Lactation Education and Pathways

This pathway is for individuals that are already recognized healthcare providers or who provide breastfeeding support through a recognized breastfeeding support organization.

Requirements:

  • Be a recognized healthcare provider OR complete all 14 prerequisite courses
  • Minimum of 95 hours of lactation specific education, including five hours focused on communication skills, within the five years immediately prior to examination application.
  • Minimum of 1000 hours of lactation specific clinical practice in an appropriate supervised setting within the five years immediately prior to examination application.

This pathway is for individuals with any background who enroll in a comprehensive academic program in human lactation and breastfeeding. 

Requirements:

  • Be a recognized healthcare provider OR complete all 14 prerequisite courses
  • Via the comprehensive academic program: 
    • Minimum of 95 hours of lactation specific education, including five hours focused on communication skills, within the five years immediately prior to examination application.
    • Minimum of 300 hours of directly supervised lactation specific clinical practice within the five years immediately prior to examination application.

This pathway is for individuals with any background who wish to obtain their clinical hours through mentorship with an IBCLC.

 

Requirements:

  • Be a recognized healthcare provider OR complete all 14 prerequisite courses
  • Minimum of 95 hours of lactation specific education, including five hours of education focused on communication skills, within the five years immediately prior to examination application.
  • Minimum of 500 hours of directly supervised lactation specific clinical practice as described in the Pathway 3 Plan Guide and obtained within the five years immediately prior to examination

 

How to Choose Your Pathway: 

  • If you’re an RN who has worked in Mother-Baby for a few years helping moms and babies breastfeed and would like to become a lactation consultant…..Choose Pathway 1
  • If you’re a La Leche League Leader who would like to move from a volunteer mother-to-mother breastfeeding support counselor to a certified lactation consultant…..Choose Pathway 1
  • If your’re a teacher but loved your experience breastfeeding your own babies and are ready for a career change and the lactation consultant you used for your babies mentors students…..Choose Pathway 3
  • If you’re a mom who has decided that you want to pursue a career in lactation, but you don’t have years to complete your hours…..Choose Pathway 2

95 Hours of Lactation Education

For Pathways 1 and 3, you can take the 95 hours as one course, or can take several courses that add up to 95 hours or more. Here are some options: 

 

For Pathway 2, the 95 hours is built into your comprehensive lactation program. Here are some Pathway 2 programs: 

  • Minimum of 95 hours of lactation specific education, including five hours of education focused on communication skills, within the five years immediately prior to examination application.
  • Preferably the five hours of education focused on communication skills will be directly related to lactation and breastfeeding care, but this is not a requirement.
  • The IBCLC Commission does not offer, approve, or accredit lactation education designed to prepare candidates for the certification examination. Nor does the IBCLC Commission recommend or endorse any particular programme or course in lactation education.