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Home › Articles › Breastfeeding Basics › Your Breast Friend

Your Breast Friend

The International Board Certified Lactation Consultant

By Ann Calandro, BSN, RNC, IBCLC

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In most cases, breastfeeding gets off to a very good start. After all, it's natural! However, there are times when a breastfeeding mother needs a little help. Most problems are avoidable or manageable. Early intervention can make all the difference to breastfeeding success.

Who can a mother turn to for support and information?
In 1985, a new allied health team member was created when the very first lactation consultants were board certified. A few years earlier, a task force was organized to set criteria for attaining this new health certification. After extensive planning and work, an examination was written to thoroughly test candidates in many areas. Candidates were tested in anatomy, physiology, child development, nutrition, ethics and many other areas. The certification is called an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Since 1985, thousands of lactation consultants have been certified by the credentialing agency, the IBLCE (International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners).

How does one become a lactation consultant?
There are many different pathways, but the most frequent path is to work with breastfeeding mothers, either as a breastfeeding counselor or through a hospital setting. Candidates must spend between 900 (MD) and 8,000 hours working with breastfeeding mothers in order to meet the criteria for sitting for the exam. The primary pathway requires 2,500 clinical hours plus a bachelor's degree. Sometimes candidates get their experience through volunteering, or they may work in a hospital or under direct supervision of another IBCLC. Candidates must attend 30 hours of approved breastfeeding education courses. Then they are eligible to sit for a 200 question exam. The exam is given once yearly (the last Monday in July) in many locations all over the world. If they pass, they are entitled to use the credential, IBCLC. Every five years, IBCLCs must be recertified, either through educational hours or by retaking the examination. Every 10 years, they must retake the examination.


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