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 95 hours of lactation specific education, including five hours focused on communication skills, within the five years immediately prior to examination application.
  • Preferably the five hours of education focused on communication skills will be directly related to
    lactation and breastfeeding care, but this is not a requirement.
• Minimum of 1000 hours of lactation specific clinical practice in an appropriate supervised setting within the five years immediately prior to examination application.
  • Clinical practice 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 practice hours can be earned through independent practice as a licensed/registered healthcare professional in non-healthcare settings.
  • For 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 list 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.