Happy New Year!

Getting Started with Lactation Certification

I hope you all are off to a good start in 2026. With all that is going on in the world I sometimes find it hard to focus on breastfeeding, but I remind myself to, as the famous NFL Coach Belichick directed, “Do Your Job.” So that’s where I’m trying to stay focused for now.

Which brings me to this month’s topic – encouraging your certification in lactation. If you are a nurse or other health care provider working with breastfeeding families, certification will benefit both you and the families you serve. Particularly if you work as an RN in the maternal-newborn setting, where upwards of 90% of your patients desire to breastfeed, having a high level of expertise in this area is key.

I know so many of you have considered the idea, and I appreciate that it can be overwhelming when you first look into it. Let me help you break it down. I’m going to focus on the requirements for those of you who are already in a recognized health care profession (ie: Nurses, Midwives, MDs, Dieticians etc)

There are several levels and types of certification within the field of lactation. Here are the two most common:

International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) – The IBCLC is recognized globally as the highest level of certification for lactation, and requires extensive education, over 90 hours of lactation-specific training, and supervised clinical hours. The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) is the credentialing body which determines the eligibility of the candidates and administers the IBCLC exam each year. Here are the requirements:

· 14 Health Science College Level Courses – If you are in one of the IBLCE recognized professions it will be accepted that you have taken these courses. The Health Science Courses and Recognized Professions list can be found here:

· Minimum of 1000 hours of lactation specific clinical practice in an appropriate supervised setting within the five years immediately prior to examination application.

· Minimum of 90 hours lactation specific education and 5 hours of communications skills education for a total of 95 hours of lactation education within the five years immediately prior to exam application.

· Pass the IBCLC Exam

Simply put: If you are an RN, here is what you need – documentation that in the past 5 years you have worked with breastfeeding families for 1000 hours. If you are a mother/baby nurse, roughly 25% of your work hours can be counted towards this 1000 hours. Next you’ll need 90 hours of specific lactation training. There are many on-line resources available which provide the full 90 hour training. Once you have applied and have been accepted as a candidate for the exam – then you “hit the books,” and study up! The exam is a 4-hour, 175 multiple-choice test covering a wide range of evidence based lactation topics. For more detailed information on getting started on your IBCLC journey go here:

Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC): The CLC is the 2^nd most popular certification in the field of lactation. Often considered a stepping-stone to the IBCLC, the CLC certification has the following requirements:

· Take the CLC course online (95 hours)

· Take the CLC exam (3 hours)

You can see that this certification requires 95 hours of lactation education – the same number of hours needed to sit for the IBCLC exam – which is why a lot of folks start their journey here. For more detailed information about becoming a CLC, click on this link:

So, “What’s in it for me?” you might say? Glad you asked! Research shows that:

Professional development through specialty certification is positively associated with:

• Nurses’ increased confidence in clinical skills

• Nurse’s commitment to learning

• Nurses feeling an increased sense of empowerment, and professional credibility

This translates to improved patient outcomes, with higher organizational reimbursement, in addition to nurse retention and job satisfaction.¹ Earning the IBCLC or CLC certification is a testament of your advanced knowledge and commitment to excellence in caring for new families. In addition, it can open up exciting career paths. IBCLCs and CLCs work in a variety of settings including hospitals, clinics, pediatric offices, government agencies and in private practice.

I’ve talked to so many of you who have expressed an interest in pursuing the IBCLC certification, but then life happens, things get in the way, finances get tight, the world goes crazy – I understand. But If you’re seriously considering lactation certification as your goal for 2026, here’s what I would suggest:

· Talk to your family and friends and share your goal – find your cheerleaders

· Talk to your employer – see if there are any funds available for certification or educational courses

· Talk to a CLC or an IBCLC and let them help you through the process – again, cheerleaders

· Have confidence – you can DO this!

These are tumultuous times, but babies are still being born, and mothers are still breastfeeding and needing help, so let me encourage you to pursue your dreams and passions, and if that means becoming an IBCLC or CLC, let me cheer you on and say - “Go For It!”

Peace.

1. Lindgren S, Lancaster RJ. Encouraging specialty certification: how multilevel support can help. J Contin Educ Nurs.2016;47(2):49-51. doi:10.3928/00220124-20160120-0