I took about 5 years to become an IBCLC. I enjoyed the journey. I never thought of becoming certified until I understood there was an appreciation for those who went the route to prepare, study for an exam, meet qualifications, and pass. My journey was both an individual one and a collaborative effort. That may sound like an oxymoron, but as I explain the process, it will become clear. I now desire to help others on their path to certification. The process is more confusing than difficult. I am a teacher by trade, so I have used my skill to create a curriculum to train future IBCLCs and my supervisor and I wrote a grant to offer the course for free in Riverside County. Last year I had my first graduating class...28 students sat for and passed the IBCLC exam.
I am starting this blog for those who are in my current class and want additional thought-provoking ideas, or those interested in becoming IBCLCs in the future. I have good intentions of posting often, but we shall see how much time permits. I am excited that many people have contacted me wanting to know more about lactation and the profession. I hope other IBCLCs, LEs, Clinical Lactation Specialists, etc. will help me along the way. It takes a village to raise a Lactation Consultant (and I have in no way arrived)...chime in for the good of the profession and for the good of other women reaching their personal and professional goals.
I'm a CLC and a direct entry midwife and would love to know how I could go about that process since I work independently. I run a support group and do private consults also.
ReplyDeleteThis will be a great addition to your work. You are probably much closer than you think. You have motivated me to continue this blog to see others complete the circle and provide seamless care from birth and beyond! Thanks for the interest.
ReplyDeleteI am a young (21) mother and am passionate about breastfeeding/baby care. I breastfed for 2 weeks before giving up due to lack of support. My son had tongue tie and mspi/reflux. I want to help others and inform others of these difficulties and help them push through with diet/ect. I am wondering how I would go about becoming a certified lactation consultant.
ReplyDeletemy email is kerrilynuntch@gmail.com if you wouldn't mind emailing me with more info!
I am so glad God lead me to this blog!!
Kerri, I am so sorry about the difficulties you had, but you can use them as your strength. I decided to help others due to my difficult experience and the frustration I felt...keep reading, I will be posting regularly. I also have information on birthingandbreastfeeding.com
ReplyDeleteGlad we met!
The process to becoming an IBCLC is very confusing! I am a Childbirth Educator and have the desire to become a Lactation Consultant. I've only taken a math and an english class at a junior college. What is the first step I should take to begin the process. I was considering taking the UC San Diego online lactation course. I would really appreciate any advice. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteIn 2011 you would still be able to sit for the exam without additional college courses, but the requirements are going to change in 2012...how many hours have you been able to log helping moms breastfeed? I will post about hours soon...make sure you mark "follow" for the newest updates...it is within your grasp, you just have some specific hoops to jump through.
ReplyDeleteyou said, you can sit through the 2011 exam without additional college courses, so if you are audited you don't need any proof for your general education subjects? i took classes for three of them, need 1 (that i will take through health e-learning), and am not sure about the other 2. i took classes that kind of cover them, e.g. a child psychology class covered the basic topics of child development but it wasn't a child development class, so i'm not sure the ibcle would be ok with that.
ReplyDeletealso, i saw your study schedule, what materials are you basing this on? i'm just taking the san diego online course starting in january. i hope i'll still have enough time to get prepared.
thank you so much for the help you provide on your blog.
Good questions. I mean the new college course requirements go into effect in July 2012. You still need the regular requirements, but you don't need semester hours, just clocked hours. On-line classes are fine for this year. Your courses can be used if you can show through a syllabus or catalog that the topic the IBCLC requires was covered...
ReplyDeleteMy study guide is based on covering all the disciplines candidates are tested on and the events that are coming up where students can earn CEU's or Contact Hours for breastfeeding. The two text books I use for my course are Breastfeeding and Human Lactation and Counseling the Nursing Mother--if you don't have these books, check out Amazon or addallbooks.com.
Thanks for the feedback, I'll be posting more soon. Let me know how you are progressing! Thanks for joining the ranks of women helping women.
I am so happy I stumbled on this site. I decided a year ago to pursue certification as IBCLC and I feel like I am walking through a maze trying to decode and decipher the ever changing requirements. I plan to sit for the exam in 2013 and am going through pathway 3. I have a BA in English which means I have virtually none of the general education prerequsities. Thankfully my local ILCA chapter has just started up an internship program to help aspiring LC's get the clinical hours and I was accepted into the program. But now that the IBLCE has increased the clinical practice requirements to 500 hours, I wish they would understand how much of a financial burden this puts on people like me who are starting from scratch. I am a stay at home mom and my husband is a school teacher. I have to pay $7,500 for the internship ($10/hr for the 500 hours plus 250 hours of observation) which is fair for the LC's who are mentoring me, but it would have been so much more affordable if the requirements were still 100 hours. I also have to pay to take six of the general ed courses at my local community college. And because I am not a full time student I do not qualify for financial aid. How do the IBLCE expect people like me to come up with the money for this?? I hope that down the road there are grants or financial aid available for others in my position. I am having to get a part time job to pay for everything. Sorry for all the venting. I am so excited to be entering this profession and I know I am going to get excellent training from the four LC's who
ReplyDeleteare mentoring me and I do understand why they have increased the requirements...but at the same time it does not seem that the IBLCE has taken into consideration that many people who would make excellent LC's are deterred by the cost.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI am a CNM and WHNP in the Chicago area and thinking about taking the IBCLC test this July. I am wondering about the 90 hours of course work, not sure if I have already met the requirements through my educational route. Have you worked with any other CNMs? I would be interested in taking your course if it is offered online. Thanks so much for your help, I want to be able to better help my mothers.
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ReplyDelete