How to Become a Certified Lactation Consultant
The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners, or IBLCE, oversees the licensing of lactation consultants around the world. These consultants help mothers with breastfeeding techniques and problems, educate families and the public on breastfeeding issues, and encourage a supportive, social environment for breastfeeding mothers Certified lactation consultants often come from the ranks of nurses, midwives and others who have experience in maternal care.
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Instructions
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Complete the required general education. You do not need a college degree to become a certified lactation consultant, but you must complete eight college-level courses before you can take your exam. These courses cover subjects such as biology, human physiology and nutrition. In addition to the college-level courses, you must complete six continuing education courses in subjects such as CPR, occupational safety and health-care professional ethics. Alternately, you can complete a full college-degree program in human lactation and breastfeeding. Completion of this program will cover all of the requirements you need to sit for your examination, allowing you to skip the steps of lactation-specific education and clinical practice.
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Complete at least 45 hours in lactation-specific education. These courses should be approved by the Approval and Accreditation Review Committee on Education in Human Lactation and Breastfeeding.
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Complete 1,000 hours of clinical practice working with breastfeeding mothers. You can complete these hours as a paid employee or volunteer in hospitals, clinics, birthing centers or public health departments.
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Complete your IBLCE exam. Once you have completed your general education, lactation-specific education and clinical practice requirements, you can apply through the IBLCE to sit for your licensing exam. This exam is given only once per year, on the final Monday of July. The tests are given at IBLCE test centers throughout the United States. You must enclose proof of your education and clinical experience with your exam application. As of 2010, the fee for writing the IBLCE exam is $490.
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