Lactation Consultant Pathway 2

Pathway 2: Academic Program

You must graduate from an accredited academic program in human lactation and breastfeeding that is at least one year in length and that includes clinical practice assignments above and beyond the required clinical practice experience to qualify via this pathway. IBLCE is still developing ways to approve these programs. Birthingway is developing a two-year Associates Degree Program that will meet IBLCE’s accreditation requirements.

Who would benefit? Any student who is not already a health professional or peer counselor and who is interested in having a complete academic program as well as support in accessing clinical hours. Students will be required to apply to enter this program and will utilize Birthingway’s Breastfeeding Center for some portion of their clinical hours.

Required Minimum Lactation Specific Clinical Hours
300 hours directly supervised by one or more currently certified IBCLCs. This requirement must be completed prior to graduation, and exam application must be submitted within 5 years of completion. Students will participate in consultations and support through the Birthingway Breastfeeding Center, in addition to possibly working with IBCLCs in other settings.

Education in Human Lactation and Breastfeeding
90 hours based on the IBLCE Exam Blueprint and included in the academic program. Primary faculty must be recertified IBCLCs. Birthingway will offer a sequence of one semester-credit Breastfeeding courses, and including 15 contact hours, for a total of 90 contact hours with 180 additional hours of homework.

Health Disciplines Education
Requires a minimum of one course that is at least one semester in length in each of the six health disciplines subjects.

This requirement may be completed prior to or during the program. Required Post-secondary (college or university) education in each of the following subjects:

In addition, students taking Birthingway’s Associates Degree Program would have a number of additional requirements, including Genetics, Understanding Statistics, Botanicals, and Clinical Credits among other courses.