End of Life Doulas are frontline caregivers who offer healing vs. curative care to families and patients during critical illness and the dying process.

They work individually or in teams, being available around the clock, filling the care gaps before, nearing and during death. The compassionate presence of an End-of-Life Doula increases quality life moments of the families and patients they serve. Their presence at bedside assures that families and loved ones can focus on what is most important throughout the dying time. They inspire positive change in end-of-life care.

Like the Professional Coach and Nurse Coach, the End-of-Life Coach focuses on supporting clients and families to identify a clear life fulfilling vision which shifts them from an unsatisfactory current reality to whole health care, well being and peace. Unlike therapists and counselors, the coach focuses on the present and future vs. the past, allowing the past to be what it is and supporting clients to create steps to achieve a beautiful living and nearing death experience.

They specialize in listening skills and are way-makers in their communities for change in end-of-life care.

No, about half of our students are caregivers, healers, coaches, or non-clinical professionals. All you need is an open, compassionate heart!

No. Whether you have direct experience or are simply called to this work, this course will deepen your healing and transformation, and your relationship to death. #BefriendDeath #DeathIsOurTeacher

Continuing education credits are not available at this time. Please check back as we are working diligently to provide this benefit to our students. 

Yes, we offer CNEs for our online end-of-life doula and conscious dying coach courses as follows. Both courses are approved by the Arizona Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

• End-of-Life Doula Certificate program: 111 hours
• Conscious Dying Coach Certificate program: 71.5 hours

Many of our End-of-Life Doula grads go on to provide care and work with people in their communities. This course is also great for anyone wishing to befriend death for their own journey or to better support loved ones and families during end-of-life transitions.

Befriending Death is also 100% online and can be taken on its own and remains the foundation to many of our other enrichment courses as well. 

Our End-of-Life Doula Training program is 100% online and has two parts: the Befriending Death Course (as a prerequisite) and the End-of-Life Doula Training. This program also includes a practicum and a deep dive into the skills of being a doula. 

All of our offerings include access to our online learning platform, live Zoom calls, reading/writing/reflection/discussion assignments, and personal support from faculty and staff.

This practicum (End-of-Life Doula Training) is an opportunity for you to practice using the North Star Tool with peers and community members. You will use the communication skills you have learned in the course to coach others and help them define their end-of-life vision and wishes. It is a deeply moving process to partake in, and can be transformational.

Our online End-of-Life Doula Training takes approximately 21 weeks to complete, with slight variations depending on enrollment date and how you pace your readings and assignments. The Befriending Death course takes approximately 8 weeks. Our Enrichment Courses vary in length depending on the topic.

There are no prerequisites for Befriending Death.

To become a End-of-Life Doula, you must complete the Befriending Death course. By registering for the End-of-Life Doula Trainging Program, you will automatically be registering for Befriending Death as a prerequisite.

We offer a business development package to jump start your practice with business card designs, website badges and a listing in our online EOL Doula / Coach directory (membership fee).

Graduates may also participate in regular graduate web conferences to share best practices, successes, stories, challenges, and be in support of their graduate community. These calls are hosted and facilitated by CDC staff, and occasionally include guest speakers depending on the interests of the group.

We also offer enrichment courses of which some are exclusively available to graduates. Subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on social media for updates on the current enrichment courses offered. 

Yes, students who complete the Befriending Death course can elect to continue their education to become an End-of-Life Doula. Students simply pay the difference in pricing ($1600) and upon registering will receive continued support in online modules to complete.

Yes, homework consists of readings, writing and reflection assignments, videos, and online discussions. Doulas will also complete a virtual practicum. Completing your assignments on time is a requirement for graduation and receiving your certificate and/or contact hours, and takes approximately 2 months (Befriending Death) - 5 months (Doulas) to complete. Our graduates estimate they spend between 5-8 hours/week on studying and assignments..

Yes. Assignments are completed through our online learning platform, so access to internet is a must for this course. Basic understanding of how to operate a computer (NOT an iPad/tablet) will also be extremely helpful as you move through the program.

Yes, please contact info@consciousdyingcollective.com to inquire about your options.

It is so important to us at the Conscious Dying Collective that those who long to be part of the conversation (to belong) and those who feel called to this work have the opportunity to share their voice from their own lived experience, regardless of their financial circumstances.  We acknowledge the pervasive social injustice that creates unequal opportunity, especially financial inequality, and have created this scholarship as such. It is imperative that communities of color, immigrants, disabled persons, and LGBTQ+ persons are supported to serve as Conscious Dying Coaches and Sacred Passage End-of-Life Doulas. The Conscious Dying Collective is committed to dismantling disparity in representation in end-of-life Care: not only for those providing this care, but for the disproportionately affected people who deserve to receive dignified care at the end-of-life.

Applications are reviewed by a scholarship panel based on merit.

Please visit our scholarships page for more information: https://consciousdyingcollective.com/scholarship

We do not offer refunds. It is our expectation that students complete their coursework and graduate with their cohort in order to earn a certificate.

If you have paid and not yet accessed the coursework, you may consider offering a one-time gift of your enrollment as a scholarship to a student in need.