Should i become a lactation consultant

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We are here to support you from the initial stages of gathering information all the way to passing the exam and beyond. Your Success is our Goal! World Breastfeeding Week August , Becoming a Lactation Consultant Failed the Exam? Get Help! Money Saving Packages.

Failed the Exam? What are the Requirements to Sit for the Exam? Basically, you will need the following: Health Sciences Education Lactation-specific Education Lactation-specific Clinical Experience How you get these things and the number of required hours of clinical experience vary depending on the Pathway you choose.

Get Your Clinical Hours The number of clinical hours you need and how you get them will be determined by your Pathway. Prepare for the Exam Once you've fulfilled all your requirements and submitted your application, now it is time to prepare to take that exam.

Pathway 1. Pathway 2. Every lactation consultant program has distinct requirements for admission. Here is a list of the typical tasks and documentation required of applicants:. Accreditation can be programmatic, regional, or national and recognized accrediting agencies are approved by the U.

Department of Education. However, it does not accredit lactation education programs. The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs CAAHEP is the leading programmatic accrediting agency that approves more than 2, entry-level education programs, including lactation consultant programs, in the health science professions. Overall, aspiring lactation consultants are encouraged to ensure that their educational institution of choice has been accredited by a CHEA-recognized body.

Henry Ford College. The Henry Ford College in Dearborn, Michigan offers a credit certificate of achievement for aspiring lactation consultants. Designed for students who are not registered nurses, this program prepares students with coursework and practical experience to prepare them to take the IBLCE certification exam and become board-certified lactation consultants. Incoming students are strongly recommended to complete three level courses in medical terminology and biology prior to beginning the program.

Courses are offered in a specific sequence over three semesters and include nutrition, basic lactation concepts, applied principles of breastfeeding, sociology, and an advanced practicum course. Academic advisors and faculty counselors are available to help students plan their course schedules. Drexel University. Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania offers an credit undergraduate certificate for students to become human lactation consultants. The program is available to currently matriculated, undergraduate and graduate students at Drexel University.

Students who are not yet enrolled may apply for part-time undergraduate admission. The human lactation consultant program begins in a cohort once a year. Requirements set forth by IBLCE require that students earn at least one academic credit and a passing grade at an accredited school in five of the following eight disciplines: biology, human anatomy, human physiology, infant growth and development, introduction to clinical research, nutrition, psychology or communication, and sociology or cultural anthropology.

Students must complete all prerequisite courses prior to beginning supervised practicum coursework. Some courses are offered in a hybrid format allowing students to take classes on- and off-campus. The programs offer comprehensive training to two types of students: current health professionals and students who want to improve their lactation skills. The program curriculum follows the three pathways set forth for certification by the IBLCE, and students must select their preferred pathway prior to taking courses in lactation education.

Coursework includes biology, human anatomy and physiology, nutrition, and lactation practicum classes. Students can choose to complete courses on a full- or part-time schedule, and classes begin every eight weeks.

Students with existing credit-hours may transfer up to 80 credits. The time needed to become a lactation consultant is anywhere from one to five years. All three International Board Certified Lactation Consultant IBCLC pathways require applicants to take a minimum of 90 hours of lactation-specific courses within the five years immediately prior to applying to take the exam.

The number of supervised clinical hours ranges from to 1, hours, depending on the educational and professional qualifications of an applicant. In such situations, a lactation consultant is the best person to call.

Breastfeeding is a lifetime blessing that continues to be offered to mothers and babies in the form of well-being. Both reap several health benefits from breastfeeding, according to the Centers for Disease Control CDC , including a greatly decreased risk of breast and ovarian cancer for mothers and a reduction in ear, respiratory and gastrointestinal infections for children.

Public health support for breastfeeding has been galvanized in recent years. The CDC registered an 11 percent rise in the number of mothers who choose to breastfeed their babies between and and an increase of 26 percent in maternity care practices that promote breastfeeding in hospitals CDC Although these are promising figures, larger numbers indicate that nursing mothers need more support; 60 percent of mothers quit breastfeeding earlier than expected, citing lack of education in hospitals and prohibitive workplace policies CDC In order to address this need, lactation consultants seek to empower nursing mothers through educational support and play a much-needed role in making the benefits of breastfeeding more available.

Lactation Consultants may work in a variety of environments, including a hospital, private practice or clinic, public health services, or a G. Many new mothers have breastfeeding issues, such as discomfort, latching problems, or low milk production. In such cases, a lactation consultant may be consulted to provide information and training on baby positioning for breastfeeding, breast pumping, healthy storage of expressed milk, and increased milk production.

Nurses with a highly specialized function are lactation consultants. They work with new mothers to ensure that they are able to breastfeed their newborn babies. They also provide information on the benefits of breastfeeding and can run breastfeeding classes as well. These experts are careful, successful communicators, and passionate about supporting children and their mothers. Most of them have breastfed themselves, although this is not a prerequisite for a job.

These experts also talk to the public and therefore become supporters of breastfeeding. Lactation experts teach nursing skills for mothers and children to tackle breastfeeding difficulties.

The expertise of the consultant is focused on scientific information and experience of breastfeeding. They provide a range of services to encourage mothers to nurse their children, including:. Membership is available to all those who endorse and encourage breastfeeding. You will see a lactation counselor in different places.

You may take a prenatal breastfeeding class with a lactation consultant when you are pregnant. A lactation consultant could see you in the hospital after your baby is born. Or, you could be seen privately in your home. In order to be eligible for the IBLCE certification test, prospective IBLCs must meet the requirements of health science education, lactation education, and lactation clinical experience.

IBCLCs need to complete courses in 14 subjects, including eight health sciences college courses on topics such as genetics, human anatomy, human physiology, infant and child growth and development, diet, research, sociology, and psychology. They are also expected to complete CPR classes, medical documentation, medical terminology, occupational safety, professional ethics, and safety precautions for infectious diseases.

Current health care professionals, such as physicians, nurses, midwives, and medical assistants , can be excluded from these criteria.

Lactation consultants must also undergo 90 hours of lactation-specific preparation. The IBLCE does not accredit any lactation education services but suggests that a course be selected that covers all the topics that appear in the certification test. Medical training is the third criterion for eligibility for the test. Those who have 1, hours of experience working with breastfeeding mothers in the five years prior to taking the exam do not have to complete any additional hours.

Prospective IBCLCs who do not fulfill these criteria must complete supervised hours of clinical practice with breastfeeding mothers. There are many approaches to being a lactation consultant.

Although there are currently no state-level licensing standards for professions, there are approved training programs and board certification tests to be carried out in order to demonstrate professional credentials. Lactation consultants with higher education and qualifications may expect to have a wider choice of career opportunities and higher salaries. This means that the duties of the job can differ depending on the environment.

To become a licensed lactation consultant, you must comply with the IBLCE International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners requirements for health science education, lactation-specific education, and lactation-specific clinical experience and adhere to their professional code of conduct.

Once you have reached these requirements, you are qualified for a certification test. The IBCLC certification is valid for five years, and you can be re-certified after completing your continuing education. IBCLCs are also expected to retake the certification exam every ten years.