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Terms and Conditions

Effective Date: April 20, 2026
Last Updated: April 20, 2026

Welcome to the Professional Doula Institute (“PDI,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of the website located at https://www.professionaldoulainstitute.com (the “Site”) and the Postpartum Doula Certification Program and any other courses, materials, or services we offer (collectively, the “Services”).

By accessing the Site, enrolling in a course, submitting a contact form, or otherwise using the Services, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use the Site or the Services.

1. About Professional Doula Institute

Professional Doula Institute is a professional training organization located in Houston, Texas. We provide structured education and certification for individuals pursuing a career as a postpartum doula. Our curriculum draws on more than 25 years of hands-on postpartum doula experience and blends foundational knowledge with practical application.

2. Eligibility

To enroll in our certification program or otherwise use the Services, you must:

  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Be able to form a legally binding contract
  • Provide accurate, current, and complete information when requested
  • Use the Services only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms

By enrolling, you represent and warrant that all of the above is true.

3. Course Enrollment and Payment

3.1 Enrollment Platform

Enrollment in the Postpartum Doula Certification Program is processed through our third-party learning platform, Podia, at https://doulacertification.podia.com. When you enroll, you are also agreeing to Podia’s terms of service and privacy policy. We are not responsible for the practices of Podia or any other third-party platform.

3.2 Payment

All tuition and fees are listed in U.S. dollars and are payable at the time of enrollment unless otherwise stated. Payments are processed by Podia or its payment processors. PDI does not collect or store your full payment card information.

3.3 Access Period

Upon successful enrollment, you will receive immediate access to course materials for a period of ninety (90) days (“Access Period”). After the Access Period expires, you may lose access to the course dashboard, lessons, and quizzes. Extensions may be available at our discretion and may require an additional fee.

4. Certification Requirements

To receive your Postpartum Doula Certification, you must complete all of the following within the Access Period:

  1. Complete all required online modules and quizzes
  2. Fill out and submit the Completion Packet
  3. Pass the final exam, which will be sent to you after your Completion Packet has been submitted and reviewed
  4. Submit the final exam within forty-eight (48) hours of receiving it

All submissions are reviewed by our team. We reserve the right to request clarification, revisions, or resubmission of any portion of the Completion Packet or final exam before issuing a certification. Certification is granted at the sole discretion of PDI and is not guaranteed by enrollment alone.

5. Refund and Cancellation Policy

Because our courses provide immediate digital access to proprietary educational materials, all sales are final. Refund requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis and only if submitted in writing within seven (7) days of enrollment and before substantial course progress has been made. We define “substantial course progress” as completion of more than 20% of the course content.

To request a refund, email us at the contact address below with your order confirmation and the reason for your request. Approved refunds will be issued to the original payment method and may take up to ten (10) business days to process.

6. Intellectual Property

6.1 Our Content

All content available through the Site and the Services, including but not limited to course modules, lessons, videos, quizzes, the Completion Packet, exam questions, written materials, graphics, logos, audio, and the PDI brand, is the property of Professional Doula Institute or its licensors and is protected by United States and international copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

6.2 Your License

Upon enrollment and for the duration of your Access Period, PDI grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and view course materials for your own personal and professional educational use. You may not:

  • Download, copy, reproduce, distribute, publish, display, or create derivative works from any course material unless expressly permitted
  • Share your account credentials with any other person
  • Record, screenshot for redistribution, or resell any course content
  • Use any course material to train, fine-tune, or develop any artificial intelligence or machine learning system
  • Use our name, logo, or trademarks without prior written consent

Violation of this section may result in immediate termination of your access, revocation of any certification previously granted, and legal action.

6.3 Use of the PDI Certification

Graduates who earn the Postpartum Doula Certification may represent themselves as a PDI-certified postpartum doula while the certification is current and in good standing. This certification does not constitute licensure, medical credentialing, or an endorsement of any specific business practice.

7. Student Conduct

You agree to engage with the Services and the PDI community in a professional, respectful manner. You will not:

  • Harass, threaten, or discriminate against instructors, staff, or other students
  • Post, share, or transmit any content that is unlawful, defamatory, obscene, or infringing
  • Misrepresent your identity, credentials, or prior experience
  • Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Site, course platform, or any related systems
  • Use the Services in any way that violates applicable federal, state, or local laws

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your access for any conduct we determine, in our sole discretion, violates these Terms or is otherwise harmful to PDI, our staff, or other students. No refund will be issued in connection with a termination for cause.

8. Contact Form Submissions

When you submit a question or inquiry through our contact form, you authorize PDI to use the information you provide (including your name, phone number, email address, and message) to respond to your inquiry and to follow up regarding the certification program or related Services. See our Privacy Policy for more detail.

9. Educational Purpose Only; No Medical or Professional Advice

The Services are provided for educational and professional training purposes only. Course content, materials, and communications do not constitute medical, psychological, legal, financial, or other professional advice. PDI does not provide medical or clinical services and does not train participants as medical professionals.

Postpartum doulas provide non-medical support. Students and graduates are responsible for practicing within the scope of a non-medical doula role and for referring clients to appropriate licensed professionals when medical, psychological, or clinical concerns arise. You are solely responsible for complying with any licensing, registration, business, tax, or insurance requirements that apply to your practice in your jurisdiction.

10. Third-Party Links and Services

The Site may contain links to third-party websites, platforms, or services, including Podia, analytics providers, email providers, and social media platforms. PDI does not control these third parties and is not responsible for their content, terms, privacy practices, or availability. Your use of third-party services is at your own risk and is governed by the terms of those third parties.

11. Disclaimers

THE SITE AND THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, PDI DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

We do not warrant that the Site or the Services will be uninterrupted, error-free, secure, or free of viruses or other harmful components. We do not guarantee any particular outcome, income, client base, or professional result from completion of the certification program.

12. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL PROFESSIONAL DOULA INSTITUTE, ITS OWNERS, AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, INSTRUCTORS, OR CONTRACTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOSS OF PROFITS, REVENUE, DATA, OR GOODWILL, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF THE SITE OR THE SERVICES, EVEN IF WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

OUR TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ANY CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OR THE SERVICES SHALL NOT EXCEED THE TOTAL AMOUNT YOU PAID TO PDI IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain damages, so some of the above limitations may not apply to you.

13. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless PDI, its owners, affiliates, officers, employees, instructors, and contractors from and against any and all claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or related to: (a) your use of the Site or the Services; (b) your violation of these Terms; (c) your violation of any third-party right, including intellectual property or privacy rights; or (d) your practice as a postpartum doula following certification.

14. Modifications to the Services

We may modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of the Site or the Services at any time, with or without notice. We may also update the curriculum, lessons, Completion Packet, or exam from time to time to reflect current best practices. Substantive changes during your Access Period will not remove previously earned progress.

15. Modifications to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. When we do, we will revise the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page. Material changes will be communicated through the Site or by email when reasonable. Your continued use of the Site or the Services after changes take effect constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms.

16. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to its conflict of laws principles. Any dispute arising out of or related to these Terms or the Services shall be resolved exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Harris County, Texas, and you consent to the personal jurisdiction of those courts.

Before initiating any formal legal action, you agree to first contact us in writing and attempt to resolve the dispute in good faith for at least thirty (30) days.

17. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unlawful, void, or unenforceable, that provision shall be deemed severable and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions.

18. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any additional terms posted on the Site or provided at enrollment, constitute the entire agreement between you and Professional Doula Institute regarding your use of the Site and the Services and supersede any prior agreements.