Lactation Support Providers Pathways

This page outlines different options and paths that exist to become a Lactation Support Provider. The information provided includes the different ways to qualify for credentialing exams and training opportunities tailored to community needs.

If you would like information about specific courses or training, you can explore the Lactation Support Providers Training Directory, which includes national organizations that offer lactation support courses and training, either online or in-person, nationwide.

Pathways to Qualify to Sit for the IBCLC Exam

Candidates must choose and complete one of the following pathways before applying for the IBCLC certification examination. Visit the IBCLC Commission for detailed information on the pathways below.

Pathway 1: Recognized Health Professionals and Recognized Breastfeeding Support Counselors

Pathway 1 IBCLC candidates must practice as a Recognized Health Professional or provide breastfeeding support through a Recognized Breastfeeding Support Counsellor Organization. In the case of applicants who provide breastfeeding support through a Recognized Breastfeeding Support Counselor Organization, they must have completed the 14 subjects set forth in the Health Sciences Education Guide.

Additionally, all Pathway 1 candidates must have the following:

Minimum of 95 hours of lactation specific education, including five hours 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.
Minimum of 1000 hours of lactation specific clinical practice in an appropriate supervised setting within the five years immediately prior to examination application.
Adherence to, with attestation, the Code of Professional Conduct for IBCLCs.

Read more about appropriate supervised settings for clinical practice and additional details related to IBLCE's Pathway 1 requirements.

Pathway 2: Accredited Lactation Academic Programs

Pathway 2 IBCLC applicants must complete a comprehensive academic program in human lactation and breastfeeding that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or another accrediting body with equivalent accreditation standards for lactation academic programs. The program must be accredited at the time of the candidate’s completion.

These comprehensive lactation academic programs are university or college-based, include both didactic and clinical components, and require health sciences education, whether as a prerequisite or as education which must be earned concurrently, prior to completion of the academic program.

All Pathway 2 applicants, via their lactation academic program, must have:

Minimum of 95 hours of lactation specific education, including five hours 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.
Minimum of 300 hours of directly supervised lactation specific clinical practice within the five years immediately prior to examination application.
- The IBCLC(s) providing the direct supervision must be currently certified IBCLCs in good standing.
Adherence to, with attestation, the Code of Professional Conduct for IBCLCs.

Read more about IBLCE's Pathway 2 requirements for the IBCLC exam.

Pathway 3: Mentorship with an IBCLC

Pathway 3 mentorship is a structured, defined relationship between an applicant and IBCLC(s) which must be preapproved. The mentorship must be developed according to the specifications found in the Pathway 3 Plan Guide, and the certification status of the IBCLCs serving as mentors must be verified prior to beginning the mentorship. All Pathway 3 Plans MUST be verified through an application process (which includes a fee) PRIOR to earning clinical hours for this Pathway.

In addition to the Health Sciences Education courses, Pathway 3 candidates must complete:

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.
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
- The IBCLC(s) who provide the direct supervision must be currently certified IBCLCs in good standing.
Adherence to, with attestation, the Code of Professional Conduct for IBCLCs.

Health science subjects: Earned by recognized health professionals or completion of 14 health science courses.
2. Human lactation and breastfeeding specific education: 95 hours within the 5 years prior to application plus 5 hours of communication specific education.
3. Mentorship with an IBCLC pre-verified by IBLCE (includes 500 clinical experience hours with breastfeeding families).

Read more about Pathway 3 requirements and access additional information related to the IBCLC exam on the IBCLC Commission webpage.

RECERTIFICATION

IBCLCs are to re-certify every 5 years. Recertifying by examination is no longer a requirement.

RECERTIFICATION BY EXAMINATION

Steps to Recertify by Examination:

1. Complete Basic Life Support education
2. Complete 250 hours of clinical practice
3. Apply for the IBCLC examination
4. Sit the IBCLC examination

RECERTIFICATION WITH CERPS & CE SELF-ASSESSMENT

Steps to Recertify by Continuing Education Recognition Points (CERPs) with Continuing Education Self-Assessment (CE Self-Assessment):

1. Take the CE Self-Assessment
2. Complete required CERPs
3. Complete Basic Life Support education
4. Complete 250 hours of clinical practice
5. Recertify by CERPs

Pathways to Qualify to Sit for the CLC Exam

There are three pathways to qualify to sit for the ALPP Certified Lactation Counselor Exam and one pathway to becoming an Advanced Lactation Consultant (ALC)/Advanced Nurse Lactation Consultant (ANLC).

Comprehensive Course Pathway

This course is designed for the person looking to take a single, comprehensive course that covers all skills and competencies necessary for breastfeeding counseling and human lactation. Individuals who complete this pathway must successfully complete a lactation course that is taught by one of our approved training partners. These courses must meet the following requirements:

• 95 hours of training based on the WHO/UNICEF (World Health Organization/United Nations Children's Fund) Breastfeeding Counseling Training Course that is worth a minimum of 3 college credits and
• Demonstrates the competencies and skills required to provide safe, evidence-based counseling for those pregnant, lactating, and breastfeeding, within the context of the course.

The Aggregate Pathway

You may take the ALPP Lactation Counselor Certification Exam if you provide documentation of the following:

1. Proof of completion of a minimum of 95 hours of education within the past year that related directly to the WHO/UNICEF (World Health Organization/United Nations Children's Fund) Breastfeeding Counseling Training Couse; may be collected from different courses (must submit the completed Academic Content Checklist).
2. Proof of mastery of the skills and competencies necessary for breastfeeding counseling through directly supervised lactation care (submit the completed Counseling Skills Attestation).

The Alternate Pathway

Be a graduate of a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) approved, post-secondary, lactation consultant program.

For more information on pathways to qualify to sit for the CLC exam, visit the ALPP website.

RECERTIFICATION

In recognition of the fact that scientific and social knowledge about breastfeeding and human lactation is constantly evolving, certificants are required to obtain a minimum of 18 hours of continuing education in the area of breastfeeding and human lactation every three years.

• Approved continuing education offerings are ones that focus on evidence-based breastfeeding research, updated management training, advocacy, practice, counseling, promotion, protection, and/or support.
• "Breastfeeding", "lactation", or "human milk" must appear in the title of the offering, or a specific talk within a larger offering.
• All offerings bearing IBLCE "L" or "E" category CERPs count towards the 18-hour requirement (however IBLCE category "R" CERPs may not be used for this purpose.

Pathway to Becoming an Advanced Lactation Consultant (ALC)/Advanced Nurse Lactation Consultant (ANLC)

CLCs or IBCLCs can earn advanced certification in lactation management by completing 95 hours of advanced level education. The Advanced Lactation Consultant possesses the insight, knowledge, and skills essential to the development and implementation of management strategies for complex problems related to breastfeeding and human lactation. ALC candidates undergo rigorous competency verification before they are able to sit for the Advanced certification examination with ALPP. The Advanced Nurse Lactation Consultant possesses the same skills, but also holds a current RN license in the United States. ALCs/ANLCs provide lactation care, assessment and support to those mothers and babies with advanced issues; the small percentage of cases that are truly complex and challenging. These certifications seek to promote, protect and support breastfeeding for individuals and society at large.

Registration for the prerequisite course(s) and Advanced examination are submitted directly on Healthy Children Project’s Center for Breastfeeding website.

Pathway to Become a HealthConnect One Breastfeeding
Peer Supporter

HealthConnect One is the national leader in advancing respectful, community-based, peer-to-peer support for pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and early parenting.

HealthConnect One trains Breastfeeding Peer Counselors embedded in clinics, health centers, community organizations and national agencies, leading to rapid and dramatic increases in breastfeeding rates. Since 1986. HealthConnect One has trained thousands of parents, community health workers, and direct service providers.

• Building relationships is the core of our model: Whether we are training five people in Chicago or 20 people in Albuquerque, our staff nurtures each individual to be their best.
• Our trainings are highly interactive: Rather than simply delivering facts and information, we encourage participants to share their own experiences with the group, providing space for discovery, growth, and understanding. We bring participants in touch with their own strengths, their own skills, and a sense of personal and collective power.
• Our training team represents a wide range of cultural backgrounds and expertise: Drawing on years of combined experience designing, tailoring, and delivering training for both local and national agencies.

A Breastfeeding Peer Counselor is someone who has a successful breastfeeding experience and is interested in supporting others in their community to nurse their babies. They offer culturally appropriate support and information, identify breastfeeding challenges, and provide strategies to help achieve breastfeeding goals. Learn more from a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor in this YouTube video featuring Rocio Martinez, the 2015 winner of the Durbin CHW of the Year Award!

If you are interested in a peer counselor training for your agency, please contact [email protected] or call (312) 243-4772. Visit the HC One website here for more information.

Pathway to Becoming a WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor

Peer counselors are tasked with providing new WIC mothers and parents education and emotional support at all points along their breastfeeding journey. What sets peer counselors apart from other lactation and healthcare professionals is that peer counselors understand the difficulties that WIC participants face. Peer counselors provide realistic and practical guidance as a result of shared personal backgrounds and experience, and they are familiar with the resources available to WIC participants. This includes questions that a new breastfeeding mother or parent may ask.

Minimum Qualifications for Becoming a Peer Counselor:
• Previous breastfeeding experience
• Enthusiasm for breastfeeding
• From the WIC target population and/or a previous/current WIC participant
• Availability to WIC clients outside clinic hours and outside the WIC clinic environment

Preferred Qualifications for Becoming a Peer Counselor:
• High school diploma or GED
• Car and valid driver's license
• Ability to speak more than one language

Apply to become a Peer Counselor: Call or visit your nearest WIC clinic to see if they have a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program. You can find your nearest WIC clinic by visiting the Sign Up WIC website and entering your zip code. WIC agencies often post openings for Breastfeeding Peer Counselors on online job boards and/or the website for the local WIC agency.

Mention or inclusion of an organization, training course, or pathway included in this directory or the training directory does not imply endorsement or support by the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee. If you are a member of a national organization and would like to submit information about training opportunities for consideration of inclusion on this page, please contact [email protected].

Lactation Support Provider Pathways Information