Pathway 1: Recognised Health Professionals and Recognised Breastfeeding Support Counsellors

Pathway 1 IBCLC candidates must practise as a Recognised Health Professional or provide breastfeeding support through a Recognised Breastfeeding Support Counsellor Organisation. In the
case of applicants who provide breastfeeding support through a Recognised Breastfeeding Support Counsellor Organisation, they must have completed the 14 subjects set forth in the Health Sciences Education Guide. Additionally, all Pathway 1 candidates must have the following:

• Minimum of 90 hours of lactation specific education within the five years immediately prior
  to examination application.
•  If applying for the April 2021 examination or beyond, an additional five (5) hours of
  education focused on communication skills. Preferably these five hours will be directly related to
  lactation and breastfeeding care, but this is not a requirement.
• Minimum of 1000 hours of lactation specific clinical practise in an appropriate supervised setting within the five years immediately prior to examination application.
  • Clinical practise is to be obtained in an appropriate supervised setting, to include the
    following:
    o Hospital
    o Birth Centre
    o Community Clinic
    o Lactation Care Clinic/Practice
    o Primary Care Practitioner’s Practice/Office.
  • Clinical practise hours can be earned through independent practise as a licensed/registered healthcare professional in non-healthcare settings.
  • For clinical practise, breastfeeding support counsellors from a Recognised Breastfeeding Support Counsellor Organisation, clinical hours must be earned in a delivery setting which meets the following criteria:
    o Provide structured training programmes for their counsellors which include comprehensive education in breastfeeding and lactation management
    o Have a Code of Ethics or Professional Conduct
    o Provide structured supervision for counsellors, with an appropriate level of training
    o Provide a continuing education programme for counsellors
  • Please note: Candidates associated with an IBLCE Recognised Breastfeeding Support Counsellor Organisation are to earn clinical hours on an hour-per-hour basis. Please reference the IBLCE  Recognised Breastfeeding Support Counsellor Organisation on the IBLCE website for detailed implementation information.
  •  Whether a Recognised Health Professional or a breastfeeding support counsellor from a
    Recognised Support Counsellor Organisation, the 1000 hours does not need to be directly supervised.
•  Adherence to, with attestation, the Code of Professional Conduct for IBCLCs.