FAQs

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

The program cost is $800. 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 Final Gifts by Maggie Callanan and Patricia Kelley, as well as Cultivating the Doula Heart: Essentials of Compassionate Care by Francesca Lynn Arnoldy. Copies of both books can be purchased online or through the UVM Bookstore.

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.

How frequently is this course offered?

UVM offers the End-of-Life Doula Professional Certificate 5 times per year. The start dates are usually in January, March, May, August, and October. Each offering is 8 weeks.

What is an End-of-Life Doula?

End-of-Life Doulas complement the work provided by palliative and/or hospice teams providing care for clients in hospice, hospital, and residential environments.  Doulas support clients with compassionate care in a number of ways, including emotional, spiritual, informational, and physical support, which greatly helps to ease some of the burdens faced by both the client and family.

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

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

What does it mean that the End-of-Life Doula program is an affiliate of the Osher Center for Integrative Health at UVM?

As an affiliate of UVM’s Osher Center for Integrative Health, Graduates of UVM’s End-of-Life Doula certificate programs can take advantage of the following:

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 family/community members and/or patients/clients.  Many people add End-of-Life Doula skills to complement their existing training and work with clients/patients.  Examples include: hospice staff, birth doulas, home health care providers, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and alternative health professionals.  If you are looking to become a full-time EOL doula, you will need to pave the way to establish your professional path as this is a new, emerging career. As part of launching your own practice, your next steps will include marketing, advertising, networking, and accounting, among other considerations. Our alumni are able to remain connected and in contact with the goal of establishing this professional role through shared collaboration.

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.

Is this program available for Continuing Education Units?

Yes, this program is eligible for 8 Continuing Education Units (CEUs). These CEUs are automatically awarded to students who successfully complete the program. CEUs are listed on the downloadable certificate. Please see “How do I download and print my certificate?” above.

What is a typical schedule like if I enroll in the End-of-Life Doula Certificate?

Our weekly modules start mid-week on Wednesday. This allows you to complete your readings on Thursday and Friday, and then gives you time on the weekend to engage in discussions and complete your written assignments.  Monday and Tuesday will be a great time for you to continue to refine and edit your assignments before submitting them, and continue participating in the online discussions.  We anticipate that students will spend approximately 7 to 10 hours per week on assignments, readings, and discussions for each module.

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.