Lactation Education

Education in lactation is a vital part of your preparation for becoming an IBCLC and key to your success on the certification exam.  Your education needs to be earned from sessions, programs or materials where the primary focus or learning objective is:

» Lactation or breastfeeding specific

» At a level appropriate for the entry level IBCLC

» Within the scope of the IBLCE Exam Blueprint

» Based on current research and scientific principles and/or evidence-based clinical practice

» Presented by a person with professional qualifications or experience relevant to the content

Minimum Requirements 

IBLCE has established minimum lactation education requirements.  Evaluation of exam score trends indicates that there is a correlation between success on the exam and completion of a comprehensive lactation education program that exceeds the minimum number of hours required for exam eligibility. This correlation has been particularly noticeable among candidates who take the exam in a language other than English, with remarkable improvement in success rates once a comprehensive education program becomes the standard.  Money and time spent pursuing a thorough education in lactation management is well spent.

Minimum Lactation Education Requirement: 45 hours of lactation specific education

Your documentation must show that you completed the lactation education within the three (3) year period immediately prior to taking the exam.

Many candidates prefer to complete their lactation education close to the time they plan to take the exam.  Keep in mind that if your lactation education is not completed at the time of your application, additional fees will be charged.

For more information on the lactation education requirement, visit the Choosing Lactation Education Programs section of this website and read the relevant sections of the Candidate Information Guide.