Lactation Educator-Counselor

Description:

This university based program trains participants to be Lactation Educator-Counselors. Lactation Educator-Counselors are typically entry level practitioners and deal primarily with the normal process of lactation.

Lactation Educator-Counselors teach breastfeeding classes, usually in hospitals and clinics. Lactation Educator-Counselors may work with pregnant women and their families in community perinatal health programs such WIC. They may be employed in a "Store" or "boutique" that rents or sells breastfeeding clothes and equipment.

Nurses who work with mothers, babies, and families often extend their skills by becoming Lactation Educator-Counselors.

What about certification?

Upon successful completion of the program the student is a "certificated" Lactation Educator-Counselor. UCSD does not "certify" lactation educator counselors. UCSD supports the IBLCE as the "certifying" body for lactation consultants. This course meets 40 CEU hours of the required 45 CEU hours required by IBLCE for application to the exam.

Employment or job opportunities and pay scale:

Lactation Educator-Counselors typically teach breastfeeding classes that can vary from 2-3 hours to 4 hours in length with additional payment for 30 to 60 minutes of preparation time. They are paid an hourly rate that ranges from $15-$35 per hour in the San Diego area.

Lactation Educator-Counselors are frequently hired by WIC, the federally funded Women, Infant, and Children program.

Lactation Educator-Counselors may be employed in hospitals and work in hospital breastfeeding centers and boutiques. In this role they may facilitate breastfeeding support groups, triage phone calls and warm lines, and manage breastfeeding stores that rent breast pumps and sell breastfeeding clothing and products. They sometimes are the triage agent for all patients who have delivered their babies within a facility.

All graduating students who have sought employment as Lactation Educator-Counselors have secured employment. It is important for the perspective student to know that Lactation Educator-Counselors generally teach or are employed part time.

Lactation Educator-Counselors can function as private practitioners and/or maintain a private practice that augments Doula work. Often times Lactation Educator-Counselors have a home based breast pump rental business. In this role the Lactation Educator-Counselor would set their own fees.

Course requirements:

Additional paperwork for clinical placement

Class attendance is mandatory.

Assignments include but may not be limited to:

• Breastfeeding Class Curriculum includes topical outline; minimum 12 lesson plans, and 2 content teaching outlines.
• Observation and report of community based breastfeeding class
• Internet resource assignment
• Review of 4 research studies
• Periodic testing
• Counseling problems
• Nutrition assignment
• Clinical observation outside of didactic class time. Arranged by UCSD and student.

Time requirements:

• Class didactic: 40 hours
• Clinical observation: 8 hours or 8 patients
• Additional homework: Estimated 10-40 hours

 View a sample of a Lactation Educator Assignment Overview.