There is no specific coursework required for this certificate. Primarily, we want you to have a deep commitment to providing compassionate care for animals who are dying.

What are my career options once I complete this program?

Upon successful completion of this course, learners will have the skillset and mindset to offer doula services to families and owners who are experiencing end-of-life care for their companion animals. For individuals offering end-of-life doula care for humans, these new skills will nicely complement the work they are already doing and they will be able offer additional services to clients surrounding companion animals. Individuals already working in the pet care industry will be equipped with the skills to better support clients during end-of-life care of their beloved pets.

How will I be graded?

You will be assessed on your participation in the discussion boards, completion of assignments, and comprehension of the course material. In order to receive an electronic Certificate of Completion, students must receive a 70% or better in the course. Because this is a non-credit professional program, there is no transcript.

How do I download and print my certificate?

  1. Log in to your Credly account and locate the badge you’d like the certificate for on your Credly Dashboard.
  2. Click into the badge and select “Share” at the top of the page. Here you’ll notice several share options.
  3. Select the tab with the “printer” icon and select “Download PDF.”
  4. You can choose to print the downloaded PDF for a printable copy of your certificate.

Are there any live sessions?

No, this certificate is 100% asynchronous so you can fit the course around your schedule.

What is the weekly time commitment for the courses?

Students spend about 7 to 10 hours per week on the coursework. Optional orientation is offered the week before the program starts and it takes approximately one hour to complete.

Can the course be taken from anywhere, including outside the US?

Yes. Our certificate is 100% online. Please note that class materials are in English.

What browser and computing device should I use for this course?

We recommend using a browser other than Internet Explorer with our Blackboard online learning system. Firefox, Google Chrome, or other browsers tend to work more effectively with Blackboard. It’s very important to note that Blackboard will only work with a desktop or laptop computer. It is not designed to be used with phones or tablets (e.g., iPads), so please make sure you have access to a desktop and/or laptop computer for the duration of the class.

Do you offer student learning accommodations?

If you are a non-credit student seeking accessibility support, please email access@uvm.edu and the UVM Student Accessibility Services team will be able to assist. In your email, please include that you do not have a 95 number/NetID.

Have a question that is not listed here?

Our Advisors are here to help. Please call us at 802-656-2085 or submit the inquiry form available on this site.