The answer to this is not as simple as we would hope!
In this podcast Nancy and Barbara answer some of the most common questions people ask about how to become an IBCLC.
Below is a description of the process. You can also join us for our monthly “How to become an IBCLC” Zoom meeting on Monday, August 25 at 7 PM ET. Email [email protected] to join!
The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) defines the standards for IBCLC certification. These standards include:
Let’s look at each of these areas.
Prerequisite education in the health sciences
The IBLCE Board of Directors has specified 14 subjects in which all candidates for the IBCLC certification exam must complete courses of study.
At least one course in eight (8) higher education subjects is required. Higher education is defined as education acquired after completion of compulsory education. It is typically provided at academies, universities, colleges, vocational schools, institutes of technology, trade schools and career colleges that award academic degrees or professional credentials.
Important note: Human Biology can fulfill Biology, Human Anatomy, and Human Physiology!!!
Courses in the additional 6 topics are most typically available as non-credit, continuing education courses of varying length. IBLCE does not specify a certain number of instructional hours for these topics; therefore, courses of varying amounts of instructional time are acceptable.
When applying for the IBLCE exam, individuals educated in the following health professions will be asked to identify their profession and submit a copy of their license, registration, diploma or transcript. Here is a list from the site. https://ibclc-commission.org/ibclc-information/recognised-health-professions-list/
Individuals who are not educated in one of the above health professions will need to provide transcripts and certificates of completion for the General Education courses. For more information about the General Education requirements, please consult https://ibclc-commission.org/step-1-prepare-for-ibclc-certification/health-sciences-education-2/
Clinical experience in providing care to breastfeeding families-Deciding on which PATHWAY
The 3 exam eligibility pathways are open to individuals from a variety of backgrounds. Each person must decide which pathway will work best for them. For more info, go here: https://ibclc-commission.org/step-1-prepare-for-ibclc-certification/lactation-specific-clinical-experience/
Pathway 1 involves using appropriately supervised clinical experience obtained through paid employment or volunteer service as a health professional or mother support counselor. The kind of supervision that is considered appropriate depends upon the candidate’s professional background and scope of practice.
Under Pathway 2 and Pathway 3, the candidate completes clinical practice in lactation care under the direct supervision of experienced IBCLCs. Individuals with no paid or volunteer experience in providing care to breastfeeding families or those who desire a more structured way of learning lactation care clinical skills may choose to follow one of these pathways.
Many candidates use clinical practice they have obtained through paid employment or volunteer service to qualify for the IBCLC certification exam. If you fall into one of the following categories, Pathway 1 is a reasonable choice to make.
Pathway 1 candidates must complete the following minimum requirements.
General Education in the Health Sciences
14 subjects
Education in Human Lactation and Breastfeeding
95 hours
Clinical Practice Experience in Lactation and Breastfeeding Care
1000 hours
The General Education requirements must be completed prior to applying for the IBCLC certification exam. You must evaluate the higher education that you have already completed and determine whether or not additional coursework is needed.
Education in human lactation and breastfeeding is available through various education providers. The required minimum of 90 hours in lactation education must be completed within the 5 years immediately prior to applying for the IBCLC certification examination.
Pathway 1 candidates must complete at least 1000 hours of clinical practice experience in lactation care that were accrued in the 5 years immediately prior to applying for the IBCLC certification exam.
Individuals from two types of backgrounds are eligible under Pathway 1.
Health Professionals: Nurses, midwives, physicians and dieticians working in maternal-child care are the health professionals who most often seek IBCLC certification through Pathway 1.
Mother Support Counselors: Accredited mother-to-mother breastfeeding support counselors and breastfeeding peer counselors are among the mother support counselors who may use their experience to qualify through Pathway 1.
For assistance in determining if you have sufficient clinical practice hours in lactation care to qualify through Pathway 1, use the Lactation Specific Clinical Practice Calculator found on this page.
Within the 5 years immediately prior to applying for the IBCLC certification examination, individuals seeking qualification through Pathway 2 must graduate from an academic program in human lactation and breastfeeding that meets all of the following requirements established by IBLCE.
Currently, there are 4 academic programs worldwide that meet the above requirements. Each academic program has unique admission and graduation requirements; no two programs are exactly alike. You may contact the academic institutions for more information about their requirements. This list is provided for the convenience of visitors to the IBLCE website. IBLCE does not recommend or endorse these academic programs.
Individuals seeking qualification through Pathway 3 must have an approved Pathway 3 Plan on file with IBLCE. This mentorship plan must be developed according to the specifications found in https://ibclc-commission.org/ibclc-information/pathway-3-plan-guide/ and must be approved by IBLCE prior to beginning the mentorship.
The following table describes the minimum requirements for a Pathway 3 mentorship.
Approved Pathway 3 Plan
On file with IBLCE
General Education in the Health Sciences
14 subjects
Education in Human Lactation and Breastfeeding
90 hours
Clinical Practice Experience in Lactation and Breastfeeding Care
500 directly supervised hours
Pathway 3 was designed for individuals who have little or no opportunity to obtain clinical experience in lactation care through their paid or volunteer employment and/or those who do not have access to an academic program in human lactation and breastfeeding. The first step toward qualification for the IBCLC certification examination through Pathway 3 is to develop and submit a mentorship plan to IBLCE. Details about Pathway 3 Plan development can be found in https://ibclc-commission.org/ibclc-information/pathway-3-plan-guide/
The General Education requirements must be completed prior to applying for the IBCLC certification exam. Pathway 3 candidates must evaluate the higher education that they have already completed and determine whether or not additional coursework is need.
Education in human lactation and breastfeeding is available through a number of education providers. The required minimum of 90 hours in lactation education must be completed within the 5 years immediately prior to applying for the IBCLC certification examination.
Pathway 3 requires a minimum of 500 hours of clinical experience in lactation care that were directly supervised by experienced IBCLCs and accrued within the 5 years immediately prior to applying for the IBCLC certification examination.
If you are considering Pathway 3, you must locate and contract with one or more IBCLCs who have recertified at least once. These IBCLCs will serve as your mentors and will provide the direct supervision of your clinical practice in lactation care.
All candidates for the IBCLC certification examination must complete at least 95 hours of education in human lactation and breastfeeding. The required lactation education must be completed within the 5 years immediately prior to applying for the IBCLC certification examination.
Lactation education may be completed in a variety of ways, including in-person presentations, online education, distance learning and independent study modules.
Our sister site, LactaLearning, offers this educational opportunity!
4. Sign a pledge that you will adhere to the professional code of conduct
5. Passing a professionally developed certification examination
You must have your application and materials submitted to IBLCE by these dates. These dates change and the earlier you apply for the exam, the cheaper it is. The exam roughly costs $660.00 as of 2024 depending on how early you turn in your materials.
The skills in the https://ibclc-commission.org/2018/12/17/revisions-to-ibclc-scope-of-practice-and-clinical-competencies/sections are discussed and are representative of the ways in which IBCLCs apply this knowledge to clinical situations.
IBLCE Detailed Content Outline
All exam questions have both Discipline and Chronological parameters. This Detailed Content Outline gives you exactly the breadth of information you need to know for the exam.
The post All Things Breastfeeding Episode 94: How to Become an IBCLC – Common Questions appeared first on The Breastfeeding Center of Ann Arbor.
