Steps to Becoming an IBCLC
Anyone who wants to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) must meet all of the following requirements:
- Prerequisite higher education in the health sciences
- Clinical practice in providing care to breastfeeding families
- Education specifically about human lactation and breastfeeding
For a printable copy of the Candidate Information Guide, which provides details about all of the above requirements, click here.
Step 1
All candidates for the IBLCE exam must complete higher education in the health sciences. IBLCE has identified 14 subjects that all candidates must study. Typically, these General Education subjects are
ones that health professionals studied during their professional education.
ones that health professionals studied during their professional education.Evaluating your background education is something that you should do early in the decision making process about becoming an IBCLC. Your evaluation may show that you have already completed study in many of the subjects. If not, you will need to enroll in the health science courses.
The other factor that affects the higher education requirement is your professional background. The following health professionals are recognized by IBLCE as having already completed the General Education requirements during their professional education:
| Chiropractor | Pharmacist |
| Dentist/Dental Hygienist | Psychologist/Social Worker |
| Dietitian/Nutritionist | Physical Therapist/Physiotherapist |
| Midwife | Physician/Medical Doctor |
| Nurse | Physician's Assistant |
| Occupational Therapist | Speech Pathologist/Therapist |
Do you hold credentials in one of the health profession listed above?
If you answered, "Yes," you will need to provide IBLCE with a copy of your license, registration, diploma or transcript when you apply for the exam.
If you answered, "No," you should obtain copies of your college/university transcripts and evaluate the courses that you have already taken against the General Education requirements. There is no time limit on when the courses were taken. If you took the courses years ago, that is acceptable.
For details, please download the General Education Guidelines.
Step 2
Deciding how and where to complete the required clinical practice in lactation and breastfeeding care is the next step you should consider.
Do you have recent experience working in a paid or volunteer job in which you helped breastfeeding mothers and babies?
If you answered, "Yes," Pathway 1 is probably the most logical choice for you. Pathway 1 requires at least 1000 hours of experience in providing care to breastfeeding families. You may use the clinical experience that you obtained through your job or volunteer work.
If you answered, "No," Pathway 2 or Pathway 3 may be better options for you to consider.
Step 3
All candidates need 90 hours of education in human lactation and breastfeeding, regardless of the exam eligibility pathway chosen.
If you are planning to follow Pathway 1 or Pathway 3, you will need to enroll in lactation education courses.
Pathway 2 academic programs integrate the lactation education into the curriculum, along with the general education in the health sciences and the required clinical practice in lactation care.
Step 4
To find out details about how to qualify for the IBLCE exam, it will help if you read the information on the following webpages in the order shown below. As you read each webpage, links will be provided to the next page. All the best in your journey toward IBCLC certification!
Last updated December 8, 2011
