Lactation Consultant Pathway 1
Pathway 1: Providers of Lactation Care
You must have previous experience as a health care professional working in maternal-child health or as a breastfeeding support counselor as defined by IBLCE to qualify via this pathway.
Who would benefit? Licensed health care providers, including midwives, and peer counselors such as LLLI Leaders would probably be the primary beneficiaries of this pathway. Students in the Birthingway midwifery program would take Breastfeeding I, II and III and document their hours providing lactation counseling. People who are already LLLI leaders or Nursing Mother’s Council Peer Counselors could also utilize our coursework for this pathway. Students who use Birthingway’s Breastfeeding Center for their clinical hours could also qualify for this pathway.
Required Minimum Lactation Specific Clinical Hours
1000 hours, obtained through paid or volunteer employment within a supervised setting and accumulated within the 5 years immediately prior to exam application - self reported.
Students choosing this pathway could accumulate hours while practicing midwifery or as peer counselors. Students could also register for the Birthingway LC Practicum and we would help facilitate accumulation of hours via the Breastfeeding Center.
Education in Human Lactation and Breastfeeding
45 hours minimum required; 80-150 hours recommended, based on the IBLCE Exam Blueprint and completed within the 5 years immediately prior to exam application.
Birthingway’s AARC approved Lactation Consultant Course (Breastfeeding I, II, and III sequence) meets the 45 hour requirement. We will also be offering Breastfeeding IV, V, and VI in the 2010-2011 academic year, which will provide additional hours if the student chooses to take them.
Breastfeeding Course Work
Breastfeeding I (BF241) 1 credit hour. Covers prenatal education and the normal course of breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding II (BF243) 1 credit hour. Prerequisite: Breastfeeding I. Covers breastfeeding problems and special situations.
Breastfeeding III (BF243) 1 credit hour. Prerequisite: Breastfeeding I and II. Cast studies and hands-on skills deepen students’ knowledge of breastfeeding counseling. Continuation of lactation support skills designed to move students toward the IBCLC exam.
Health Disciplines EducationRecommended post-secondary (college or university) education in each of the following subjects:
We offer courses in each of these disciplines; they do not have to be lactation specific.
| Health Discipline | Birthingway Course |
| Human A & P | A & P (AP101) |
| Sociology |
Intl. Midwifery or new course |
| Nutrition |
Nutrition (NU241) |
| Psychology |
Communication sequence |
| Infant & Child Dev. | Infancy (INF241) |
| Medical Terminology |
Medical Terminology (MT241) |
Download the application form here. (82 KB PDF)
| Lactation Programs Tuition | |
| Registration Fee (non-refundable) | $50 per term |
| Tuition – Academic Credit |
$490 per semester credit hour |
| 3 Semester Credits for AARC approved course | |
| Course pack Fees | (vary by course) |
| Lab Fees | (vary by course) |
| Books | (vary by course) |
| Practicum Application Fee (non-refundable) | $50 |
| Practicum Fee for students doing 45 hour ed. Program | $300 |
| Paid to register for each 10 week session working at the Birthingway Free Breastfeeding Center |