Becoming a Lactation Consultant?
An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) is a specialist in the field of lactation. The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) is the ONLY certifying body which is able to award this credential. Please visit their website to learn more about the prerequisites to sit the Board Exam.
To qualify as a Lactation Consultant you will be required to achieve a passing grade on the IBLCE examination. Prior to sitting the IBLCE examination you must:
- have extensive practical experience in assisting mothers and babies with breastfeeding. Lactation-specific clinical practice hours required (breastfeeding counselling): 1000 hours
- complete a comprehensive, evidence-based course of study on breastfeeding and lactation. The minimum lactation-specific education required of ALL candidates is 90 hours. The BreastEd program meets this criteria.
- If you are not a registered/licensed health professional you will also have to complete
- 8 subjects each of one-semester length at tertiary or higher education standard. These subjects are: human anatomy; human physiology; biology; infant and child growth and development; nutrition; sociology; introduction to research; and psychology.
- And you will need to complete courses in basic life support; medical terminology; medical documentation; universal safety precautions and infection control; occupational safety; and ethics.
Health e-Learning has online programs in medical terminology and professional ethics that will meet the requirement for those subjects.
Both your clinical experience gained and your lactation-specific educational preparation must be acquired within the 5 years prior to sitting the IBLCE examination.
Educational Preparation
You will be able to obtain all of the lactation-specific education you require for the Board exam online with Health e-Learning. (Exception: students qualifying under Pathway 2.)
The minimum lactation-specific educational preparation accepted is 90 hours, however IBLCE strongly recommend that students complete a comprehensive, evidence-based AARC-approved program of 120+ hours duration. It is unlikely that you will be able to acquire the depth and breadth of knowledge examined by IBLCE and required as a professional in the field from courses of study less than this.
Health e-Learning's BreastEd Series is a comprehensive, evidence-based program covering all the lactation topics examined by IBLCE. The BreastEd Program has received AARC-approval, indicating it provides quality preparation for IBLCE certification as determined by a task force set up by IBLCE and ILCA (International Lactation Consultant Association). For more information about the BreastEd Series click here.
IBLCE Examination
When you have gained the experience and completed your course of study you may apply to IBLCE to sit the Exam. The IBLCE Exam is offered once a year, usually on the last Monday of July. The Exam is sat around the World at many, many exam sites on this day. If you contact your regional office of IBLCE they will tell you the closing date for exam applications and where your nearest exam site will be.
Before deciding if this is the career path you would like to take, please read this IBLCE article which explains what an IBCLC is and does. I'd also encourage you to read the sections linked from that page to the Code of Ethics and Scope of Practice for IBCLCs.
If this is for you, then I welcome you to a wonderful and rewarding career.
Frequently asked questions:
I'm a doctor. Should I just do ES03 Breastfeeding Essentials for Doctors?
This course has been developed for doctors who don't wish to specialize in breastfeeding, but do see mothers and babies as a part of their practice. It is a short course (4 - 6 hours) with just 'foundation' knowledge in it which is not sufficient to meet the needs of a doctor who also wishes to become an IBCLC. You must complete a minimum of 90 hours of lactation-specific education.
I've been a midwife/obstetric nurse/community nurse for many years. Will ES01 Breastfeeding Essentials be sufficient to prepare me for the IBLCE Exam?
No. This course has been developed for nurses, midwives and other health professionals who don't wish to specialize in breastfeeding, but do work with breastfeeding mothers and babies. It is a short course (20 hours) with just 'foundation' knowledge in it which is not sufficient to meet the needs of an IBCLC. You must complete a minimum of 90 hours of lactation-specific education.
I only HAVE to get 90 hours of education to sit the IBLCE Exam. Which of your courses can I do to meet the minimum requirement?
We don't offer a course for IBCLC preparation that is only 90 hours. Our faculty felt that we'd rather put our efforts into a program that will give you the confidence to take and pass the IBLCE Exam and to work competently as an IBCLC afterwards. The BreastEd Series (120 hours) is the program we offer to prepare future IBCLCs.
I'm just beginning to work in the field and I won't be taking the IBLCE Exam for at least 3 - 5 years. Should I do the BreastEd Series now?
You could. But you'd get more benefit from doing ES01 Breastfeeding Essentials now. The information and skills covered in this course is sufficient to get you started in your quest for knowledge while you are being supervised; then, within two or three years of sitting the IBLCE Exam, enroll into the BreastEd Series. That way you'll be more experienced and be able to apply the advanced knowledge better, and you'll have the latest information not long before you take the IBLCE Exam.
Can Health e-Learning help me to get clinical experience?
No, sorry - other than to refer you to the ILCA website (look under Education/Student Resources).
Can I get my General Education courses with Health e-Learning?
All licensed, registered or recognized health professionals are deemed by IBLCE to have met this criteria. For those who are not health professionals the eight Group 1 subjects must be obtained from an accredited college or university and each be of one academic term in length. Health e-Learning does NOT provide these subjects.
Of the six additional subjects required Medical Terminology and Professional Ethics can be obtained from Health e-Learning.
OK I've definitely decided I want to become a Lactation Consultant. I'm going to enroll into the BreastEd Series. Are there any other courses that you recommend?
Congratulations on your decision. Yes, ET01 Ethics for Lactation Consultants will be beneficial, and the annual GOLD Conference will be invaluable. Then, in the February of the year you are taking the Exam, enroll into Lactation Exam Practice. You'll be very well prepared and confident.
