Re-Cert or not

MindOverLaborDoulas · 08-14-2006, 09:57 AM

Once you have gotten certified you have whatever letters behind your name.
Then your three years or whatever is up and you decide to not certify again for whatever random reasons.
Are you still going to use your letters behind your name?

I am thinking that if I get certified, I can still use them. Like my college degrees. I already have them, I have already done all of the work.
What do the orgs say about it?

By the way, I am only asking as devil's advocate...

AussieDoula · 08-14-2006, 10:13 AM

That's why I love CBI, you don't have to recertify: certification is for life (although this may have it's negatives, and I should note that I chose not to certify at all).

I'm really not sure what the rules are, they are probably specific to each organisation. I think perhaps certain initials are trademarked by different organisations, so I'm not sure of the "etiquette" when it comes to keeping those initials if you don't recertify (and like I said, there may even be specific guidelines about them - you'd have to ask your organisation for clarification).

Personally, I can see someone still listing prior certification on a resume, but not using initials behind your name on business cards if the certification isn't current.
Since you'd still be working as a Doula, you may feel comfortable using initials, but I feel that - although you've already been trained and certified - part of your requirements through several groups is to maintain certification/membership to have the priveledge of keeping your initials.
For example: A LLL Leader can't still use her initials if she is no longer affiliated with them but is still working as a lactation consultant independently (correct me if I'm wrong

).

Maybe someone else will have more definite answers, LOL!

fearlessbirth · 08-14-2006, 10:22 AM

Good question, Ash! I wondered the same thing myself. 3 years seems like such a SHORT amount of time to be certified before needing to do it up again! (I mean, it takes a bit of work and time to get certfied in the first place...some people use up that whole 2 years DONA gives you, and then some!)

jesscardona · 08-14-2006, 10:25 AM

Yeah, I hate that thing about the re-cert. the only thing I've found is that I found a lot of mothers asking me if Im certfied... and it seems that sense Im not that kinda of "keeps them away" or something..I think it's ridicoulous but..hey I'm doing my best in working at it...

susan1 · 08-14-2006, 11:17 AM

This is a good question...I agree it three years seems such a short time. ..before you know it time to redo everything again.

AmandaB · 08-14-2006, 12:02 PM

I am questioning the whole re-cert thing too! I mean it has taken me 13 birth, a year and 4 months since my first DONA training and I am still not done or certified. I feel like if it takes that much work to certify, to do it again 2 years later is a bit of a bummer. I have total my Prov. Rep that if the letters after my name do not garner me any more than I have already done without the certification then I will remain a member of DONA just not a "certified" (on paper) Doula. I believe once you have gone through that process, I would keep the letters ... I earned them (believe me I HAVE earned them). CD, to me says "certified Doula" as in I went through the process to be certified, there is nothing to say that if you are still practicing to give that up, as you are (were) a "certified Doula" and recognizied for that. Sorry was that just a rambling trail of thought? Hopefully you got what I mean.

fearlessbirth · 08-14-2006, 12:26 PM

Oh, that makes sense. You are still really 'certified'. And really, how would they ever find out? Lol I mean, are they going to go around to all the cities to see who's got CD(DONA) behind their name and match it to who isn't recertified? Hmmm..I bet Georganne will know that magic answer

everydaymiracles · 08-14-2006, 12:37 PM

One thing I haven't seen anyone mention is that the requirements for recertifying are different than initial certification

For DONA

For CAPPA

I have another 2 years before I need to make the decision to recert or not but I do not think you can use the 'letters' if you certification is no longer current. Perhaps change the wording on you cards etc from certified to experieced or the like.R

MothertheMother · 08-14-2006, 12:44 PM

Plus you'd feel pretty foolish if a prospective client did call to verify that you were certified and they were told your certification had expired. Eeek! I think it'd be wise to drop the initials if you don't plan to recertify.

nocomparta · 08-14-2006, 12:55 PM

I keep my certification current. I mean, I do all the things they want ANYWAY, just writing it down on some papers isn't a big deal. Since I work for CAPPA, I don't have to recertify, they pretty much know from my monthly reports that I get PLENTY of hours every month in the field. I do not appreciate that every three years DONA gets and additional 75 bucks on top of the 40 a year they get for membership. Sucks.

DL · 08-14-2006, 01:18 PM

In CAPPA, the CLD means "Certifed Labor Doula". If you let your certification go, then you are no longer certified (although trained, possibly experienced, and possibly very good), thus you should drop the credential letters.

The good thing about re-certification is that you have to have so many CEUs (Continuing Education Units) every 3 years. It's mainly a standard to make sure that their doulas are meeting a minimum amount of continuing education. Sure...I'd love to keep my $$, but things do change in time, so it's a good way for the organizations to set a minimum standard for their doulas/cbe's to keep on top of things. In our day and age with many people looking for short-cuts and quick fixes, our education can't effectively be on the honor system.

Re-certification is not unique to the Doula organizations. Even the largest of orgs, like Lamaze International, has re-certification requirements. Nurses have to meet CEU requirements and often re-certifiy in their prospective extra certs as well.

I personally think that re-certification makes a lot of sense. If I was the head of an org., I would require it, at least for the CEUs and parental evaluations.

Re-certifying or not is a personal choice, but using credentials that you are not certified to use shouldn't be a choice and just isn't right; I would go as far as to say that it's not fair to the rest of us who are completing the required steps to keep ours.

Just some facts, mixed in with my

fearlessbirth · 08-14-2006, 01:32 PM

I didn't realize how 'easy' recertification is. I wonder (just wondering aloud) if you can start immediately after becoming certified with DONA? Like can my next 3 births just count and whatever 'approved' things I attend count? I should get on reading my DONA docs. Lol

susan1 · 08-14-2006, 01:33 PM

Ashley,

I hope you don't mind but I wrote to Dona boards and ask the question. I really would like to know...and think is a great question to ask. For the doulas that don't have a hard time getting clients it may be easy for them to recerify when the time comes but when a doula does have the luck or whatever you like to call it ..three years is a short time..and more so it costs money to keep those letters behind your name. ..and keeping wonder if they are worth it or not.

fearlessbirth · 08-14-2006, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doula Lori

Re-certifying or not is a personal choice, but using credentials that you are not certified to use shouldn't be a choice and just isn't right; I would go as far as to say that it's not fair to the rest of us who are completing the required steps to keep ours.

Just some facts, mixed in with my

You're right, Lori!

I didn't think of it that way...cause I sure would be mad if I went through all the trouble to recert and had a colleague, partner, etc. who just kept on truckin' with the initials. I would feel like they were cheating. I take back what I said earlier

DL · 08-14-2006, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fearlessbirth

I didn't realize how 'easy' recertification is. I wonder (just wondering aloud) if you can start immediately after becoming certified with DONA? Like can my next 3 births just count and whatever 'approved' things I attend count? I should get on reading my DONA docs. Lol

I know that in CAPPA, whatever you do within the 3 years between certifying/re-certifying and re-certifying IS counted. I don't have to re-certify for another year and a half, but I have my 3 evals and am working on my CEUs right now. If you have EVERY parent evaluate you for EVERY birth like I do, it makes the eval part much easier. I just pick the 3 that I like best to send in.