How to Become a Death Doula
The business of deathwork.
I’m constantly being asked to mentor new doulas. Unfortunately, I don’t have enough free time to do this, so I thought I’d write down some lessons I’ve learned in the last five years of my practice.
This is important work.
Sometimes I’m a compassionate peer counselor, and other times a logic-driven project manager. My services involve everything from guiding meditations to scheduling visitors to reducing fears to sitting with someone as they actively die.
Most of my job is spreading the word that end-of-life doulas exist. Just letting people know we’re here. In short, doulas like me support those at the end of their lives. We’re a lot like birth doulas, but at the other end of the spectrum.
For a lot of people, this is a new profession. But our work is as old as time. We need more supportive doulas out there to help people die good deaths.
Starting a Death Doula Business
No state or federal guidelines regulate the death doula industry. Therefore, it’s up to each individual doula to do their best and legitimize this work. My advice: find the best possible training to provide clients with stellar service.
Consider some of the following ideas.
Volunteer at Your Local Hospice
Hospice organizations provide training and background checks that come in handy when starting your own death doula business. Log hundreds of volunteer hours and gain valuable experience working with and around dying people.
Get Educated
Research death doula certification or training programs to learn more about this career path.
Full disclosure: I attended the University of Vermont’s end-of-life doula program, and I teach a similar class at the University of New England. I’m also a board member and educator at End-of-Life Psychedelic Care.
Training depends on the program you choose, but the curriculum typically covers topics like:
death and dying
palliative medicine
the history of death/dying
death and grief rituals
common diseases
caring for children at end-of-life
legacy projects
and more.
Find a respected program you can afford that works best for you.
Network with Other Professionals
Start networking with local businesses that serve the same population. Get to know them. This includes funeral homes, cemeteries, crematory services, at-home care services, will/estate attorneys, assisted living facilities, etc.
Join local networking groups and coalitions. Get the word out and build relationships that lead to referrals. This includes those in the slow-medicine movement, senior care industry, women or minority-owned business groups, etc.
Create a Website
Create an engaging and appealing website for your business and consider getting professional marketing advice. Pick an available name for your practice.
I chose Anitya Doula Services because Anitya in Sanskrit means impermanence. Check out my website, take whatever works, and adapt it to fit your own business.
Establish an Online Presence, If You Must
Lots of doulas get on social media and follow doulas in their area or national end-of-life professionals.
I couldn’t do it. I didn’t find it helpful; social media for me, in general, was a complete waste of time. Eventually, I closed down everything except my Substack account and have never felt so free.
But you do you.
Get an Accountant
Get professional advice for bank accounts, taxes, and applicable fees.
Register your business with the appropriate state/local authorities. Your accountant helps with this as well, including getting your tax ID number.
Choose Your Services
Think about your background, education, and experiences. What kind of services do you want to offer? For decades, I worked as an ally and organizer for the LGBTQ+ community, so I knew I’d serve them as a death doula, too.
I have also been an educator and certified teacher, so teaching classes at universities, hospitals, and assisted living facilities is a major part of my doula practice.
Use your strengths as you explore this new realm – whether you’re a nurse, therapist, or home organizer. Your background is your niche.
Get Insured
Basic liability insurance is required for death doulas who work in people’s homes.
Talk to an Attorney
Research legal requirements that go with starting your own business. This often depends on the jurisdiction where you live or do business. I talked to a lawyer when considering my role in the psychedelic space.
“If I do this right, and families process the details with an open mind, an assured death can be beautiful, tender, and comfortable. It can bring peace and closure. It can avoid the chaos, the broken ribs, and the existential distress.” Blair Bingham, M.D.
Join an Alliance
Find a professional doula association that promotes best practices. There are several out there. Full disclosure: I’m a NEDA-proficient member of the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance (NEDA).
Form a Local Collective
Talk to practicing death doulas in your area. Reach out and ask them about this career path. What do they wish they’d known before getting started? Pick their brains with questions that might help you better prepare.
Consider forming a support group to get to know each other.
My support group has come in handy when I need to take time off for self-care, vacations, or illnesses. Covering for one another is valuable with the kind of work we do, so start building that trust and support now.
Think About Self-Care Options
You will be a part of some sacred moments and heavy scenes. Find a way to deal with the emotional aspect of caring for dying people. This might include a support group, a counselor, or caring friends.
Spread the Word
Talk to friends, family, and associates. Call or email newspaper reporters to find out more about earned media. Ask them to like your pages, follow you on social media, and leave rave reviews.
Please encourage people to talk about this important service.
Normalize the Conversation
Offer to speak whenever or wherever you can. This includes local houses of worship, retirement communities, and continuing education courses at local colleges that cater to older adults.
Prerequisites to Becoming a Death Doula
There aren’t any requirements when becoming an end-of-life doula. You don’t need prior training or experience in death work.
How Much Does Training Cost?
As of 2025, most certification programs cost between $800 – $1600. This depends on many factors, such as:
type of program
location
in-person or online
If tuition is too expensive, inquire about scholarships.
How Much Do Doulas Charge?
How much you charge depends on where you live, your previous experience, and the specific services you provide.
Generally speaking, my fees range from $25-$175 per hour or more.
Like many doulas, I operate on a sliding scale. I take into account three things when determining how much to charge each client: the requested services, time, and their ability to pay.
I ask readers for donations so more people in need can access deathbed support.
If you’re operating your own business, also consider taxes, healthcare, transportation, and any other costs required to do this successfully. As you grow your network, advertise your services, gain more experience, and market effectively, you’ll be able to charge more per person or receive more referrals.
Meaningful Work
Although it’s not easy to support dying people, it is meaningful work. If you’re being called into this field, thoroughly research how to become a death doula and reach out anytime with questions.
Thank you for this in depth approach to being a death doula. I'm considering starting my own business but am currently volunteering for my local hospice and a hospice for the homeless. It is very rewarding work. Self care is crucial.
I took an “end of life doula” course through the Iliff School of Theology earlier this year. It was so worthwhile, but I must say that without doing volunteer hours at a hospice or other facility, I will not feel ready at all to offer my services as a death doula. For now, I am offering creativity for wellness workshops that occasionally dip into the topics of death and dying until I find the time for putting in a large number of volunteer hours to have hands on learning about death doula practice.