Lactation Consultant

How does one become an IBCLC?

There are basically 2 ways to be eligible to sit for the IBLCE exam. One is considered experiential and explained on the www.IBLCE.org website. To be eligible to sit for the IBLCE exam the student must meet one of the pathways with academic preparation, submit proof of 45 continuing education hours in lactation in past 3 years, meet the basic 6 course requirements, complete the application program and have appropriate hours of clinical experience.

Please refer to www.IBLCE.org for the official statement on the pathways to IBLCE certification.

The other way is to successfully complete the UC San Diego Lactation Consultant training program. The UC San Diego training program formally trains the participant in the skills necessary for the profession and meets the pathway requirements. All students in the UC San Diego program are eligible to sit for the IBLCE exam at the end of the program, regardless of their clinical or educational background. Please click here for an explanation of the clinical hours requirement for UCSD and hours calculation worksheet.

Description:

This university based program is a clinical training program for Lactation Consultants. Lactation Consultants work all realms of the lactation field. The LC will be able to educate consumers and professionals, triage breastfeeding problems, and work with the setting up and management of breastfeeding programs. The lactation consultant deals with all aspects of the lactation process and practice.

Lactation Consultants triage and manage breastfeeding cases, usually in hospitals, physician's offices, clinics, or private practice.

Although one does not need to be a nurse to train as a lactation consultant, nurses who work with mothers, babies, and families often extend their skills by becoming Lactation Consultants. Lactation Consultants may work with pregnant women and their family in community perinatal health programs such WIC.

Employment or job opportunities and pay scale:

Lactation Consultants typically interact with patients in a role similar to nurse practitioners, as advanced practice clinicians. They generally work independently to triage and manage a clinical lactation concern for mother, baby, and family unit. In most areas, they are paid an hourly rate that seems to parallel the RN salary range which is from $20-$45 per hour. Lactation consultants do not have to be RN's to function in their role, although some hospitals may have an additional requirement that the LC be an RN.

Lactation Consultants are frequently hired by WIC, the federally funded Women, Infant, and Children program. These lactation consultants are usually also dieticians, although that is not a requirement.

Lactation Consultants may be employed in hospitals and manage hospital breastfeeding centers and boutiques. In this roll they may facilitate other lactation consultants, breastfeeding support groups, triage phone calls and warm lines, and manage breastfeeding stores that rent breast pumps and sell breastfeeding clothing and products.

Some UCSD Extension Lactation Consultant graduates have chose to establish private practices. In this role they do lactation consultations with patients and their families either in a business setting or in the patient's home. The fees are set by the individual lactation consultant. The business may also include retail products, breast pump rentals, support groups and classes. As these are businesses, the lactation consultant would need to secure a business license and any appropriate additional paperwork or community requirements.

All graduating students who have sought employment as Lactation Consultants have secured employment. It is important for the perspective student to know that Lactation Consultants generally are employed part time although more fulltime positions are becoming available.

Certification:

UCSD supports the IBLCE as the credential and certification for practicing Lactation Consultants. The IBLCE exam is given the last Monday of July every year. The student must complete the requirements for the IBLCE as defined in their Web site at www.IBLCE.org.

Students may meet the certification exam requirements by any pathway. All UCSD students who successfully complete the training program and it's requirements are eligible to sit for the IBLCE exam.

Course requirements:

Click here for listing of textbooks.

Assignments include but may not be limited to:

• Internet resource assignment (monthly)
• Review of 2-3 study articles (monthly)
• Worksheets (monthly)
• 2 long term cases studies
• Periodic testing
• Lactnet journal (monthly)
• 2 La Leche League meetings
• 2 Breastfeeding Coalition meetings
• 1 Community Support Group
• Completion of BF Basis Course @ www.breastfeedingbasics.org
  
  • Sign in with your section number after you have registered at UCSD
• Clinical observation requirement.

Approximate time commitment:

• Clinical Requirements
  
  • 150 hours clinical for students who can meet the eligibility pathway as described on the attached hours calculation and clinical requirement form.
  • 300 hours for students do not meet the pathway criteria as described in the attached hours calculation and clinical requirement form.
• Didactic/Classroom: Approximately 112 hours.
• Additional homework: approximately 10-20 hours per month
• Clinical: Based on number of hours needed to meet the IBLCE requirement. Submit your calculation of hours calculation and clinical requirement form.

Additional paperwork for clinical placement

All students in lactation consultant program must complete the paperwork under clinical placement tab.