Welcome to Lactation Education Resources blog on how to become a Lactation Consultant. Many people are confused, hopefully this blog will answer some questions.
There are three major components to becoming a Lactation Consultant: Basic education, lactation management education and clinical experience. The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners sets the eligibility for the certification exam. (www.iblce.org)
1. Eight basic education courses are recommended (Must be taken at a college or university)
- Biology
- Human anatomy
- Human physiology
- Sociology or cultural sensitivity or cultural anthropology
- Nutrition
- Psychology or counseling/communication skills
- Infant and child growth and development
- Introduction to research
These continuing education courses are required as well as:
- Basic life support (e.g. CPR)
- Medical documentation
- Medical terminology
- Occupational safety, including security, for health professionals
- Professional ethics for health professionals (e.g. Code of Ethics)
- Universal safety precautions and infection control
2. Comprehensive Lactation Management Education.
A comprehensive lactation course of at least 90 hours is required.
3. Clinical experience
For people who have the opportunity to work with mothers and breastfeeding infants in their paid employment, they can count their work hours for the portion of time that is actually counseling, teaching and assisting with breastfeeding. Others can obtain this experience through volunteer activities, being La Leche League Leader, peer counselor or other related position.
For people who have no previous clinical experience or the opportunity through paid work, you may take a Supervised Clinical Internship. Please go to http://americas.iblce.org/how-to-qualify, scroll to the bottom of the page and look for information on Pathway 3 and the link for the Pathway 3 Plan Approval Guide.
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Great read, I would say.. You’ve probably wrote the best on this subject very well.
Hi. I am a BF Peer Counselor, have close to 875 hours, and have all the educational requirements. I will be attending the clinical lactation course in June…so hopefully will have the required 1000 hours. My question is when/where can I take the IBCLC exam?
sincerely,
Yvette Eipper
Hi Yvonne,
Don’t confused didactic training with clinical experience. “Courses” do not count for clinical experience. That needs to be one-on-one hands-on work with breastfeeding mothers and babies or teaching breastfeeding class.
Go to the IBLCE.org website to get information on sitting for the exam in July. The first deadline is Feb 28 and the final deadline is April 30.