Becoming an International Board
​Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)

Interested in working towards earning the IBCLC credentials? I receive many emails from people who are interested in the work that I do, who are needing a little guidance from someone who's "been there, done that." I have compiled a bit of information that may help you get started. I'm also happy to set up a time to talk with you about my work in the field of lactation, private practice work, websites and marketing, the realities of this work, etc. Please note that this consult is not to discuss clinical cases/situations.

30 minute virtual consult for IBCLCs/those in training | $50
60 minute virtual consult for IBCLCs/those in training | $85

Check out the information below, then contact me directly to schedule a time to meet. I'm looking forward to talking with you!

Schedule Now!

International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE)
Click on the IBCLC Certification tab on the IBLCE website. There you can read about the steps required to earn the certification. As an LPN, I was able to complete the requirements via Pathway 1. IBLCE offers two other Pathways as well. 

Kansas City Lactation Consultants Association
For those in the KC metro area: this is the local chapter of USLCA. Attending meetings will provide networking opportunities and education in the field of lactation. You do not need to be an IBCLC to become a member of this local group, although some member benefits are reserved only for IBCLCs. If you aren't in the KC area, connect with your local association.

International Lactation Consultants Association (ILCA)
A professional association for IBCLCs and HCPs who care for breastfeeding families. You do not need to be an IBCLC to become a member. 
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United States Lactation Consultants Association (USLCA)
A professional association for IBCLCs and HCPs who care for breastfeeding families. You do not need to be an IBCLC to become a member. ​

Helpful links
How to Become an IBCLC  by Annie Frisbie, IBCLC
Where to Start by Lactation Education Resources

FB Groups
Student Lactation Consultants
Galactablog
Want to be an IBCLC? *
Lactworld (previously Lactnet) *

*Fair warning: in my experiences, these groups can become pretty brutal with their comments. They will also chastise you if you don't use specific language as you are posting or responding. It can become pretty ridiculous at times. Enter at your own risk. 

95+Lactation Education Courses
There are many options out there for your lactation ed requirements. When I was looking, it was very overwhelming. I'll list two that I had positive experiences with below. While you could likely piece together a variety of classes together, I recommend that you take a comprehensive course to help ensure you have knowledge in all of the areas covered on the IBLCE  board exam. 

Health e-Learning offers 120 hours in their BreastEd program. While only 95 hours are required, I personally took all 120 hours to help ensure that I had a well rounded knowledge base. I appreciated that HEL is not based in the US. This is very helpful, as the exam is a global exam, so a global perspective (vs US-centric) is very important. 

GOLD Lactation Academy offers a 95+ hour course. While I did not take this course, I participate in the GOLD lactation conference and Tongue Tie Symposiums, as well as other educational offerings, each year. I greatly enjoy their learning opportunities, so I'm sure their prep course is great! GOLD is also not based in the US, and with their multi-cultural presenters, offers a global perspective as well. 

Lactation Education Resources offers a 95+ hour course. While I did not take this course, I have taken other offerings with LER, and have liked them. In addition, LER offers opportunities to obtain your general education and health science requirements as well. 

Exam Preparation 
Once you have completed the requirements and have applied to sit for the IBLCE boards, it's time to start studying! Just as with the 90 hour ed requirements, there are many choices for exam prep as well. These are the courses I chose to take.

Health e-Learning
I greatly enjoyed the practice exams with HEL! They provided rationales for the answers to each question, which helps get you in the critical thinking mindset. You can retake the exams as many times as you like, and while some of the questions are the same, they also add in new ones. For the April exam, you can enroll in January. For the October exam, you can enroll in July. 

Lactation Education Resources
While LER offers an option to just take practice exams, I highly recommend their full enriched exam review course. It is a little more expensive, but I felt it was worth it. 

I also purchased the exam review course through Breastfeeding Outlook. It was by far the most expensive of the courses ($399 when I purchased it), and I personally did not have a good experience with or care for this course. 

Textbooks
​Always purchase the most recent edition available. Check prior to purchasing for upcoming new editions so you don't waste your money!

Breastfeeding and Human Lactation, 6th Edition
Counselling the Nursing Mother, 7th Edition
Breastfeeding Atlas, 6th Edition
Supporting Sucking Skills in Breastfeeding Infants, 4th Edition
Breastfeeding Management for the Clinician, 5th Edition
Breastfeeding: A Guide for the Medical Professional, 9th Edition
Legal and Ethical Issues for the IBCLC

If you are interested in private practice work after you obtain your IBCLC credentials, click HERE for more information. 

Contact Kay