Lactation Consultant: Pathway 1

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This Lactation Consultant Pathway 1 professional certificate program expands the clinical knowledge of the breastfeeding professional who interfaces with the breastfeeding client by understanding problems of clinical management.

Certification as a lactation consultant is approved preparation for healthcare providers who interact and triage infant nutrition problems and concerns. The course of study is based on objectives, guidelines and competencies established by Lactation Education Accreditation and Approval Review Committee (LEAARC).

Although UC San Diego does not issue the credential of Lactation Consultant, they support the IBLCE.

Program Benefits

Students who complete this certificate will:

Expand their clinical knowledge as a breastfeeding professional who interfaces with the breastfeeding clients by understanding problems of clinical management
Receive a professional certificate of completion in lactation consultant education, which is approved preparation for healthcare providers who interact and triage infant nutrition problems and concerns
Study objectives, guidelines and competencies established and approved by LEAARC

Pathway 1 Qualifications

Pathway 1 candidates are defined as having both of these requirements:

Have an IBLCE approved license, be a registered or recognized health professional or have completion of all 14 IBLCE Educational Requirements. (IBLCE Approved Health Professions: Dentist, Degreed Nutritionist, Dietician, Midwife, Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Pharmacist, Physical Therapist or Physiotherapist, Physician or Medical Doctor, Speech Pathologist or Therapist).
Ability to complete1000 clinical hours directly with breastfeeding dyads within a 5 year period prior to sitting for the exam (verifiable by employer).

Demand and Job Prospects

Lactation Consultants typically interact with patients in a role similar to nurse practitioners, as advanced practice clinicians. They generally work independently to triage and manage a clinical lactation concern for mother, baby, and family unit. In most areas, they are paid an hourly rate that seems to parallel the RN salary range which is from $20-$45 per hour.
Lactation consultants do not have to be RN’s to function in their role, although some hospitals may have an additional requirement that the IBCLC be an RN.
May be employed in hospitals and manage hospital breastfeeding centers and boutiques. In this role they may facilitate other lactation consultants, breastfeeding support groups, triage phone calls and warm lines, and manage breastfeeding stores that rent breast pumps and sell breastfeeding clothing and products.
Frequently hired by WIC, the federally funded Women, Infant, and Children program. These lactation consultants are usually also dieticians, although that is not a requirement.
Some UC San Diego Extension Lactation Consultant graduates have chosen to establish private practices. In this role they do lactation consultations with patients and their families either in a business setting or in the patient’s home. The fees are set by the individual lactation consultant. The business may also include retail products, breast pump rentals, support groups and classes.
Lactation Consultants are generally employed part time although more full time positions are becoming available. Currently, UC San Diego Extension does not offer job placement assistance, however most graduating students who have sought employment as Lactation Consultants have secured positions.

Industry Certification

UC San Diego Extension supports IBLCE as the credential and certification board for practicing Lactation Consultants. The IBLCE Exam is given twice a year in September and April. Students must complete the IBLCE requirements as currently defined at www.IBLCE.org.

Students may meet the certification exam requirements by any Pathway, however, UC San Diego only supports Pathway 1 and Pathway 2. All UC San Diego Extension students who successfully complete the training program and its requirements are eligible to sit for the IBLCE exam.

The Program

Number of courses: 1 class
Total units: 12
Estimated cost: $1095
Time to Complete: 6 months
Delivery: Online

Military spouses are eligible to use My CAA $4000 scholarship. Apply at MyCAA.org

Note: If you would like this Professional Certificate of Completion, there is a $95 fee. However, this physical certificate is not required by the IBLCE to sit for the exam.

Applications are accepted quarterly.

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There will be a $95 fee upon acceptance into the program

Courses

Download PDF

Required Course Only 1 of the courses below required depending on approved Pathway
Title & Course Number

Units

Fall

Winter

Spring

Summer

Actions
Pathway 1 - Lactation Consultant Education
(RMED-40030)

12.00 units

Fall Online

Winter Online

Spring Online

Summer Online

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There will be a $95 fee upon acceptance into the program

Admission

APPLY NOW

There will be a $95 fee upon acceptance into the program

From the 'Apply Now' button, login to your student account, complete the online application, and pay the application fee if applicable. It is preferable that you create an account before proceeding if you have not already done so.

Candidates are encouraged to apply in the certificate program as early as possible to take advantage of program benefits. See Certificate FAQs for more information.

Contact

Healthcare & Behavioral Sciences. Call 858-246-2312 or Email: ucsdlactation@ucsd.edu
Conditions for Admission

All students are required to complete the application (click on "Apply Now").

FAQs

How do I become a Lactation Consultant?
Please see How to Become a Lactation Consultant and How to Choose the Right Pathway
What are the UC San Diego application requirements of pathway 1?
Pathway 1 Candidates: The UC San Diego Lactation program for Pathway 1 is 120 hours of didactic education which meets the IBLCE lactation course requirement for the IBLCE exam. The general education requirement must be completed before the start of Pathway 1. The UC San Diego Lactation program recommends but does not require that all Pathway 1 applicants have met the clinical requirements (1000 hours) of the IBLCE before taking the Pathway 1 education. These requirements can be reviewed at IBLCE.org. All Pathway 1 candidates will sign a memorandum of understanding stating that the candidate is responsible for meeting the clinical and professional educational requirements of the IBLCE.
What is the application deadline for the UCSD Pathway 1 course and when is the IBLCE test date?
Pathway 1: Offered every quarter (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer)
UC San Diego Pathway 1 education course is 2 quarters in length (~6 months)

UCSD Pathway 1 program and IBLCE Exam Application and test dates:
- Fall/Winter Quarter: IBLCE application due May and IBLCE test date is September
- Winter/Spring Quarter: IBLCE application due May and IBLCE test date is September
(Due to IBLCE test application date this section is 18 weeks of academia and 22 weeks of course access)
- Spring/Summer Quarter: IBLCE application due November and IBLCE test date is April
- Summer/Fall Quarter: IBLCE application due November and IBLCE test date is April
(Due to IBLCE test application date this section is 18 weeks of academia and 22 weeks of course access)
Who is eligible to apply to the UC San Diego Pathway 1 program?
Pathway 1 Candidates: The general education requirement must be completed BEFORE the start of the UC San Diego Extension Lactation Pathway 1 program. The UC San Diego Lactation program recommends but does not require that all Pathway 1 applicants have met the clinical requirements (1000 hours) of the IBLCE before taking the Pathway 1 education.

1. General Education Requirement: Licensed, Registered or Recognized Health Professional OR has the 8 college courses AND 6 CEU courses as described at IBLCE.org. In the IBLCE Exam application, you will be required to identify your health profession and you may be required to submit a copy of your license, registration, diploma or transcript.

Health professionals include: physicians, nurses, midwives, dietitians, occupational, physical and speech therapists, physician assistants, dentists, pharmacists and chiropractors. If your profession is not on this list, please see IBLCE.org for more information about whether or not your professional training will satisfy the general education requirements.

When applying to the program, candidates must demonstrate completion of these courses by submitting documentation from accredited colleges or universities.

2. Clinical Hours Requirement: Working in a paid or volunteer job in which you provide care to breastfeeding families and can document a minimum of 1000 hours working directly with moms and babies and breastfeeding. Documentation must be verifiable by a supervisor and must be completed within a 5 year period prior to submitting an application to take the exam. For more information about how to calculate the clinical practice hours required by Pathway 1, please see IBLCE.org.
How Do I Calculate my Clinical Hours?
Instructions for Calculating Lactation-Specific Clinical Care Hours:

Download Calculation Form.
- Column 4: The number of months you worked on each job
- Column 5: If you worked every week of the month, please enter 4 in this column. If you worked 2 weeks each month, please enter 2 in this column.
- Column 6: This is Column 4 x Column 5
- Column 7: If you worked full time, please enter the number of hours considered full-time for that job. If you worked part-time, please enter the number of hours, on average,that you worked each week.
- Column 8: This is Column 6 x Column 7
- Column 9: The percentage of time, on average, that you spent helping breastfeeding families. Please use this guide: Peds/OB/Family Practice Office 5%, L&D 5%, Post-Partum Nurse 20%, NICU 10%, Peer Counselor 80%, Employed as CLEC 80%.
- Column 10: This is Column 8 x Column 9
What are the Required 8 College Subjects and 6 Continuing Education Subjects?
See IBLCE Health Sciences Education Requirements

If you are not a licensed, registered, or recognized health professional, you will be required to submit proof of completion of the 8 academic course and 6 CEU courses as described by the IBLCE.org. These course must be form an accredited college or university.

Health professionals include: physicians, nurses, midwives, dietitians, occupational, physical and speech therapists, physician assistants, dentists, pharmacists and chiropractors. If your profession is not on this list, please see IBLCE.org for more information about whether or not your professional training will satisfy the general education requirements.

1. 8 College Subjects: Must be from an accredited college or university and at least one academic term in length. Candidates must have received a passing grade in each course.
- Biology
- Human Anatomy
- Human Physiology
- Nutrition
- Introduction to Research
- Psychology or Counseling or Communication Skills
- Sociology or Cultural Sensitivity or Cultural Anthropology
- Infant and Child Growth and Development
2. 6 Continuing Education Subjects: Available at UC San Diego Extension ONLINE
- Ethics for Healthcare Professionals (3 hours) BUSA-80010 ($45)
- Fundamentals of Infection Prevention (12 hours) FPM-40577 ($129)
- Lactation Medical Documentation (2 hours) RMED-80000 ($45)
- Medical Clinical Terminology (18 hours) FPM-40632 ($295)
- Occupational Safety & Security (10 hours) FPM-40554 ($225)
- Basic Life Support CPR for Medical Personnel - generally taken through the American Heart Association
What are the IBLCE exam dates and IBLCE test application dates?
2020 September IBLCE Exam:
Apply for IBLCE Exam: May 1, 2020 (No later than May 15, 2020)

2021 April IBLCE Exam:
Apply for IBLCE Exam: November 1, 2020 (No later than November 15, 2020)